This is the October copy of the Club's Newsletter
President, Maurice Costello, writes:
We have reached the end of a very busy season for the club. Our thanks to all those Club Members who worked so hard to make St Botolph’s one of the best in the county with an excellent green and club house. Our club attracted many compliments and the S.C.B.A. to hold county events here. (see our Chairman’s report) Thanks are due to the team captains for the hard work in ensuring a team was there for every match.
The presentation evening was a great success and the meal was enjoyed by all. Our congratulations to all those who won a club competition. Well done.
One of the important events will be with us soon - the A.G.M.
Please give your support to this evening and come along to make your voice heard and to vote for whatever is raised on the night.
Message from the Chairman: Viv Sword The 2017 bowls season has been a period of mixed fortunes. Our Thursday night ‘A’ team did very well and ended as Second Division Champions, whilst our Monday night team were unable to hold on to our first division status and will be bowling in the second division next year. Most of our other teams did not fare too well and I will let the individual captains expand on their results. The Area ‘D’ Triples team got through to the finals of the Cup and lost by only one shot to Elmswell. A number of bowlers, singly or in pairs, reached semi - finals or finals of area or league competitions although sadly, no one brought home a cup this year! We have, however, thrived in another area and are fast becoming the ‘go to’ club to host events. This season we have hosted an inter league match, a County President’s Day, the Marie Curie Cup and Plate to name a few. We have excellent facilities – bright comfortable clubhouse, ample parking, a very good green and great catering – and this is being recognised by those responsible for organising bowling events in the area. Hopefully, next season will see continued success in this endeavour and greater success in our bowling! Can I end by reminding each of you, individually, that this Club depends on YOU for its continued success, on and off the bowling green, so please support your Club in any way that you are able.
AGM Wednesday 6th December 2017 at 7.30pm in the Clubhouse.
Proposals to add to or amend the Club rules or proposals for discussion at the AGM must be made in writing by the proposer and seconded. They must be sent to the secretary by 15th November 2017. (Maureen Costello, 5 Bridewell Court, Bridewell Lane, Botesdale IP22 1DS or email: maurcos@supanet.com ).
Nominations for an Officer, Committee Member or Team Captain by a proposer and seconder can be made right up to and during the AGM. Nomination Forms will be displayed on the Club Notice Board.
If current Officers, Committee Members and Team Captains wish to continue in their existing positions for the 2018 Season would they please put their name on the Nomination Form with a proposer and seconder for election at the AGM.
Sandy Sargeant: Club Captain - The season has ended on a good note. I hope everyone has enjoyed it. We had a wonderful day weather wise for the Triples Tournament, many thanks to all involved in making it a success. Special thanks to Betty and
Gary Hails for their sponsorship and David Maycock for helping me.
Our green has had many compliments as has our facilities and for that we must thank Anthony Foulger and his helpers, also thanks to Anthony for organising the finals day and end of season drive.
This season seems to have gone so quickly. I hope the winter does as well so we can look forward to the next bowling year.
TEAM CAPTAINS’ REPORTS:
Irene Pibworth: Monday Afternoon Bury League:
The Monday Afternoon Bury League Team had some really good matches. We ended up in sixth place out of eight teams. We now know what we are up against and the standard that is required of us. We had some very close matches and hopefully we can improve on those matches and end next season at top of the league. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all members of my team for their support. Well done everybody. If you are interested in playing on a Monday afternoon then please contact me. All have a good Christmas but hopefully I will see you at the AGM on 6th December.
Viv Sword: Monday Evening Stowmarket ‘A’ Team:
For several years now, we have popped in and out of the first division. This year we ‘popped out’ and so next year will see us bowling in the second division once again. Considering we were short of a number of our handy bowlers (David Gort / Denis Wright / Preston Downing and for part of the season John Williamson) we actually did better than expected, losing most of our matches by only a few points, rather than being soundly beaten!! In fact, towards the end of the season (too late!) we began to beat teams who were further up the table than us. We certainly gave a good account of ourselves on most Monday evenings. I would like to thank all those bowlers who turned out regularly (sometimes in wind and rain!) – I am sincerely grateful for your support throughout the season.
