FINALS WEEKEND

Saundersfoot Bowling Club held their competition finals last weekend and thankfully the weather stayed fine as the cream of the club took to the green to compete in the 17 events.
With the playing surface in excellent condition, there were some thrilling encounters throughout the two days under the watchful eyes of tournament organiser Paul Blayney and umpire Fred Rogers.
Club secretary Ceris Hewlings certainly had a busy time, as having competed in the Welsh Women’s Bowling Association finals on Friday and Saturday, she shook off any sign of tiredness to win a hat-trick titles on Sunday, including becoming ladies club singles champion for the third consecutive year, defeating fellow Welsh international Ann Lewis, who had also been involved at Vivian Park, Port Talbot, in the Welsh competitions.
Ceris also retained the mixed pairs with Myrddin Dennis, again for the third year in a row, defeating Graham and Alwen Hughes, while she partnered Chris Haley to take the ladies’ pairs title, winning a close encounter against Kath Blayney and Gloria Dugmore, which saw only 26 shots scored over the whole game.
In the other blue riband event for the honour of becoming men’s club champion, this year’s Saundersfoot men’s captain Steve Dick defeated Graham Hughes.
In the men’s rabbits singles, Brian McKehon won his first club title, confirming the improvement he has made this season, by defeating Mike Carr by the narrowest of margins, having at one stage been 15 shots to two adrift.
In the ladies’ rabbits, Steph Amos was victorious over Angela Roberts, while the ladies’ handicap event was won by Alwen Hughes, defeating Saundersfoot ladies’ captain Gemma Amos by one shot in a two-hour-plus match that had all the spectators enthralled with the high standard of bowling.
The other ladies’ singles title went to Ann Lewis, who overcame Marion Evans to take the two-wood event.
In the men’s two-wood, Myrddin Dennis retained his title, defeating John Jenkins, while he also teamed up with son Joe and Marion Evans to take the mixed triples for the third time, repeating their success of the last two years.
The two men’s pairs’ events, two and four-wood, were contested by Berwyn Dennis and his partner Simon Evans and Paul Blayney who was teamed with Joe Dennis, with Berwyn and Simon winning both.
The men’s triples saw Paul, Myrddin and Allen Brace attempting to win the title for a fourth time, but Steve Dick, Nev Ruff and Roy Kennion had other ideas and ran out winners by eight shots.
Allen and Neville were also on separate sides in the over 60s pairs, with Alan coming out on top this time, partnering George Cavell, to an extra end win over Nev and club president John Evans.
The Jubilee pairs, which is played in sets, was won by Barrie Lee and Lyn Statters, who edged out Sue Roden and Gemma Amos by two sets to nil in a close game, 7-5 7-6.
The men’s handicap title went to Alan Brain and the over 60s singles to Stew Howe by default as unfortunately opponent John Moffat was hospitalised and unable to play and is sent the best wishes of the club for a speedy return to good health.
Competitions secretary Paul Blayney would like to thank the competitors, markers and spectators for making the event such an enjoyable occasion and Fred Rogers for umpiring over the two days.
Thanks also to Anne Davies for providing tea and coffee and the bar volunteers who provided another form of liquid refreshment.
The presentation of trophies will take place at the clubhouse on Friday, September 17, and if you wish to attend, please include your name on the list on the notice board.
Full results were as follows:

LADIES’ SECTION

Championship: C. Hewlings 21 A. Lewis 5.
Two-wood: A. Lewis 21 M. Evans 10.
Handicap: A. Hughes 21 G. Amos 22 (needed to score 23).
Rabbits: S. Amos 21 A. Roberts 12.
Four-wood pairs: C. Hewlings and C. Haley 19 G. Dugmore and K. Blayney 7.

MEN’S SECTION

Championship: S. Dick 21 G. Hughes 12.
Two-wood: M. Dennis 21 J. Jenkins 15.
Handicap: Alan Brain w/o J.Moffat.
Rabbits: B. McKehon 21 M.Carr 20
Over 60s: S. Howe w/o J. Moffat.
Four-wood pairs: B. Dennis and S. Evans 22 P. Blayney and J. Dennis 10.
Two-wood pairs: B. Dennis and S. Evans 25 P. Blayney and J. Dennis 6.
Triples: R. Kennion, N. Ruff, S. Dick 24 A. Brace, P. Blayney, M. Dennis 16.
Over 60s pairs: G. Cavell and A. Brace 19 J. Evans and N. Ruff 17.

