94 Year Old John Still Winning at Bowls
On Wednesday 3 August, Henley visited the High Wycombe Bowls Club for the first time in a five mixed triples friendly match, winning on four rinks and losing on one with a final score of 108-74. Peter Borsberry, John Wilkinson and Keith Lawrance were down 3 shots after twelve ends but picked up 5 shots on the next end and held on to their lead, winning 18-17. Kevin Browne, Brian Duddy and Joan Edwards were storming ahead after seven ends and increased their lead throughout the match, running out clear winners 41-7. Barrie Davies, Maurice Robins and Peter Watkins were equally matched until the thirteenth end when the opposition picked up 3 shots on the next two ends and 5 on the seventeenth which resulted in a loss 12-21. Simon Hatcher, Jenny Wingrove and Richard Kingston were level after thirteen ends when they picked up the pace and ran out winners 21-15. Gill Robins, John Cross and Martin Taylor were only one shot behind after fifteen ends then picked up 2 shots at the next end and held on to their lead to win 16-14. Here is a picture of John Cross, our oldest bowler at 94, still winning!
On Saturday 6 August, Henley visited Headington in a friendly four mixed triples match winning two and losing two, going down 62-75. Kevin Currill with Rod Grant and Maurice Robins were level 6 all after eight ends then gradually pulled away to win 17-9. Gill Robins with Kevin Browne and John Wilkinson started slowly, were 5 down after eight ends, 8 down after thirteen, then pulled back 4 shots to go down 16-20. Andy Scott with Frank Powell and Trish Jones were level 18 all after sixteen ends, then picked up 6 on the last two ends winning 24-18 in a closely fought match. Peter Borsberry with Joan Edwards and Jim Turner found the green most difficult, struggled throughout and went down 5-28.
On Sunday 7 August, Henley entertained Shiplake in a combined OTL and Plomer Cup five mixed triples match with Henley winning on four rinks and drawing on one. The resulting score was 102-65, with Henley gaining 13 of the available 14 OTL points, and 11 of the 12 Plomer Cup points. Barrie Davies with Norman and Sally Daniells were in total control, leading by 25 shots after sixteen ends, dropped a 5 and a 4 on the last two ends but ran out winners 28-12. Kevin Currill with David Burdon and Jeanie Davies were 7 all after eleven ends, 1 down after seventeen ends then picked up 1 on the final end to draw 11-11. Gill Robins with Simon Hatcher and Peter Watkins started slowly, were 9 all after twelve ends, dropped a 4 on end thirteen, then scored heavily to run out winners 22-13. Dave Wilson with Steve Sullivan and Joan Edwards raced into a 10 shot lead after six ends, were pegged back to 12 all after eleven ends, then found the green again and ran out winners 22-16. Peter Borsberry with Andy Scott and Trish Jones dropped a 5 on the second end to be 6 down but then picked up the pace to be 2 up after nine ends and won 19-13.
