Annual general meeting
Popular Saundersfoot Bowling Club member Ann Lewis was honoured with one of the highest accolades of the club last week.
Ann, who retired from the position of vice-chairperson after 11 years of outstanding work on behalf of the club, was made a life member.
This was in recognition of her unstinting loyalty to Saundersfoot Bowling Club, her help over many years as a member of the committee and also for the honour that she has brought to the club not only at county level, but particularly over the 21 years that she represented Wales.
Ann was proposed for life membership by Mrs. Gloria Dugmore and seconded by Mrs. Kath Blayney.
Last Thursday's meeting began with a silent tribute to members Kay Kennion, Steve Arris and Barbara Tombs, as well as other members of the bowling fraternity in Pembrokeshire, before chairman Paul Blayney presented his annual report.
In his review of the year, the chairman said that the captains, Gemma Amos, Sue Roden, Steve Dick and Barrie Lee, had performed their tasks admirably, as did John Austin, who with help from president John Evans, made sure that the friendlies, a valuable source of income for the club, ran like clockwork.
Although the men's teams both finished mid-table, there was ample evidence of better things to come.
It was, however, the ladies of the club who took pride of place this year.
Ceris Hewlings again represented Wales in the home international series, and together with Ann Lewis, recently retired from international duty, and Viv Edwards, herself an international, came within a whisker of winning the Welsh triples title, losing by just one shot in an exciting final.
Ann also reached the singles final, a tremendous achievement.
The three ladies, plus Kath Blayney, reached the semi-finals of the Welsh rinks and Kath and Ceris, the quarter-finals of the Welsh pairs.
The ladies also nearly made it a clean sweep in the county tournaments, while in the league, St. Issell's ladies finished sixth, but the Saundersfoot ladies became league champions yet again, under the guidance of possibly the youngest ever captain in Gemma Amos.
Although the ladies of the club led the way, the men too had their moments, with representatives in the county team and senior team and county finalists. Joe Dennis had recently also become a Welsh Under 16 international indoors.
Looking to 2011, Ceris has retained her place in the Welsh team, while Gemma Amos is reserve for the Under 25 side.
The club continues to strive for more juniors to join and Nev Ruff continues to run coaching sessions for youngsters, for which the club is grateful and also for the help given by Peter Gilder.
Membership continued to increase, with some new faces, as well as welcoming Simon Evans back to his spiritual home!
Club competitions were successfully completed and the ladies' and men's open competitions attracted entries from around the county and beyond and were happy occasions, as well as raising much-needed funds for the club.
Thanks were given to the officers and management committee of the club for their hard work, ensuring the smooth running of the club, with special tributes to Marion Evans, who had stood down in January as club secretary, and Macky Brace, Gwynfor Davies and Anne Davies, who were not seeking re-election. Gwynfor was also thanked for his many years service as county delegate. He was wished well by the meeting.
The chairman also thanked hon. treasurer George Cavell and his wife Mary for their work with the club handbook and the many local businesses for placing advertisements within in it.
Further thanks went to Brian Deeley for running the bar, the bar volunteers, John Austin for running the mid-week triples, Beryl Lawrence for running the weekly whist drives, Gloria Dugmore for running the sales table, Nev Ruff, Allen Brace and Mackie Brace for rotating the rinks on the green, Chris Jenkins and Gerald for giving the club a surface to be proud of, the volunteers who collect the public rinks money, and those who help with green and clubhouse maintenance.
Special mention was made of John Moffat who had always answered the call for help at the club. He is unwell at present and was wished well by the meeting.
The treasurer then presented his report, after which it was agreed that membership fees would increase by £10 for men, ladies and senior citizens, but the reduced fee of £30 for new members who have not been a member of another club in Pembrokeshire would remain.
Fixture secretary, Stewart Howe, reported that the 2011 fixture list was almost complete.
Officers elected for the coming year were as follows: president - John Evans; chairman - Paul Blayney; vice-chairperson - Kath Blayney; hon. secretary - Ceris Hewlings; hon. treasurer - George Cavell; competition secretary - Paul Blayney; fixture secretary - Stewart Howe; county delegates - Paul Blayney, Don Poole, Gloria Dugmore and Ceris Hewlings; committee members - Brian Deeley, Barrie Lee, Myrddin Dennis, Diane Rigden and Angela Roberts.
In addition, the meeting appointed Mr. Don Poole to the trustees of the club, to replace Mr. Dave Roberts who had moved away from the area.
Welsh presentation
Saundersfoot's Ann Lewis, Ceris Hewlings, Viv Edwards and Kath Blayney travelled to Cardiff on Saturday for the Welsh annual general meeting and luncheon where Ann was presented with the singles' runners-up cup and Ann, Ceris and Viv the triples runners-up cup.
Christmas lunch
All those attending the Christmas lunch are reminded it takes place on Sunday, 12.30 for 1 pm. Santa will be in attendance and there will also be a raffle and entertainment.