CHARITY NIGHT
Saundersfoot Bowling Club's annual charity night took place last week and was again a tremendous success.
With heavy rain in the morning, the event was in doubt, but Macky Brace and Paul Blayney cleared the surface water off the green lunchtime and with a drying wind all afternoon, everything was set for the evening's fun.
As usual, the ladies played the gentlemen, with Diane Ridgen and Macky picking the teams, which included many people from the village who were non-bowlers, but this added to the entertainment.
Much subterfuge was in evidence, with woods being moved closer to the jack, and the eventual outcome was a win for the ladies by 63 shots to 59.
Many non-playing villagers also supported the event and it was pleasing to see not only the bowling green, but the surrounds (and of course the bar) heavily populated.
A 'spider' took place after the match when all the bowlers, dotted around the green, simultaneously aimed one wood at the jack situated in the centre, and the nearest wood belonged to Malcolm Leader, who won a bottle of whisky.
A raffle was then held in the clubhouse, with all the prizes kindly donated by local business people and friends.
Winners were: Dinner for four in the Chemist Inn - Lou Brace; bottle of whisky - John Morris; family ticket to Folly Farm - Lou Brace; four tickets for Caldey Island boat trip - Audrey Williams; set of wine glasses - Ann Lewis; family ticket to Dinosaur Park - Gloria Dugmore; four cans cider - Myrddin Dennis; four cans beer - Lyn Statters; decanter and glasses - Joe Dennis; bottle of wine - Kath Blayney; portable radio - Ceris Hewlings.
Together with donations from several people, the amount raised was over £200, which will be donated to the autistic unit of Pembroke School.
Macky thanked everyone who had supported the event and club chairman Paul Blayney expressed his thanks too, particularly to Macky and wife Eiddwen for all their hard work in organising the evening for a worthy cause that is very dear to their hearts.
Liquid refreshment was provided all evening by guest barman, Terry McKay.
The evening was rounded off by Macky presenting the annual trophy to Diane Rigden, to much good natured booing from the men's team and huge cheers from the ladies.
The men now have a year of suffering comments about the ladies yet again proving who is the superior sex!
SAUNDERSFOOT 104 (14 pts) PEMBROKE DOCK 46 (0)
Saundersfoot entertained Pembroke Dock in a rearranged division one fixture last week and gained a resounding victory by 58 shots.
On rink two, Joe Dennis, Graham Hughes, Macky Brace and John Jenkins gained a nine-shot win over Ernie Sturley with the help of two early counts of five.
Rink three saw Roy Kennion, Terry Lamkin, John Dugmore and Steve Poole continue their impressive form by gaining a 16-shot win.
Here, too, big counts helped to get the victory, with a six on the first end and a five near the end.
On rink four, Alan Brace, Stewe Howe, John Moffat and Berwyn Dennis took an early seven-shot lead, but a fightback by the Dockers' four, skipped by Brian Dowling, saw their lead reduced to just three shots on 15 ends.
However, two counts of three, plus a four, helped to ease them home by 11 shots.
Rink five saw the biggest win of the night when George Cavell, Nev Ruff, Paul Blayney and skip Myrddin Dennis restricted their opponents to winning just five ends in a 22-shot win.
Rink scores (Saundersfoot first, Pembroke Dock skips only):
J. Dennis, G. Hughes, M. Brace, J. Jenkins 22; E. Sturley 13.
R. Kennion, T. Lamkin, J. Dugmore, S. Poole 27; R. Jones 11.
A. Brace, S. Howe, J. Moffat, B. Dennis 25; B. Dowling 14.
G. Cavell, N. Ruff, P. Blayney, M. Dennis 20; L. Davies 8.
SAUNDERSFOOT 91 (10 pts) PENDINE 81 (4)
Three days after their victory over Pembroke Dock, Saundersfoot entertained Pendine and, missing several regulars, made hard work of gaining the double over their Carmarthenshire rivals, eventually winning by just 10 shots.
Praise must be given, however, to the visitors, who, near the bottom of the league, are fighting against relegation and put up a spirited performance.
On rink three, Alan Brace 'walked on water' as lead to skip and nephew Berwyn Dennis, with Derek Rowan second and John Moffat third, but the rink still found themselves behind for long periods to the Dave King-Thomas four.
Winning eight of the last 10 ends, however, eased them home by six shots.
George Cavell, Nev Ruff, Paul Blayney and Myrddin Dennis on rink four could not quite get away from their opponents, mainly due to the performance of skip Mal Evans and the teams peeled at 22-all entering the last end.
A disastrous drop of five shots, however, gave victory to the visitors.
