Club News

The Handicapped Pairs were played on 5th & 6th of September this being a single entry tournament where every individual player is given a handicap depending on their ability/experience as assessed by the club selectors. A 2 life system applied.

Well our Champ-of-Champ Singles champion from the weekend before, Bruce Buchan, did mention that he was in a very charitable mood and decided to bring his own personal handicap to the event - a massive hangover courtesy of the best part of a bottle of whiskey he downed the night before at the club season opening!! Speaking of handicaps, Dave Poingdestre did ask me to mention the fact that Rodney Eade had to play with Wayne Hart.

There were 10 teams for the event and the weather was absolutely brilliant for both days - not a cloud in the sky. Grounds man Bruce Buchan had continued his hard work on the surface during the proceeding week and the pace of the green had improved markedly from the opening weekend.

Results in the 1st round saw a variety of scenarios with some very one sided results and some very close games. For example Ken Wills & Paul Hart had a 5 point head start on Wayne Hart & Rodney Eade but by the end of the game Ken & Paul had increased the margin to 19 points winning comprehensively 28-9. In a much closer game brother's Terry & Malcolm Buchan lost on an extra end to Mike Skinner & Barry Neil 16-17.Bruce Buchan defied his hangover as he and nephew Jessie combined to beat Alan Peers & Warren Dawson 27-18.

Round 2 saw some more interesting results. The first team to be eliminated from the event was Alan Peers and Warren Dawson who were beaten by Noel Rooney and Ricky 32-22 in a high scoring game. Other results had Mike Skinner & Barry Neil whip Dean Croul & Trevor Skelton 27-13. Wayne Hart & Rodney Eade played bowls more in keeping with their ability against Earnie Das & Brooke Schumann. Wayne & Rodney gave their opposition a 14 shot head start and after 5 of the 18 ends had dropped a further shot being behind 15 shots trailing 18-3. However their experience told and they picked up some big ends to win 30-20 after only 16 ends. In the closest game of the round Ken Wills & Paul Hart beat Jamie Browning & Wayne Ruka 23-21 on an extra end. Dropping two 4s would appear to have been costly to Jamie & Wayne.

Bruce & Jessie Buchan were eliminated in round 3.They had their 2nd life taken from them by Jamie Browning & Wayne Ruka 22-11. For those who were wondering , Bruce did not take the opportunity to have a couple more whiskeys following his demise. A special welcome to Jessie to the club as a 1st yr bowler. We certainly hope that you enjoy your time at ' The Park.' Unfortunately for them Wayne Hart & Rodney Eade left the event being beaten 26-6 by Terry Buchan & Malcolm Buchan. Wayne & Rodney were on a 'scratch' handicap for the event which meant that they really had to be on their game. They therefore gave other teams some big head starts. The 2 other games in the round saw some teams that were playing some of the best bowls of the tournament - regardless of handicap. Noel Rooney & Ricky met Dean Croul & Trevor Skelton. Both teams started on an even handicap. After 6 ends Dean & Trevor held a very handy 9-1 advantage. However Noel & Ricky picked up 9 shots in the next 5 ends to see the game tied at 10-10. Things remained very even from then on and Noel & Rick led 15-14 going in to the last end. Unfortunately things turned to custard and they dropped a 4 handing Dean & Trevor a 18-15 win. In the other game Mike Skinner & Barry Neil had a 4 point start on Ken Wills & Paul Hart. By the games end they had maintained that advantage winning 18-14.

Round 4 saw 5 teams remaining with Terry & Malcolm Buchan v Dean Croul & Trevor Skelton and Jamie Browning & Wayne Ruka v Ken Wills & Paul Hart. With only a 1 shot head start Terry & Malcolm could not overcome the consistency of Dean & Trevor losing 19-12. Jamie & Wayne maintained a 7 shot start and beat Ken & Paul 22-15. Mike Skinner & Barry Neil had the bye.

Three teams therefore remained and this time Dean Croul & Trevor Skelton had the bye. Jamie Browning & Wayne Ruka had a 3 point start when they played Mike Skinner & Barry Neil. Like many of the other games throughout the 2 days the handicaps made for a very close game with Jamie & Wayne sneaking home by 2 winning 18-16.

Jamie and Wayne therefore had the bye into the final and this was thoroughly deserved. The game to decide their opponent had Dean & Trevor up against Mike & Barry. Mike & Barry at one stage had been the only 2 lifer left but after losing in the previous round were, like Dean & Trevor, fighting for survival. Dean & Trevor annihilated Mike & Barry in this game. Barry really struggled as did his lead opponent Trevor (my son) Skelton to an extent so the battle became that of the skips. It was clear that like his lead Mike was also having ' one of those games ' and could not find a line or a track which his bowl liked. When Mike did put bowls close to the jack Deano would simply out draw him - often within inches of the white. This said something about the quality of Deano's bowls as the surface , all-be-it improving , was still extremely difficult to play on. Deano was simply on fire and at 24-3 it was shake hands time after only 12 ends.

The final between Jamie & Wayne and Dean & Trevor will be played on 04/10/09. This day is also likely to see the completion of the Handicapped Singles so keep the day free and come down and support the finalists and the bar.

Next week (wk beg:14/09/09) the " Roving Report " will cover the Initial stages of the Handicapped Singles so watch this space.