MIXED COMPETITIONS

Pairs: C. Hewlings and M. Dennis 28 G. and A. Hughes 12
Triples: J. Dennis, M. Evans, M. Dennis 23 E. Pendlebury, N. Ruff, S. Dick 6.
Jubilee pairs: L. Statters and B. Lee two sets S. Roden and G. Amos nil.

ST. ISSELL’S 95 (12 pts.) ST. KATHS 69 (2)

St. Issell’s finished their season on a high last week, completing a league double over St. Kaths, of Milford Haven.
Eighteen shots up at the tea break, the villagers extended their lead in the second half to win by 26 and take 12 of the 14 points at stake.
Rink two saw a high scoring affair, with Don Stokes skipping Mike Oliver, John Austin and Brian Deeley to a one shot win, the scores having been tied going into the last end.
On rink three, Dennis Reed, Mike Carr, George Cavell and skip Roy Pring were one shot down after 17 ends, but winning the remaining four led to a seven-shot win.
Captain Barrie Lee led from the front on rink four, skipping John Evans, Brian McKehon and Terry Lamkin to a 23-shot victory, while rink five saw the only defeat, with Bill Glynn, Don Pope, Alan Brace and skip Stew Howe going down by just five shots.
Rink scores, skips only, St. Issell’s first: D. Stokes 25 D. Hastings 24; R. Pring 21 S. Slade 14; B. Lee 33 D. Smith 10; S. Howe 16 D. Mathias 21.

St. Brides 25
Pater 18

This final match was played in glorious sunshine on the Saundersfoot green, which is still in very good condition.
Pater quickly took the lead and went 7-1 up and were confident of going 11 shots ahead on the sixth, but an excellent wood by St. Brides skip Brian McKehon saved the day.
This proved to be the turning point. The home team got up steam and were in front by the time everything stopped for tea.
Revitalised, they took eight of the remaining ends and, despite a late rally by the visitors, the St. Brides men gained a convincing win to end their season in fine style.
Team: N. Griffiths, C. Roden, M. Carr, B. McKehon (skip).

Welsh finals

A trio of Saundersfoot ladies came nailbitingly close to winning two Welsh titles on Saturday at the Welsh Women’s Bowling Association finals.
Alas, Ann Lewis was defeated in an exciting four-wood singles finals, and Viv Edwards, Ceris Hewlings and Ann Lewis were just pipped at the post in the triples by one shot against Linda Evans and Co from Port Talbot.
The Saundersfoot trio were joined by Kath Blayney for the rinks and were defeated in the semi-finals by the eventual winners skipped by the legendary Betty Morgan from Llandrindod Wells.
To finish runners-up in two Welsh competitions is a fantastic achievement and one that everyone at the club is justifiably proud of.
Viv, Kath, Ceris and Ann would like to thank everyone for their good wishes, with a special thanks to those who travelled to Port Talbot to support them.

MEN’S COUNTY COMPETITIONS 2011

Entry forms for the above are on the club noticeboard and need to be completed by the end of September when they will be submitted to the county tournament secretary.

FIXTURES

With the outdoor season coming to an end, there are only a few fixtures remaining.
Today (Friday), there is a mixed friendly against tourists from Thatchem and next Monday, Swansea Retired and Social will be the visitors for the last friendly of 2010.

Committee meeting

Members of the management committee are reminded the next meeting is on Tuesday at 6 pm.
GREEN CLOSURE

How time flies! It only seems a short time ago that the Saundersfoot green was opening for the summer, but here we are again in September with its mists and mellow fruitfulness (to quote John Keats) upon us all too soon.
The green will be put to bed for the winter on Monday, September 20, and any male members able to help are requested to attend to help Chris in this onerous task, even if you are only able to make a cup of tea!
Working parties are also planned to put the benches away, remove the rubber from the ditches and also to look at improving the surrounds.

Birthday
donations

The club echoed to fun and laughter on Bank Holiday Monday as Brian Deeley celebrated a special birthday with family and friends.
Brian would like to thank all those who attended and generously donated the sum of £555 in lieu of gifts for Cancer Research Wales.