On rink five, Graham Hughes, Bob Wood, Alan Brain and captain Mackie Brace just missed out, losing by two shots to Stuart King-Thomas.
On rink six, the super four of Roy Kennion, Terry Lamkin, Steve Dick and Steve Poole again took the spoils with an 11-shot victory.
Rink scores (Saundersfoot first, Pendine skips only):
A. Brace, D. Rowan, J. Moffat, B. Dennis 27; D. King Thomas 21.
G. Cavell, N. Ruff, P. Blayney, M. Dennis 22; M. Evans 27.
G. Hughes, B. Wood, A. Brain, M. Brace 17; S. King-Thomas 19.
R. Kennion, T. Lamkin, S. Dick, S. Poole 25; M. Thomas 14.
BORDERERS 74 (12 pts) St. ISSELL'S 69 (2)
St. Issell's travelled to Whitland last Saturday to play Borderers in a division two encounter and lost by just five shots.
On rink two, Dave Williams, Brian McKehon, Roy Pring and Keith Rowlands were always in contention, but losing five of the last six ends ensured a seven-shot defeat.
On rink three, Newton Griffiths, John Austin, Don Stokes and Mike Carr found themselves six shots adrift with 17 ends played, but, although fighting back, were just pipped by the narrowest of margins.
Brian Deeley, Ian Nicholls, Bill Glynn and Barrie Lee took an early seven-shot lead on rink four, but were soon overhauled by their opponents, going down by six.
Rink five saw the only St. Issell's win, with Lionel Allen, Dennis Reed, Fred Rogers and captain Stew Howe gaining a splendid nine-shot victory.
Rink scores (St. Issell's first, Borderers skips only):
D. Williams, B. McKehon, R. Pring, K. Rowlands 15; J. Hammond 22.
N. Griffiths, J. Austin, D. Stokes, M. Carr 16; D. Jenner 17.
B. Deeley, I. Nicholas, B. Glynn, B. Lee 16; P. Williams 22.
L. Allen, D. Reed, F. Rogers, S. Howe 22; A. Reese 13.
St. Thomas 89 (10 pts) St Issell's 61 (4)
St. Issell's played their second away game of the weekend on Sunday when they travelled to Haverfordwest to play St. Thomas.
Although losing by 28 shots, the seasiders picked up four points on what was an expected heavy green due to the overnight and morning rain.
On rink three, Bob Wood, John Austin, Don Stokes and Derek Rowan won only six ends to go down by 21 shots.
Rink four saw John Bingham, Brian McKehon, Roy Pring and Keith Rowlands pick up two points with a nine-shot win.
On rink five, Lionel Allen, Dennis Reed, Mike Carr and Stew Howe found it tough and, although sticking to their task, lost by 17.
Rink five saw the other St. Issell's win, with Brian Deeley, Dave Williams, Bill Glynn and Barrie Lee winning by just one shot.
Entering the last end all-square, the village rink held their nerve to take the shot and the spoils.
Rink scores (St. Issell's first, St. Thomas skips only):
B. Wood, J. Austin, D. Stokes, D. Rowan 10; L. Hoad 31.
J. Bingham, B. McKehon, R. Pring, K. Rowlands 21; R. Lewis 12.
L. Allen, D. Reed, M. Carr, S. Howe 10; T. Harries 27.
B. Deeley, D. Williams, B. Glynn, B. Lee 20; R. Harries 19.
NEYLAND LADIES 34 (2 pts) ST. ISSELL'S LADIES 36 (4)
The ladies of St. Issell's travelled to Neyland and gained a narrow two-shot victory.
Gloria Dugmore skipped Beryl Lawrence, Mary Cavell and Lyn Statters to a six-shot victory over Margaret Saunders, while captain Diane Rigden, Audrey Williams, Kath Blayney and Beryl Lewis lost by just four to Val Hubbard.
OPEN WEEK
The annual Saundersfoot Men's Open Week commences next Monday at 10 am.
Pembrokeshire bowlers and others from further afield will be trying to win the coveted Osborne Singles Cup and Poole Bowl pairs competitions.
The pick of the first round singles must be defending champion Daniel Davies, of Beaufort, up against the 2007 winner, John Roberts, of Tenby, while in the pairs, Daniel and Tom Daniels, the 2008 winners, open their defence against previous winners, Macky Brace and Don Poole, of Saundersfoot.
Games take place every day until late evening and, as usual, the ladies of the club will be providing sumptuous meals and snacks.
Tea, coffee and alcholic refreshments will also be available for players and spectators alike.
Here's hoping that the weather will be kinder than of late.
SPECTATOR