Author: Kelvin

The 2023 Seidal League Gala was hosted at Devizes on Tuesday 12 September. It was a very friendly afternoon with teams from the south competing against teams from the north.  We learned on the day that the top team from the south was our very own Devizes Red (yeah!) and the top team from the north was Box!  This meant they played against one another to decide the overall winner!  It was a very competitive, good humoured game but in the end Box won.

The other teams only played twelve ends to give them a chance to watch the end of the Devizes Reds v Box game and everyone then enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea (provided by Alison Brooks) and there was a raffle in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The weather could have been kinder but the ladies carried on despite the rain and certainly didn’t let it dampen their spirits!  The afternoon was a great way to round off the Seidal season.

Well done Devizes Seidal teams and thank you to all the ladies who have supported the league throughout the year

Ellen 

On behalf of the Development Team

We have just had two wonderful sessions of bowling which have been so well received.
Friday afternoon we had the pleasure of the company of a group from Devizes PHAB Club. They really got stuck in and attempted to conquer the targets we set up for them. Never mind about the success the enjoyment said it all! I think they surprised themselves (and us!) with how well they did! Thanks must go to Terry and Juliet for bringing them along and to Angie King for doing the scoring. We gave them a tea afterwards and Jane Thompson kindly stepped in to make sure this was all ready for them when they came in. We look forward to seeing them again next month.
On Saturday we invited all of this year’s newcomers who have just finished their coaching to come along and join in a game with some of our more experienced players. Well what can we say! There were different styles of bowling, some successful and some not but the enthusiasm could not be faulted. This was a big learning curve not just for them but for the wonderful helpers who took it all in their stride and never once faltered in their encouragement and support. Thank you all for your patience and understanding.
The game was followed by a cream tea which went down extremely well. Thank you Jenny for making the scones and all the other members who supplied cakes. Thanks also for the volunteers who helped clear up afterwards, it made things much easier.
This is the first time we have done this but all in all a huge success. Watch out Leamington!!
The Coaching and Development Teams

The weather started very slightly disappointing with one or two spots of rain, but quickly dried. It was pleasantly warm then finished in glorious sunshine. This was very much reflected in our play, concluding with a rather convincing victory – winning by an amazing 86 points to 42.

However it wasn’t all about the result… we all had a great afternoon on the green, made some new friends and enjoyed a fantastic afternoon tea provided by our hosts.

Special thanks to Ellen, Ian & Babs for helping me to be the highest scoring rink… commiserations to Bill & co who were only two points behind!

Spoons gives everyone an opportunity to experience a lightly competitive game in a friendly and very social environment. Seasoned bowlers skip and lead randomly selected teams of all abilities – all are welcome.

We play every Monday (except bank holidays) and every Friday. Please arrive by 5:45pm so that we can arrange teams, ready for a 6pm start.

Please click HERE or more info on Spoons and other informal bowling opportunities.

Every first Friday of the month we will also have burgers and hot dogs available (£2.50 each)

It was great to see so many playing this week… and a big thank you to Ali & Steve Brooks for serving the food.

On Monday evening, Pam and I hosted a group of ladies and gentlemen from our twin town of Tornio, which is in Finnish Lapland, just 50 miles south of the Arctic Circle! Our thanks go to the Management Committee for permission to use the club, to Ricky who kindly opened the bar and to Ian and Simon for helping to run the session after their 3 rink match at Chippenham was called off.

Due to the inclement (rather English) weather, we opted to play Short Mat Bowls. I think some were anticipating a form of 10 pin bowling as they have nothing at all like this in Finland – but they weren’t disappointed! We played for about 2 hours, and I have to say the Finns absolutely loved it!

We gave some basic instructions (mostly about the bias) and let the fun begin. As you might imagine, language was a little challenging at times… but certainly not a barrier! Among the group there were 2 or 3 naturals… it’s a pity Lapland is so far away!!

By Kelvin Nash

At the Annual General Meeting in March this year I was fortunate to receive your vote to become your president for 2023 which in one sense was a great honour, but in another, looking back at the record of my predecessor Rosemary Bradbury, gave me food for thought. What an act to follow, just look at the board in the club and see her record of being President for ten years and carrying out the duties with such presence, fortitude and grace. If you were to elect me for the next ten years you would have a 95-year-old official at the head of the club!!!

In my acceptance speech I used one word to illustrate what I would like to see happen during my tenure and I repeat it here in this message and that word is “UNITY”. Even though we are fortunate enough to have two greens we are one club and should be unified across the board in everything we do.

Enough of the lecturing PLEASE have a wonderful season, full of joy, hopefully very dry and very successful in all competitions at whatever level you bowl at.

I shall endeavour, during the year, to visit as many games as I can both at home and away and certainly at any major competitions in which you reach the final stages.

Dave Greenwood

March 2023

On Sunday 30 April, Devizes secured its first Friendly win of the season…

beating Broughton Gifford 63 points to 55

It was an excellent game, played in very good spirit, and in good weather!

The Greens were officially opened by our President David Greenwood, and accompanied by our former President Rosemary Bradbury and our Men’s Captain Mike Mitcham. There were numerous members present, enjoying bacon & sausage baps and a drink from the bar. Then an impromptu roll up in the warm afternoon sunshine. Following all the recent rain, the greens were a little heavy and the nets were in use, but as the afternoon progresses the surface dried a little and the speed increased. The weather forecast for the coming week is good so we’re looking forward to some great roll ups ahead of the league matches during the following week.

There’s a home friendly next Sunday (23 April) against Chippenham Park and we’re short of a few players, so please sign up if you can… it will be a lovely start to the season!