Membership

TODAY Sunday, a further early morning watering (just an hour or so) and then bliss with TWO extremely heavy showers mid-afternoon!!!  I cannot wait until tomorrow morning to go down and see the results of our efforts, now enhanced by some natural rainwater of any significance for some considerable time – well, apart from last Tuesday morning which caused a game abandonment. Ian

Currently we are low on volunteers which is a pity as over 40-members got involved last year so, if you can spare 3-4 hours in the week commencing SUN JULY 27, please sign up on the lists displayed. You will possibly notice some members have already selected the times/events when they are willing to help. If it clashes with a time that you can help, then still add your name please. We may be able to juggle people around so that all sessions are adequately covered, and members who have already indicated they will be present at more than one occasion, may be relieved of their duties on certain days. Ian

Fun Day (1st June 2025) Report by Ian

Our first FUN DAY of the season appeared to be fairly well appreciated last Sunday afternoon.  24 members were present at 1:25pm and, with a quick re-jiggle of entries, 4 teams of 6 players were made. This meant that play got underway about 5-minutes behind schedule followed by the explanation of rules for “FINGERS & THUMBS” and the simplified scoring system explained. With 4 teams, and competition limited to just 8-ends, it meant all players were active for approximately 30 minutes, then rested for the next half an hour, before moving on to the next challenge. A sudden shower just after 2pm brought play to a brief halt, but allowed all present the opportunity to sample Bob’s bara brith and Shirley’s lemon drizzle cake with a hot brew. In addition, there was the “football card” draw, which new member Richie Foster had sponsored with a £20 prize: £10 for the winner and two runners-up winning £5 each. Thanks to all 3 for their generous donations to the proceedings.

By aiming to split entries into teams of fairly equal ability, and playing in “doubles” throughout, the intention was for relatively new players to receive as much assistance and coaching as possible. The games were played in lanes across the green, with delivery and target mats set, hopefully for players to adjust to length and line more easily, and discover the effect of bias on the green.

Game 1 was followed by “FIND YOUR OWN WAY IN” which involved the introduction of a flat green jack, which may have helped in trying to get the bonus points achieved by getting the jack to rest on a mat 20 metres away.

Running slightly behind our time schedule and wanting to play Game 3 “ROUND AND ROUND” in both directions, each player was restricted to just ONE wood. With this challenge proving more difficult as targets were close to the edge of the green, and wishing to continue the “fun” element, a forfeit of -3 points per team occurred if players sent the jack off the green (a normal Crown Green jack being re-introduced for this final challenge). Sadly some members played ultra-safe and never attempted to get near the target mat, which was even more difficult knowing how our edges of the green run on a sunny afternoon!

THANKS to all who took part. Team B won, which is of little significance. Entry fee and completing the football card raised £32.50 for the Club, BUT the real winner is that members mixed socially, it may have improved their knowledge of the game and Vardre green, and hopefully they will all, together with other members who were unable to attend that day, will attend the next instalment FUN DAY 2 at the end of the season. IAN

Our B team lies in 6th spot after 6 games averaging exactly 6.0 points per game. When you realise they have only won 2 of these matches, you appreciate their 4-defeats have been by narrow margins, and their wins very comfortable. They lost their first match by a single point, and the most recent by just 7-points in two 5-7 defeats. Steve Rayner with 5-out-of-6 wins currently lies 8th in the Division averages, with John Barrington in 26th spot having won 4-out-of-6 games.

Our newly formed C team is 5th in the D Division, having won 50% of their matches so far and averaging 5.5 points per game. There are some strong sides in this Division as newly elected Club Highbury, for example, has virtually their North Wales Coast League squad, and so there are some tough matches ahead. Derek Brotherton & Colin Burgess are new bowlers to Vardre Deganwy, the remainder of our squad has moved down from our B team or played in the Clwyd League in 2024. Captain Tommy Roberts has won 4-out-of-5 games to date, with Barbara Harvey 4-out-of-6 games topping the team averages.

NORTH WALES COAST LEAGUE: Our A team lies 6th (exactly midway) after 6-matches and averaging 6.3 points per game. We have won 3 and drawn 1 of our games played. Despite another 100% record in this League, Mark Ball lies 10th in the Division B individual averages. Peter Wilde is 11th overall, having lost 20-21 in his most recent game at home versus Criccieth. This was a cracking match that went right down to the wire, Mark’s 21-15 win at no.10 clinching victory by just 5 points. A great team effort too to inflict the first League defeat of the season on our previously-unbeaten visitors. Teams were exactly TIED after 4-blocks, and again after 8-blocks. Another new recruit, Wynne Evans, and Linda Brennan are 18th and 19th respectively in the Division averages, both with 4-out-of-6 wins.

