Bowler Les lifts trophy as Pavilion's top Spoondriver of 2024
Bowlers at Worthing Pavilion celebrated another year of their twice-weekly Spoondrive competition with a pre-Christmas session followed by a festive lunch at the club in Pavilion Road.
Les Boniface amassed the highest number of Spoondrive points between January and December, starting on the indoor rinks, switching to the turf greens in May and returning indoors from September onwards.
His total of 116 was three more than Bob Phillips scored, with Bob Mansell third on 87, one ahead of Mike Lawton. They were presented with their prizes by Graham Farley, who does an excellent job in marshalling up to 48 fellow bowlers every Tuesday and Friday morning.
Each player on a winning rink scores two points, with one for a drawn game. Meticulous records are kept by the club secretary, Peter Woods, and checked by David Elliott.
Traditionally, bowlers on the top rink won an ornamental teaspoon, hence the name of the long-running competition, though today the princely sum of £4 at each session is coveted almost as much as the bragging rights earned by outbowling your peers.
After the session on December 20, the bowlers enjoyed a lunch of roast turkey or gammon with all the trimming followed by Christmas pudding. It was prepared and presented by Maria Jones, the club's cook, with help from tireless volunteers Kathy Byrnes and Sandy Ward.