A couple of guys were running a book on where Mike Gouldingay disappeared to every morning during the mens open week.
I would not dare mention some of the places that were suggested, but after the hugely successful week came to a superb conclusion with the finals on Saturday, I think I know his big secret.
Looking at his new haircut, I reckon that he took an early boat over to Caldey Island, and joined the inhabitants for early morning prayers. How else can you explain the near perfect weather that allowed things to run so smoothly, only one morning of rain (guess who was in the middle when that happened?) but that did not deter the bowlers.
A brilliant week some cracking bowling, and those finals? Just top class. The singles between Berwyn Dennis and Don Poole was Berwyn at his best drawing with precision, and of course the odd 'firing shot.' Donnie played his part but could not keep up with Berwyn.
The pairs match was another classic. Ron Brabon, of Saundersfoot with Tenby's John Baggott were the first to admit, that Ebbw Vale's Tom Daniel with grandson, 12-year-old Daniel Davies thoroughly deserved their win.
Young Daniel had been taken to the hearts of the ladies of the club, his maturity and skills were superb on the green, oh! and Grandad did play his part also with some cracking running woods.
The Craig Cup between Macky Brace and Paul Gray, of Saundersfoot club showed two sides of bowls. Paul's shorter and Macky playing the longer Jack, both played their part in an exciting game won by Paul.
Chairman Graham Poole presented anniversary plates to tournament sponsors Texaco, represented by Phil Thompson, Mike Gouldingay also received a plate in recognition of his efforts in running the tournament.
Graham paid tribute to the 'backroom staff' in particular the ladies who supplied superb meals throughout the week, not forgetting the 'chip buttie' ladies who manned the barricades in the evening stages, those people who had donated cakes or food for the meals, the bar staff and the supporters.
Marker of the week award was given to Roy Kennion by Dave Robb. Umpires for the whole week were Tony Cummings, Mary Cummings, Marion Evans, Tom Osborne and Doug Silcox, without them, things would have been chaotic.
Phil Thompson presented the awards to the various winners before everyone retired to the lounge for sustenance from the sandwiches and the bar.
MENS OPEN SINGLES
(OSBORNE TROPHY)
PRELIMARY
G. Harris 21 G. Phillips 19; M. Dennis - bye; S. Poole 21 J. Moffat 11; G. Bethwaite 21 M. Gouldingay 15; R. Resoli - bye; R. Morgan - bye; D. Bancroft 21 L. Waters 17; Most Davies 21 S. J. Griffiths 17; D. Davies 21 D. Robb 16; D. Stokes 21 N. Griffiths 17; R. Short 21 S. Davies 14; Dilwyn Jones 21 G. Spiller 14.
FIRST ROUND
Most Davies 21 D. Davies 9; D. Roberts 21 R. Pring 8; Don Poole 21 T. Shaw 15; R. Allen 21 J. John 7; D. Howells 21 T. Daniels 8; T. Nutt 21 B. Deeley 7; T. Harries 21 D. R. James 9; Macky Brace 21 M. Donaghue 17; G. Cavell 21 T. Osborne 17; L. Davies P/D 21 E. Gulliver 5; A. Brace 21 D. Greaves 15; K. Taylor 21 D. Parfit 17; S. McNeilly 21 J. Dugmore 13; S. Harries 21 P. Satts 1; D. Bancroft 21 R. Morgan 7; D.K. Thomas 21 H. Andrews 9; C. Smith 21 J. Lewis 6; J. Davies 21 P. Gray 13; B. Dennis 21 R. Kennion 13; G.Harris 21 R. Short 9; T. Cummings 21 T. Jones 9; L. Guy 21 P. Blaney 9; Grm. Hughes 21 R. Holly 18; D. Stokes 21 S. Poole 20; D.L.W. Jones 21 R. Resoli 10; Mv. Brace 21 H. Guy 13; Gth. Hughes 21 S. Arris 12; P. Carpenter 21 N. Ruff; D Pope 21 C. Phillips 0; P. Bissell 21 J. Shields; N. Davies - bye.
SECOND ROUND
T. Cummings 21 K. Taylor 8; M. Dennis 21 Most Davies 11; D. Stokes 21 D. Bancroft 7; D. Jones 21 G. Harries 17; J. Davies 21 L. Davies P/D 19; D. Roberts 21 T. Harries 17; Mv. Brace 21 Gth. Hughes 19; Don Poole 21 D.K. Thomas 17; T. Nutt 21 C. Smith 14; D. Pope - bye; B. Dennis 21 Macky Brace 0; D. Howells 21 P. Bissell 7; S. McNeilly 21 S. Harries 16; L. Guy 21 A. Brace 6; G. Cavell 21 G.R.M. Hughes 12.
