Thursday August 18th. Tonight saw the end of the road for the club in the Officers Triples at the Semi - Finals stage, when they were beaten by Salisbury, on a damp miserable evening. Eleamor Mahoney, Sue Ochyra & Gerald Webb started well, when after three ends they were holding a 7-0 lead but gradually Salisbury fought their way back leading to a tight match throughout. With two ends to go the scores were all level and with the home triple holding four shots the Salisbury skip with his last wood picked up the jack to go one up going into the last end. Again on the last end Devizes were holding the shot that would have taken the match into an extra end, but the Salisbury skip again took the jack back to waiting woods and picked uip a five so winning the match 19-13. Congratulations to Salisbury who will go on to play either Stratton Churchway or Wroughton in the final at Devizes on September 11th.
Monday August 15th. OK! So there are five quiz's planned and a maximum of only four teams entered for any of them as it stands today. One member said to me yesterday that the questions were too hard. This is the sort of person that when at school spent too much time behind the bike sheds, or in their puberty did their best to make themselves go blind, or in adulthood thought that current affairs was a name given to a large fruit cake. "had to be careful with the last one" As I said yesterday putting a quiz together takes a surprising amount of effort so we do really need to have enough teams to make the whole thing worthwile. The question my dad always asked was "how many beans make five?"
Wednesday August 3rd. Six rinks of Bowlers tonight travelled to Pewsey to play for the Robin Hendry Trophy. Following Robin's death four years ago his family presented a trophy which would be played for annually between Devizes and Pewasey, the two clubs that he played for, starting his bowling at Pewsey before moving to Devizes. Robin was a well liked and respected man who was a real gentleman and it was always a pleasure to be in his company. In the first two years playing for this trophy, we have managed to get the better of our friends from Pewsy but after a few ends tonight it looked like they would become the custodians for the next twelve months however the tide changed midway and we went on to win 130-102 so the cup returns to Devizes. We all look forward to next years game when we will be the hosts.
Tuesday August 2nd. Trefor Jones, Sue Ochyra & Gerald Webb progressed to the area B Finals of the Bowls Wiltshire Officer's Triples competition when they defeated Gill Chandler, Ann Kirkpatrick & Mick Maslen of Winsley 27-5, although the score looks like a comfortable win there was good bowling from both sides but it was a night when the Devizes Trio were on form, they now await the winners of the Salisbury v Wilton game to see who can come between them for a place in the final at Devizes on September 11th. (Ed says "the good bowling from Winsley just on the one end then? anyway any win by a Devizes team is welcome these days")
Monday August 1st. Rare Antipedian visitor to our club wearing strange nightshirt looking somewhat bemused with the British tradition of not crowding the woods around the jack. Clive Ball "I thinks that was his name" is a true gent hailing from New South Wales. It was a treat to meet him and get our next years club gear modelled in advance. "good luck sport" !!!
Clive pictured here with our own English version of a top sports model winning Skip in yesterdays Walter Ireland Trophy. Terry Miles.
When I first joined the club it was sometime before I realised that what I thought was the "Water Island Trophy" was in fact the "Walter Ireland Trophy, presented in memory of a former member and prominent Solicitor in the town. As many are aware I havn't played in the club games this season prefering to hold back until the more prestigious games came along so on this warm and barmy Sunday I stepped on the green playing number three to my personal Barber (Terry Miles) and his Mid Wilts henchman Ken Martin, and a lovely new lady member, Rosie. By the end of the day the most surprised people leaving the green were those mentioned above. We'd actually won the Trophy. Go to 2011 photos to view a couple of pictures.
Latest Club Competitions results. Husband & Wife. M & M Alexander beat J & C Little 20-13. Over 60s Duncan Poole defeated Colin Little 21-14. In the Men's Championship Jonathan Cook beat Bryan Reeves 21-12. Men's Pairs Pete Romijn and Pete Fielding soundly beat Tony Marsh and Mike Mitcham 28-11.
Sunday July 24th. Devizes v Trowbridge Poklice Rink scores from this game as follows. D Howard, L Hayward, J Greenwood & D Keen won 29-11. M Cave, P Ropmijn, K Miles & W Gaisford won 27-13. M Greenwood, S Taylor, P Bradbury & W Cowan lost 21-22. D Greenwood, L Chandler, R Keen & P Cave won 17-16. Total Devizes 94 Trowbridge Police 62.
Once again a mixed bag of administration competance, maybe the Men's Committee (who haven taken the summer off) will rise to the challenge and get involved in the running of bowls within our club.
Ladies Rose Bowl. Captain Sheila Garlick defeated Bev Lilley 21-12
Ladies Rose Bowl. Rosemary Keen defeated Angela Roberts 21-12
Ladies Two Wood. Sue Ochyra out gunned Pauline Tucker 16-3 in 15 ends.
