GOSCAR TRIBUTE TO SKIPPER REG

Burly Reg Thake was the toast of the evening at Tenby Bowls Club when members of Goscar team met for their first-ever social get-together.

Newest of the club's three league teams, Goscar provides competitive sport for players bidding for Tenby or Five Arches places. This year they have been skippered by Reg Thake who has retired to Pembrokeshire with his Tenby-born wife after 25 years in the Army.

His quiet confidence-boosting style of leadership and his rota selection system have fostered a fine team spirit. This was very evident on Wednesday.

It had been Reg's plan to thank the players for their loyal support, which he did in the most effective way via the bar.

But it was the players who raised their glasses to Reg to thank him for his fine work. Their appreciation was formally voiced in his inimitable way by club president Lewis Hilling, one of Goscar's regular skips. His announcement that Reg had agreed to remain as Goscar captain for 2002 was loudly applauded.

Earlier the captain had reminded members that Goscar had won over 30 per cent of their games this year. They had collected 88 points in the league and 50 in the Brewers Cup.

He unveiled a new trophy in the form of an attractive model sailing ship which had been kindly presented to the team by Mr. Peter Dunbar, of Tenby's Five Arches Newsagents.

It is to be awarded to Goscar's player of the year and the captain presented it to the first winner, Keith de la Bertouche. Keith has bowled impressively as No. 3 in Lewis Hilling's rink and has also deputised as a stand-in skip on several occasions.

Delighted with the award, he said he looked forward to playing for Goscar next season.

An excellent buffet, prepared by Alan and Alison Redman, was enjoyed by the company of 20.

The evening had begun on the green with two rinks, drawn from the hat, battling over eight enjoyable ends. Winning rink was skipped by Reg Thake. Other members of his quartet were John King, Tony Kelly and Len Hadman, who was in great form.

WARM WELCOME

FOR NEWQUAY TEAM

A hastily arranged friendly match with the Ceredigion club Newquay was so successful on Sunday that the fixture might well become an annual one.

The attractive coastal resort of Newquay boasts a bowling membership of barely 40 and 16 of them came to Tenby. Although Tenby won overall by 138 shots to 99, the visitors won two of the six mixed rinks.

Newquay skipper John T. Price, who said he uses the 'T' to differentiate him from his more famous namesake, was lead on one of the winning rinks.

Terry Preston led three ladies to an impressive 26-13 win in which 92-year-old Gladys Gray and Lon Evans bowled superbly.

Gwyn Beynon's rink, which included newcomer Gerald Hewitt as lead, were always in command to clinch their match 19-12.

Bill Bailey is seriously considering turning professional after collecting his umpteenth sweep of the season. He, Rose Handicott, Jean Salisbury and Graham Hill cruised to a 29-9 victory.

Alan Redman's quartet missed out on the money by only one shot. They had three 4s and two 3s in their tally of 28, with Kitty Bliss, Phyll Jones and Graham Stubbs all contributing to a fine result.

Mair Marquiss, backed by Mary Draper, Alan Rootes and Lee Richards, were trailing by a single shot after 20 ends, but Newquay took five shots on the final end to win 24-18.

Enjoyable though the bowling had been, it was overshadowed by the clubhouse socialising which followed.

Captain for the day Graham Stubbs, who took command at very short notice, welcomed the visitors enthusiastically, related several amusing stories particularly apt for two holiday resort sides, and expressed the hope that it would not be Newquay's last visit to Tenby.

In reply, John Price thanked Tenby for their warm hospitality. He admitted that he could not match Graham as a story teller. But he quickly revealed that he has other talents.

His fine voice and polished technique impressed everyone in his interpretation of the Working Man ballad, a real tear-jerker which received a rousing ovation.

Another member of the visiting team, John Evans, who will be president of the Welsh Bowling Association next year, said that a tour of Dublin was being planned and he expressed the hope that Tenby would be represented in the touring party.

It was a sunshine day all round and one that will be remembered by all who took part in it.

Tenby rink scores were:

Arthur Ormond, Val James, Gavin Crawford, Chris Morgan 18-27.

Pat Stubbs, Gladys Gray, Lon Evans, Terry Preston 26-13.

Gerald Hewitt, Marnie Owens, Alison Redman, Gwyn Beynon 19-12.

Rose Handicott, Jean Salisbury, Graham Hill, Bill Bailey 29-9.

Kitty Bliss, Phyllis Jones, Graham Stubbs, Alan Redman 28-14.

Mary Draper, Alan Rootes, Lee Richards, Mair Marquiss 18-24.

TENBY V PROBUS

A very enjoyable bowls match was held on Thursday afternoon when Tenby bowlers entertained their friends from the Probus Club in a mixed friendly.

The Tenby bowlers were victorious and captain of the day, John Baggott, was delighted to receive the Doughy Baker Shield from Probus captain, Alan Fursse.

THE BELGRAVE SHIELD

The Monday night triples, sponsored by Mr. Malcolm Thomas, of the Belgrave Hotel, came to its conclusion on Monday evening (writes A.R.).

It was a well contested finish, with three players vying for the first positions. All the top three players had 19 pts, with only shot difference dividing them.

The positions were as following: 1. J. Webb; 2. H. Guy; 3. S. McNeilly; 4. T. Preston; 5. B. Barnikel.

The evening was rounded off with refreshments provided by Alison and Marnie.

I would like to thank Ben and Terry for their support throughout the season, and would like to thank Mr. Malcolm Thomas for his sponsorship. I hope the members will fully support their Monday night league next year as well as they did this year.

WHIST

Winners of the weekly whist drive last week were: top score - E. Breadnam; 1st lady - J. Rees; 2nd lady - G. Irvine; 1st gent - R. Irvine; 2nd gent - E. Sutcliffe and J. Dorling (shared); 1st half - E. Jones; 2nd half - K. Sutcliffe and L. McCartney (shared); longest sitter - J. Groom; raffles - M. Marquiss and R. Irvine.

CASTLE HILL CUP 2001

This popular end of the season trophy, played in the best of three sets format, reached the final on Tuesday. The finalists were Terry Preston and Gerald Hewitt.

Terry astounded the Tenby bowlers when he joined the club. In his first full season, in 1986, he won three singles cups, including the coveted T. P. Hughes Cup, to become the club champion, a quite remarkable feat.

Young Gerald Hewitt looks to be built of the same material as Terry. Gerald has only been bowling for two months and is a natural if there ever was one. He did remarkably well to reach the final of the Castle Hill Cup, especially as it is the first bowling cup he has entered.

In the final, seasoned campaigner Terry proved too good for Gerald, who admitted to feeling slightly nervous, but as the knowledgeable bowlers present all agreed, Gerald will be a force to be reckoned with in the years ahead.