THIRD ROUND
M. Dennis 21 D. Stokes 14; Dil. Jones 21 J. Davies 10; S. McNeilly 21 P. Carpenter 18; D. Roberts 21 Mv. Brace 12; Don Poole 21 T. Nutt 9; B. Dennis 21 D. Pope 7; T. Cummings 21 D. Howells 20; L. Guy 21 G. Cavell 3.
QUARTER FINALS
Don Poole 21 D. Roberts 9; B. Dennis 21 T. Cummings 14; L. Guy 21 S. McNeilly 5; D. Jones 21 M. Dennis 19.
SEMI-FINALS
Don Poole 21 D. Jones 18; B. Dennis 21 L. Guy 14.
FINAL
B. Dennis 22 Don Poole 7.
CRAIG CUP
PRELIMARY
H. Guy 23 P. Blayney 14; J. Shields - bye; G. Spiller 21 Most Davies 20; N. Griffiths 21 R. Short 18.
FIRST ROUND
T. Nutt 21 R. Resoli 6; J. Dugmore 21 R. Kennion 11; Macky Brace 21 D. Robb 19; P. Gray 21 M. Gouldingay 10; G. Phillips 21 G. Cavell 8; J. Shields 21 G. Spiller 17; N. Griffiths 21 H. Guy 10.
QUARTER FINAL
Macky Brace 21 E. Gulliver 15; P. Gray 21 G. Phillips 16; J. Shields 21 N. Griffiths 5; J. Dugmore 21 T.Nutt 12.
SEMI FINAL
Macky Brace 21 J. Shields 13; P. Gray 21 J. Dugmore 6.
FINAL
P. Gray 21 Macky Brace 16.
POOLE BOWL PAIRS
PRELIMARY
D. Davies, T. Daniel 32 M. Gouldingay, D. Robb 19; R. Ruff, T. Shaw - bye; N. Davies, C. Court 26 P. Satts, S. Davies 8; J. Lewis, C. Smith and H. Guy and L. Guy; Macky Brace, Don Poole 33 G. W. Davies, L. Waters 8; J. Dugmore, B. Morgan - bye; S. Arris, M. Dennis 21 P. Blayney, A. Brace 13.
FIRST ROUND
R. Holly, S. McNeilly 28 J. Moffatt, T. Jones 19; S. Harries, N. Thomas 17 M. Donague, T.Osborne 14; G. Phillips, N. Griffiths 24 R. Short, J. Davies 13; R. Resoli, Most Davies 23 R. Kennion, D. Greaves 20; B. Dennis, S. Poole 28 P. Gray, J. Shields 9; D. R. James, G. Hale 20 D. Pope, B. Berry 15; D. Parfit, R. Morgan 21 G. Bethwaite, T. Harries 16; R. Brabon, J. Baggott 21 G. Cavell, D. Roberts 17; D. Davies, T. Daniel 28 D. K. Thomas, M. James 6; T. Cummings, Mv. Brace 23 R. Hurlow, B. Bullen 10; Gth. Hughes, Grm. Hughes 27 T. Nutt, L. Davies 13; B. Deeley, P. Carpenter 22 G. Spiller, K. Taylor 21; R. Allen, D. Howells 15 G. Harris, L. Davies 14; J. Lewis, C. Smith 23 N. Ruff, T. Shaw 18; N. Davies, C. Court 28 Macky Brace, D. Poole 13; S. Arris, M. Dennis 28 J. Dugmore, B. Morgan 13.
SECOND ROUND
N. Davies, C. Court 23 J. Lewis, C. Smith 17; N. Thomas, S. Harries 21 G.Phillips, N. Griffiths 17; R. Brabon, J. Baggot 30 D. R. James, G. Hale 17; S. Poole, B. Dennis 28 D. Parfit, R. Morgan 11; R. Allen, D. Howells 20 R. Resoli, Most Davies 10; P. Carpenter, B. Deeley 25 T. Cummings, Mv. Brace 25; Gth. Hughes, Grm. Hughes 25 S McNeilly, R. Holly 15; D. Davies, T. Daniel 20 S. Arris, M. Dennis 14; S. Poole, B. Dennis 22 P. Carpenter, B. Deeley 20; D. Davies, T. Daniel 18 N. Davies, C. Court 16; R. Brabon, J. Baggott 25 R. Allen, D. Howells 15; Grm. Hughes, Gth. Hughes 32 N. Thomas, S. Harries 20.