Ladies Two Wood. Rosemary Keen beat Marguerite Alexander 13-12
Men's Pairs. Norman Miles & Pat Miller were defeated by Mike Mitcham & Tony Marsh 24-18
Mixed Pairs. Josie Mulligan & Bryan Reeves defeated J Greenwood & Norman Miles 23-18
Husband & Wife. Sheila & Harry Garlick beat M & D Greenwood 22-10
Men's Championship. Jim Scott defeated John Root 21-14
Men's Championship. Don Tucker defeated Robert Stratton 21-15
Men's Championship. Duncan Poole defeated Dave Keen 21-17
Over Sixties. Barry Alexander beat S Taylor 22-17
Over Sixties. Marguerite Alexander defeated Ken Stout 21-11
Eddie defeated Bryan 21-13 in a very secret competition.
Keith Nelson out played Tony Marsh winning 25-9 in another secret competition.
Monday July 18th. Yesterday afternoon we welcomed Kingswood & Hanham to our green for a six rink mixed friendly. This was a new fixture and the game was keenly contested on all rinks with varying degrees of success. Everyone had an enjoyable afternoon and we look forward to making a return visit nest season.
Thursday July 14th. Your Ed hears quite a lot of comment through the course of the bowling season so anything I say here is aimed at provoking thought not individuals. With this in mind I don't think I would committ myself to a club competition game on the very day I was due to play in a team involved in a league fixture, could be a bridge too far.
Wednesday July 13th. SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF... Today the year ten students paid their last visit to the club for this term, where they were joined by our own members and the coaches on the green to play a short game, after which there was a presentation of gifts to all the Coaches, whilst the students sat down to refreshments all kindly supplied by our local Sainsbury's (could this see the start of a Youth Development programme involving The Club, Devizes School and Sainsbury's?) Can I thank the club members who hve supported this six week programme, to the Coaches who have travelled from different parts of the county, and also Pat Sharp, the Bowls Wiltshire Development Officers, who put all this together and without her expertise this initiative would not be such a success. The students will be back in September for another six week block, when not only will they experience bowling outdoors , but short mat also. Then next June a new year ten cohort will be coming to the club for another six weeks of the Bowling Exerience. Many thanks to Gerald Webb for all the info received about the youth programme. (Mike Ponting)
Sunday July 10th. From time to time one hears discussion as to whether we are more a competitive bowling club, or a social one to this end I may have the answer. Speaking to one member who had on the previous day played in a league match, I asked "what was the result then" back came the answer "I'm not really sure, I think we may have lost". Although I suppose if you were to speak to Wayne Rooney after an England game you might get the same response. Ed also heard that this site had been likened to Twitter, too much tweeting, is that the same as informative, enlightening, factual and entertaining? if it is thanks for logging on.
Friday July 8th. This evening Trefor Jones, Sue Ochyra & Gerald Webb played their second round Officers Triples match against Alderbury and came out comfortable winners 26-4 with their opponents conceding after 14 ends. they now await the winners of the Winsley v Amesbury match.
Monday July 4th. Arriving at the club last night there were a couple of things that struck me before I even got into the clubhouse. (no not Bill Cowan reversing out) First was the entrance with it's grubby board and overgrown hedge, secondly I counted 51 cars in a car park with 35 spaces, "food for thought me thinks" Good to see that the member running the bar was being kept busy "things are looking up" A busy night at the club with on the top green one rink being used for coaching followed by an over sixties competition match between Mike Mitcham & Phil Coombs and the other five rinks taken up by members taking part in Spoons. On the bottom green four rinks were taken by the Bowls Wiltshire Men playing in the last sixteen of the singles competition. There was some top quality bowls being played by some of the best male bowlers in the county who were striving to reach the quarter finals of this prestigious competition, with Devizes members Sue Ochyra, Ron Morland, Trefor Jones & Andy McCann acting as markers. Congratulations to Mel Biggs (Westlecot) Wayne Simmonds (Holt) Steve White (Malmsbury) & Mike Snell (Wooton Bassett) who go on to the next round at Chippenham Town next Monday. Thanks to Gerald Webb for the bowling part of this report.