Our B team in D Division, which started later than other divisions, is also 6^th place BUT after just 4-matches, averaging 5.8 points. The team has played 3 of the 4 strong Clubs new to the Coast League this season. Tommy Roberts and Captain Elaine Beech have both won 3-out-of-4 matches played, Tommy currently ahead by way of aggregate only. Rhona Wright has a 100% record from her 2-games played.

VALE of CLWYD LEAGUE; Quite a change in personnel in this squad but they are currently joint 2nd to a very strong Craig y Don side. After 6-matches this team ALSO has only won 2, but the team was convincing with 10-2 and 11-1 successes at home.  In 4 defeats they have still gained a further 18-points, so they too are averaging a healthy 6.5 points/game. Diane Lea currently tops the Division C averages with a 100% record, John Farman is in 5th spot with 5-out-of-6 wins and Elaine Beech in 14th with a 100% win rate from her 4 games played.

On reflection, ALL squads are coping well in their respective Divisions. We have undoubtedly strengthened through the introduction of our new recruits, who not only bring experience and knowledge to the Club, but all our members are witnessing (particularly in Mark Ball’s case) the game played at another level, which can only inspire them to achieve good results. The other pleasing factor is that all our experienced newcomers are prepared to offer constructive advice in order that all members improve their game. Let’s see where we are at the mid-point of the season, which is possibly an even better indicator, and sadly is only another month or so away!!! Ian Wilson

Where Are We All At (Part 2)?: Continuation of the Report on Team Bowling in 2025

Report dated Monday 26^th May 2025: Let’s start with the Clwydian Senior Citizens League where an extra team was established to cope with the demand of established players joining us through the winter months and a few of our existing members opting to play in League matches. Some of our squads are light, especially when you discover some members have other commitments, others suffer illness but it does ensure most players get a fairly regular game each week, and no-one is a reserve on the sidelines for too long. We are probably one-third of the way through the 2025 season with 8-matches played, and this League more than others possibly indicates the improvements we have made.

The A team currently lies in second spot in the A Division having gained 61 points, just behind perennial winners Rhos Park A. A marked improvement on 2024 when, after 8-matches, we had a total of just 35-points. We are never likely to overhaul the current leaders but we have opened-up a gap of 8-points on the chasing pack. Also, our new, very experienced recruit, Mark Ball tops the Division individual averages with a 100% record and +92 on aggregate. Mark has been selected to play for the Inter League Vets. team v Deeside at Min y Don on June 2 to add to his already hectic schedule. Peter Wilde is 17th in the Division averages.

In the B Division, the success story continues, with the team currently at the top of the table, leading Eirias Park A by just 2-points. The team is currently averaging 7.9 points (out of a possible 12-points) per game. Linda Brennan, Neal Ridyard and Richie Foster are all in the top-8 individual averages of the Division. Linda also has a 100% record after 8-games and currently lies in equal second spot behind Sue Vayro (Eirias Park).

Our C team is a mix of last year’s B squad and C squad (the C team having been promoted from the D Division) and so operating in the C Division in 2025 is a step up for over half the team. By currently averaging over 6-points per game, they are comfortably in mid-table after 6-matches played. Experienced ever-present Clarice Meeson has a 100% record and lies 5th in the Division averages with 6-consecutive wins. Steve Rayner, with 5-wins out of 6-games, is chasing her. Further indication of our squad selection, although not entirely bullet-proof, in 2024 Clarice had just a 44% win record in the B Division and Steve had a 71% win record in the D Division.

Finally, our newly-formed D team, with some of last season’s C squad and some members starting competitive bowling for the very first time, is coping admirably under the leadership of captain Sue Kirkham. Sue herself has a 100% record from 5-games played, and notably most of last year’s C squad have improved their win rate already, and entire newcomers have experienced early success: Ian Eardley has won 3-games out of 7; Sue Owens won her very first outing; and, Derek Brotherton, although not available every week, has won both his games so far. There’s a long way to go for all teams but initial evidence is favourable.

Just a quick mention of our Ladies team, defending their A Division title win of 2024. This league had a later start date than the others and, just 3-matches in, the team currently tops the table on aggregate difference. Both Highbury and our team have 20-points from 3-games played but we are +75 to Highbury’s +65. Sue Kirkham and Shan Eccles both have 100% starts, Diane Lea and new “signing” Ann Banks are also in the top 14 of the Division A averages.

REPORTS on THE COLWYN & LLANDUDNO, VALE of CLWYD and COAST LEAGUES to follow soon.  Ian Wilson