Brian Shurmer: Tuesday Stowmarket ‘A’ Team:
We had an enjoyable season and whilst our overall results were not good, we improved sufficiently towards the end of the season to encourage us that we will do better next year. Many thanks to everyone who played in the team this year.
Christine Foskett: Tuesday Area ‘D’ Triples League
Being a Captain is not an easy task, sometimes we make mistakes but mostly I think we get it about right.
This season the Triples League struggled a bit at the beginning of the season with three defeats, but once we had settled in, we won over half of the remaining games leaving us at th end of the season in fifth position.
The highlight of the season was undoubtedly the three successive wins against Combs Ford, Bacton and Greene King taking us through to the final of the Triples League K O Cup, where sadly we all had a game of two halves and lost by one shot overall, but credit to Elmswell who came out top.
My thanks go to all those players who contributed to our success especially those who joined the team to help out late in the season.
To those of you playing indoors this winter, have fun and enjoy your bowls and I look forward to a successful 2018 season.
Margaret Brown: Wednesday Stowmarket Triples
My team jelled well, played their best but sadly achieved poor results, finishing a lowly third from bottom in the league.
On a brighter note, my team did manage to win both the Tommy Cooper and the Moira Hayward Trophies. ‘Well done
everyone’.
Once again, thanks to everyone who supported me in any way.
Anthony Foulger: Thursday Bury League ‘A’ Team
Division 2 Champions! Again, as in 2014 we have gone straight back to Division 1. Overall, we only lost one game, this was embarrassingly to Risbygate B as they finished bottom and that was their one victory!
Many thanks to all my team members, especially those who played for me for the first time.
We lost several good players this season for various reasons and the players who replaced them did very well. Towards the end of the season we lost Tony Baucutt, we wish him well in his new home and no doubt he will find a new club to bowl for.
Next season we will be up against stiffer opposition and enjoy the delights of playing at Brandon, Tuddenham and Hengrave.
Good luck to all those now bowling indoors. Keep fit and healthy over the winter and I look forward to seeing you all next season.
Barry Pegram: Thursday Bury League ‘B’ Team
With another season over, we had a very good season ending 4th in the League. Very well done to all the 18 players who made up our teams this year - not getting too wet and cold was a bonus. Thanks to you all for your support and great effort in helping out when we were short of players. Enjoying playing with team members and opponents is what it is all about.
Once again, well done and hope you are all going to play in the team again next season.
Competition Secretary: Anthony Foulger
Entries to the club competitions were slightly down on last year. However, it was a good turnout compared with other clubs. Once again finals day was dominated by the same players making finals day rather congested. It was quite an exhausting day! My hat goes off to those who played four games. It was quite difficult arranging the games but most of the finalists were sympathetic and understanding!
Next Season we need more players to try and knock the usual suspects off their perches! Congratulations to the winners, commiserations to the runners up and all those who entered the competitions.
Green Committee Chairman: Anthony Foulger
Due to the resignation of our long standing green keeper, David Gort, it was left for our green committee to manage the green. We invited Robert Ransome of Premier Growth to oversee the work and do the necessary spraying as we do not have the necessary certificates to carry out this work. We have received a lot of welcoming praise regarding the green. It is probably due to favourable weather and a case of new brooms sweeping clean!! On the subject of brooms, we use the term swishing for removing the dew and worm casts off the green early mornings. I am given to understand the proper term is switching which derives from the broom called a switch which used to be used! Swishing can refer to something rather risqué!!
A lot of thanks goes to John Foulger for all his hard work and his engineering skills in keeping the
machinery in tip top order. Also thanks to Tony, Billy, Ted and Rob who volunteered to go on the mowing rota – also to those who carried out the switching!
A big thank you for all those who turned up and helped put the green to bed! Traditionally our ladies used to refresh us with coffee and bacon rolls. Sadly, this did not happen this year.
Having worked on the green I now have another interest! When playing against other clubs I no longer talk about bowls and football! I am waylaid by conscientious greenkeepers. We now talk about fescues, scarifying, fusarium patch, fairy rings and pearlwort!
We hope to maintain the green next season at its present standard but some of you will be playing on the yellow rinks!!!