Desborough BC Opening Spoon Drive

at Desborough BC, Sunday 1 May 2011 at 2.30 pm

A windy May Day on Sunday saw Desborough Bowling Club in York Road, mark the start of the Outdoor season with the opening Spoon Drive.

Seventy-two bowlers, including a few new members that have joined the club from the Indoor coaching sessions; along with a number of spectators turned up for a fun day, starting with the usual “Spider” taking a different format this time, using two jacks – one ladies’ and one men’s.  Gina Braddock won first prize for finishing closest to the men’s jack and Percy Chambers picked up the prize for landing closest to the ladies’.

The match itself was played over eight rinks and comprised two teams with the Reds charged by the Men’s Captain, Maurice Rhymer while, Ladies’ Captain, Mary Martin led the Blues. Each rink was made up of two sides of four players and an extra two sets of fours meant that each rink took their turn to sit out for two ends so all could join in.

The Red team won the day, winning 162-141 and Top Rink, with a score of 33-13 was led by Clare Buckley and included a superb performance from new bowler, Robert Van den Bergen, Lilian Cannell and Skip, Brian Jones.

It was a family affair for the Van den Bergens as Robert’s son, Mark, who also came through the coaching sessions; joined by Peggy Tuhill, Mary Martin and John Stannard were Top side for the Blues.

Rinks (Blue team first followed by the Reds):

A Glover, E Bond, M Hobson, M Bellworthy (skip) 16, K Spracklen, M Barry, C Palmer, R James (skip) 13;  R Barry, C Tupling, S Newnham, J Simpson (skip) 10, R Crunden, A Shoat, J Lawrie, B Gill (skip) 26;  T Buckley, W Paine, C Burton, J Searle (skip) 20, M Rawlinson, S Bell, T Brown, R Weaver (skip) 11;  P Tuhill, M Van den Bergen, M Martin, J Stannard (skip) 20, R Hughes, J Alder, E Gill, M Rhymer (skip) 5;  C Cleary, J Ellaway, P Chambers, J Leahy (skip) 11, E Quick, J Stenson, D Griggs, C Crunden (skip) 20;  O Long, J Eyre, F Buntin, E Devonald-Batt (skip) 14, P Smith, M Whittingham, M Howard, P Braddock (skip) 22;  R Eyre, B Harman, N Wood, R Brown (skip) 13, C Buckley, R Van den Bergen, L Cannell, B Jones (skip) 33;  B West, B Bellworthy, G Braddock, M White (skip) 19, P & J Finlan, G Humphries, A Buckley, V White (skip) 17;  J Tuhill, J Cleary, D Hasler, G O’Neill (skip) 18, J Crawford, N Long, M Kaye, J Lyons-Hill (skip) 15

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New Blood from Mary and Experience from Maurice Make a Winning Partnership for this Year’s Outdoor Captains

The 2011 Outdoor season marks a change of Captaincy at Desborough Bowls Club and the duty this year falls to Mary Martin for the Ladies and Maurice Rhymer for the Men.

Vice Captain in 2010 and now in her seventh season at the club, Mary is looking forward to her year as Captain, having recently given up work. She is involved in many activities at the club and represents Desborough in the Thames Valley League and Royal Shield matches as well as the club friendlies.

Maurice was previously Club Captain in 2004 and has held a number of posts on the Outdoor Committee during his time at Desborough BC.  He will also chair the committee during the club’s next indoor season.

Their chosen charity this year is Help for Heroes and both wish all members a successful outdoor season in 2011.

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