SEMI FINAL
R. Brabon, J. Baggott 21 Steven Poole, Berwyn Dennis 20; Daniel Davies, Tom Daniel 16 Gareth and Graham Hughes 14.
FINAL
D. Davies, Tom Daniel 24 R. Brabon, J. Baggott 14.
LADIES LEAGUE
CLEDDAU 40
ST ISSELLS 48
Still riding high in the league the St Issells girls travelled to Cleddau to try and continue their recent successful wins.
Rink scores (St. Issells first, Cleddau skips only):
P. Thomas, V. Austin, A. Howells, B. Lewis 20; A. Thomas 23.
L. Statters, B. Davies, M. Robb, S. Spiller 28; P. James 17.
DIMENT CUP
ST BRIDES 59
MILFORD 107
This evening fixture saw St Brides travel to take on the might of the first division Milford trusting that they would still be able to stand tall up against the big boys.
Whilst the score would suggest a rout, the second division team gave their best with Les Davies leading his rink to a fine win over Jim Lewis to give the St Brides something to smile about.
Rink scores (St. Brides first, Milford skips only):
J. Bingham, S. Dick, N. Griffiths, S. Arris 12; R. Thomas 29.
L. Allen, G. Evans, D. Pope, J. John 10; T. Elliat 30.
P. Lewis, J. Austin, C. Thomas, G. Davies 12; P. Collins 27.
L. Waters, R. Pring, G. Phillips, L. Davies 25; J. Lewis 21.
BORDERERS 72 (4 pts)
ST BRIDES 74 (10 pts)
Another day another game, this time back to league business, and a visit to Whitland, always a struggle to take on the youthful Borderers lads (Trevor Williams not quite so young mind!).
St Brides needed another win to get them back on track and John was delighted at the finish to find just two shots had been enough.
Rink scores (St. Brides first, Whitland skips only):
D. Pope, S. Dick, T. Shaw, S. Arris 17; J Morrison 21.
N. Griffiths, C. Thomas, D. Howells, J. John 19; P. Coyne 11.
J. Bingham, R. Pring, G.Phillips, L. Davies 14; T. Williams 20.
L. Allen, J. Austin, P. Bissell, M. Brewer 24; B. Griffiths 20.
BACKROOM WORKERS
I never cease to be amazed at the various people who suddenly appear from seemingly no where to unleash their talents in helping out the club.
Tony Shaw and wife Elaine were up in the kitchen during one of the many meals that the ladies had been preparing, the sun had been beating through the windows with no curtains to protect them, the ladies were suffering.
When they got home Tony remembered some vertical blinds that were up in the loft. Getting his trusty tape out he found them to be slightly longer than required, 'No problem' to Tony he duly trimmed them accordingly, and now the kitchen is quite 'trickey boo' as the ladies say.
Not content with that though, Tony had also heard a couple of, shall we call them 'height afflicted', menfolk complain that they could not use the mirror on the wall as it was too high.
Tony supplied a full length mirror and installed it on the dressing room wall. All this was done without any shouting or telling all and sundry what he was doing, are'nt we a lucky lot at Saundersfoot to have such willing members.
FRIENDLY
CARDIGAN 79
SAUNDERSFOOT 146
It was Saundersfoot's turn to travel to Cardigan for this annual fixture.
It was decided to create a little bit of history in the club by giving 10-year-old Mathew Dick his debut for the club, with dad Steve at lead.
Mathew performed extremely well, with some telling woods he is definitely one for the future.
We also had a cunning plan, feeling confident that we would win well, Gwynfor asked if we could let one of Cardigan's rink win.
Being the sporting chap that I am, I agreed to be the fall guy (what do you mean, you don't believe me, would I lie to you?).
Anyway it was a cracking day as usual, in what has become a much looked forward to visit.
Rink scores (Saundersfoot first):
T. Shaw, P. Gulliver, N. Crocker, D. Howells 31; Cardigan 6.
M. Dick, S. Dick, A. Howells, D. Robb 7; Cardigan 22. (J. Bingham, E. Guliver replaced M. Dick and S. Dick at half time.)
D. Stokes, Y. Price, R. Kennion, J. Dugmore 30; Cardigan 11.
P. Thomas, J. Austin, S. Arris, S. Spillar 25; Cardigan 17.
K. Kennion, E. Shaw, G. Spillar, K. Taylor 26; Cardigan 7.
L. Statters, G. Davies, J. Shields, M. Gouldingay 17; Cardigan 16.
NARROW BIAS