Whether the weather...., plus match report, 25th June

Does anyone remember the rhyme?

Whether the weather be fine

Or whether the weather be not

We'll whether the weather

whatever the weather

Whether we like it or not!

Well, the weather's just too hot for 'whethering', although we survived a giant thunderstorm at the start of this week's umbrella. Both this week's and next week's match reports will be a bit sparse, due to match cancellations because of the current heatwave.🥵🫠🌩️☀️🔥

Bowls England issued an Extreme Heat policy yesterday. Click here to read it.

Pretty in Pink! Ladies vs Men 2026, Sat 20th June

It was a pretty warm afternoon for the annual ladies vs men event, a grudge match, as the ladies lost last year. Martina suggested a pink tea shirt theme, whereby the ladies decided to go all 'Grease-like' and dress as the Pink Ladies for the occasion.

The match consisted of 11v11 players in two rinks and a triple. The gents got off to a solid start and, by the half way point, were ahead on all three rinks - one being very close.

The winners

In the end it was the gentlemen who were 'in the pink' with a solid victory 56-34, helped by Phil Villis and his crack team of Bob Grant and Jim Purvis running out 22-12 winners on the triples match.

Titchy Trophy!

As honorary captain for the day, Jim Purvis received what is acknowledged as the best and most valuable trophy in the club. 

Better luck next year ladies...

Congratulations to star players!

A few weeks ago during an umbrella match, one of our teams scored a hotshot - all 8 woods in the count on a single end. Here they are receiving their badges and certificates, signed by Tony Alcock, OBE, 15 times bowls world champion.

Well done Martina, Angela M and Dave W.

A plea for help

Our highly-valued bar staff, Bob and Janis, are working very hard and starting to feel a bit exhausted. Many of you will remember that in past seasons, we have created a rota for bar duties, as having a husband and wife team constantly doing the bar eventually wears them out. To avoid wearing Bob and Janis out next season, a bar rota will be in place. However, for the rest of this season, the captain of the day will ring the bell following the raffle and call out a reminder for people to help with clearing tables, washing glasses and taking out the recycling.

Please help if you can.

Members of the committee will help Bob in serving drinks for the rest of the season, to avoid those nervous in adding up/ operating the card machine from having to do so.

When I arrive at the club, the rinks are usually all set up with equipment, and often the tables are laid, with everything ready for the match. I didn't realise that certain members always set up the equipment (thank you - we know who you are) and, if Bob and Janis get there early, they do it...

We should all clear away the equipment from our own rinks at the end of a match, but if you are there early, how about helping at the beginning, again to save Bob and Janis from wearing themselves out?

Also, remember to lock the changing rooms if you are last out.

Thanks everyone!

Kim

PS Don't forget Bingo Night! 10th July, 6.30pm for 7pm start.

Click here to see details and RSVP

This week's match report

Mixed friendly, at home to Ashcombe, 21/06/26

It was a very hot Sunday afternoon as we prepared to take on Ashcombe in a mixed friendly.  There was a small moment of consternation when the early arrivals realised that the green was set up for only 5 rinks when 6 triples were playing.  It was easily rectified when Paul arrived and a couple more people now know how to do it!

In view of the heat, the captains agreed to play just 14 ends, with an ice lolly stop after 7, which went down well!  The match didn't go quite so well though.

Congratulations to Kim Wright's and Paul Aldus's teams who both survived a late comeback from their opponents to win their rinks, despite Paul playing on rink 6!  The least said about the remainder probably the better, particularly the captain of the day giving away a 6 with her last bowl from 1 up... sorry team! 

Overall the score was  Ashcombe 79 - Banwell 56, a well deserved victory, but most importantly we had a great afternoon with good company.

Wendy Coleman

Captain of the Day

Umbrella, 22/06/2026

This week members arrived at the club during a massive thunderstorm, accompanied by earsplitting thunder and lightning which seemed to be right outside the clubhouse. The green was quickly swamped, but soaked in equally quickly, once the rain stopped.

The drainage ditch along the edge of the car park overflowed, filling the clubhouse with a nasty smell and leaving a very smelly puddle - thank goodness it also drained away during the evening!

The match got going a few minutes late, with 2 triples matches. On rink 4, Bob and Wendy skipped teams containing newer members, with one of Wendy's team being a visitor who'd never played before. Mark H, Kerry and Bob were the winners, with Keane, Alex and Wendy lagging behind with a score of 14-7.

Meanwhile, over on rink 2, Jan, Doreen and skip Dave W were on fire! Mark W, Jenny and skip Martin were behind from the start, as Team Dave gained a 6, a 5 and two 4s with an eventual win of 27-9.

Click here to see the results so far on the website, or scroll along to the Umbrella tab on the Spaces app.

Kim Wright