Saturday June 18th. Looking out of the window of my summer residence I could see the storm clouds gathering over Devizes I was getting that sense of doom you get when the weather threatens just prior to a game, One hopes that the phone will ring and the Captain says "it's off" Less than an hour later all was hunky dory and it was a joy to be on the green. The Open Pairs fixture is great fun to play in, just can't understand why more members don't join in. After all at least in this format you can choose your own partner, however I concede that maybe many of the wives would not be amused if the guys didn't pick them as partners. Highlight of the afternoon for yours truly was trouncing Thompson Senior & Junior, how dare junior have woods that looked like mine, following on from this I was rubbish, blaming it on my lack of stamina after my op. Have heard since that the winnners were Andy McCann & Tony Marsh "well done lads"
Saturday June 18th. As Management Chairman I'm right in the firing line to receive feedback from members, and rightly so, too often in the past not enough consideration has been given to the wants and needs of members, likewise many members have expressed their views but have not comunicated with the Committee. It seems to me that we Baby Boomers generally want to enjoy our retirement feeling that we have worked hard and now would be the time chill out completely. This is true for many of us, with a few left who like to be at the forefront of what is going on however the few can certainly do a lot for the main aspects of running the club, but the thing is there are so many areas that are more mundain that need help. Without going into detail I foresee a time in the not too distant future when catering services will be diminished and we are forced to use outside caterers for the bigger events, which will in turn lead to lower revenues for the club. "food for thought"
Wednesday June 15th. This is the time of the year when club members are busy with National, County and club competitions tonight it was the turn of the Bowls Wiltshire Officers Triples Representing our club were Men's Captain Trefor Jones and our two fixtures secretaries playing a team of Ladies from Holt. The game was played under excellent conditions on our bottom green with the Devizes team achieving a comfortable victory of 23-9 they now go on to the next round where they will be at home to either Warminster or Alderbury.
Wednesday June 15th. The sentiments below are taken from a card received from the organiser of last Saturday's Ladies Two Wood.
The President and members of Devizes Bowls Club. Please convey my thanks to all you members who participated in the successful running of the south Two Woods on Saturday 11th of June 2011. The greens played so well and my congratulations to your Greens Committee, thank you all so very much Anne (South Controller BWL)
Monday June 13th. Over Sixties Report. Sue Taylor took on John Root in this popular catagory and after just a few ends she was slightly adrift by a couple of shots, at end four scores were level at 3-3 but in the next six ends Sue picked up fourteen shots to lead 17-3 John then managed to win the next five ends but only picking up six shots, from then on Sue closed the game out, eventually winning 21-10
Have just heard that the reason the treasurer was cleaning up was because he had spilt his pint, I'm surprised that he didn't get a straw to ensure he still got full value for his money.
Thursday June 9th. At the Management meeting held on Tuesday your Webmaster stated that he was taking sole responsibility for the site and as a consequence would welcome information or comment from any club member on any aspect of club activities, especially match results, to me playing is great, but knowing results and how we are doing is a fundemental part of any competitive sport.
Thursday June 9th. Quite a lot of members bend my ear either by e-mail of on a one to one basis sometimes I offer explanations or advice, with the latter it usually means I sugggest they write into the relevant person or committee. I said at the AGM that the Management Committee are akin to MP's "we should listen" If there is any aspect of club life that concerns you, we look forward to hearing from you.
Tuesday June 7th. Some points from The Management meeting held today. The committee have authorised the erection of a rink allocation board which is to be placed on the exterior wall between the main room and the gents changing room. During the playing season this will be updated daily so that all interested parties are aware of the playing timetable and of course any restrictions.
Over the last year or so much has been done to enhance the greens area, and the main clubhouse the legacy received from the estate of Peter Budd has undoubtably helped us achieve some of these improvements. There did not seem to be one single project that this amount of money could be directed to so your committee have decided to erect a placque in Peter's honour recognising his contribution to the club both as a member and a benefactor.
Bowls Wiltshire celebrate their centenary in 2014 and have asked all clubs to provide a potted history that can be inserted in a publication at that time. Rosemary Keen has agreed to provide the detail using the club history which is available on this site.
Monday May 30th. Further to the comment I made in NEWS about holding a QUIZ in aid of the Captain's charity. At this stage I am thinking sometime in August prior to the main rush for holidays in September, I very much hope we can get really good support for this and maybe get a donation of £20.00 per team. I would also arrange for Sainsbury's to make a donation food for the event.
Thursday May 26th. Seems a little strange to me that so many of us play in the leagues yet very few would have an idea as to where we stand in the table. PB has told me he will publish the Mid Wilts four weekly. Does anybody know how I could get info on the other leagues? would be good to keep members in the picture.
Wednesday May 25th. Pretty busy at the club tonight with a Ladies league game, quite a few new members receiving coaching and having roll ups. It's good to see the support from Mentors and Coaches. The new shed has now been erected on the side of the bottom green, just one more coat of paint to go on and we'll be ready for the opening ceremony.
Wednesday May 25th. If I lose my game in the Mid Wilts league on Thursady it will be because the rink was tricky, the weather was bad, the sun was in my eyes and the opposition were very lucky. LOL
Your Webmaster has had a gander at the Bowls England Newsletter which is available in the clubhouse some articles of note including one on cruise holiday deals for bowlers.
Monday May 23rd.
With over 20 prospective new members in the pipeline I am hoping to arrange for the Management Committee to bring foreward it's next meeting by two weeks in order to give all the applicants the earliest consideration and decision on their applications.
Monday May 23rd.
In 2017 our club will celebrate it's 100th anniversary I'm thinking it will soon be time to setup a small steering group with a view to formulating a plan to ensure we maximise all the benefits that will give us a year to remember. If we are to get support from Bowls England, the County and possibly teams such as the Barbarians, we need to start planning soon.