Members of Penally Short Mat Bowls Club recently rounded off a successful season of bowling with their annual dinner and trophy presentation evening at Cellar Bistro, The Esplanade, Tenby. An excellent meal was enjoyed by all and trophies were presented to the following club competition winners:
Men's singles - Andrew Faulkner; Ladies singles - Janine Bancroft; Mixed singles - Janine Bancroft; Mixed pairs - Janine Bancroft, Clive Law; Mixed triples - Janine Bancroft, Matthew Johns, Clarice Upham; Mixed fours - Pat Williams, Luke Guymer, Clarice Upham, Robert Hughes.
Penally Short Mat Bowls Club was founded in 1989 with just 12 members and has gone from strength to strength since those early days. The club originally played in the local Friendly League, challenging teams from nearby villages.
In both 1990 and 1991 the club was awarded the Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls 'Sportsmanship' Shield, whereupon the decision was made to join the Pembrokeshire League.
During their membership of the Pembrokeshire Association, the club has taken part in the Main League, the President's League and the Two's and Three's League, winning all but the latter on more than one occasion. The club is also particularly successful in county cup competitions and are currently holders of the Pauline Thomas Cup and the Ken Havard Cup.
The club captain for the coming season is Robert Hughes, who hopes to add further to their achievements.
In 1994, the club was proud to open a junior section and welcomed youngsters into its fold. Club coaches devoted much of their time to the development of the Junior Club and were duly rewarded when three of the club's youngest members, Andrew Faulkner, Robert Hughes and Janine Bancroft, were selected to play for Wales.
Their international status added to the honour brought to the club by Gordon Williams, Ken Bellamy, Clive Law and Jamie Shields, who had also represented their country.
In addition to this, Penally club is proud to have had many members selected for the county team. Their current junior members, Craig Guymer, Luke Guymer and James Owen, are showing considerable progress and have a promising future ahead of them.
Penally Short Mat Bowls Club is now actively seeking new members. Short mat bowling is a great social experience and offers a fun opportunity to meet people in a friendly environment. The club is open in the Village Hall on Monday and Thursday evenings at 7 pm, and Wednesday afternoons at 2 pm.
The 2001/2002 bowling season begins at the end of September and the club will be re-opening on Monday, August 20. All ages are welcome, although junior members must be over 10 years old. No previous bowling experience is necessary, tuition and equipment is willingly provided.
For further information contact club secretary Janine Bancroft on (01834) 844568.