Bowls season comes to glorious end for Chichester

Play was possible on the fine green produced by Mick Page, who played in the match, after so much rain during the past week – the green had been flooded on Tuesday and 100 gallons of surface water removed on Wednesday.

Before the match a presentation was made to St Wilfrid’s Hospice. This year’s open fours competition, organised by John Walters (pictured holding the cheque) raised £1,000 for charity and this was split equally between St Wilfrid’s and the Alzheimers Society.

A number of the club’s members have sadly passed through the hospice’s doors, especially in the past couple of years and the club wanted to give something back.

Alisa Lakeman-Ford of St Wilfrid’s was on hand to take delivery of the cheque and thanked everyone for their continued support, which goes back to the clubs first open fours in 1995.

Club president Simon Tooley welcomed new member Clive Benham to the club. He is a former England international who will be a great asset to the club and help further strengthen the already-successful men’s squad.

The match was played in the best of spirits, and after 21 ends it ended in a 108-108 draw.

Scores (President’s team names first): K Ball, T Hardgrove, S Tooley (Pres), C Benham beat G Buckle, T Wiseman, B Talmage, M Page 19-12; J Dyke, S Goddard, T Gaffney, C Wade beat A Stewart, T Jennings, P White, S Meyer (Capt) 23-10; I Taylor, B Hole, C Dean, L Edmonds beat J Jones, B Money, J Hole, J Pickard 29-7; J Long, N Dearman, P Merritt, M Hannant lost 22-15 to J Walters, M Schofield, P Howick, T Sayers; S Pickard, D Seeley, A Deller, K Burt lost 27-9 to L Jones, G Beagley, R Anscombe, M Bowden; L Etherington, C Campling, S Baverstock, M Bayfield lost 30-13 to L Campling, T Haigh, C Porter, D Leach.

Chichester rounded off one of the best seasons in recent years when they beat East Preston in the final of the PC Cup 83-68 at Worthing Pavilion to win the trophy for the second time, the last occasion being in 2007 when Chichester did the league and PC Cup double.

Chichester almost did the same this year, but finished second in the league.

The squad are pictured and comprise Peter Merritt, Peter Whale, Les Etherington, Mike Lewis, Simon Tooley, Nigel Dearman, Brian Talmage, Ricky Hobbs, Terry Wiseman, Mike Bayfield, Peter White, Malcolm Bowden, Derek Leach, Matt Bonnar, Clive Keedwell and Tony Hardgrove.

Scores: Peter Merritt, Mike Bayfield, Rick Hobbs, Simon Tooley won 22-16; Peter Whale, Mike Lewis, Brian Talmage, Malcolm Bowden lost 18-17; Terry Wiseman, Peter White, Derek Leach Matt Bonnar won 26-15; Les Etherington, Nigel Dearman, Tony Hardgrove, Clive Keedwell lost 19-18.

The event was sponsored by C&M Trophies of Littlehampton.

Chichester are also Sussex County Double Fours champions for the third time in four years and therefore holders of the much-coveted Abergavenny Cup. With two club members having won the county senior pairs and reached the quarter-finals of the national senior pairs at Leamington Spa in August, Chichester and their members have had a year to remember.

Chichester 79 Crablands 77

Chichester survived a late fightback in their mixed friendly at home to Crablands, hanging on to win by just two shots.

Scores: A Deller, A Hulbert, T Wiseman, C Wade (skip) won 20-19; J Dyke, B Money, C Hulbert, PJ White (skip) lost 19-17; R Smith, L Campling, N Dearman, C Porter (skip) won 18-17; L Etherington, C Campling, S Baverstock, M Bayfield (skip) won 24-22.

Homefield Park 67 Chichester 91

Halfway through their mixed friendlyat Homefield Park Chichester were 16 shots ahead and they gradually increased their lead.

Scores:

L Etherington, N Dearman, M Bayfield (skip) won 19-11; T Gaffney, PJ White, M Bowden (skip) won 24-12; J Swannell, K Ball, S Meyer (skip) won 19-15; R Smith, B Money, K. Burt (skip) won 13-11; J Dyke, T Haigh, C Wade (skip) lost 18-16.

SOUTHBOURNE

Southbourne finished their outdoor season with the club triples competition, sponsored by John and Sue Simmonds. 

Ten balanced teams were split into two pools of five with each team playing the others in their pool. The top two teams from each pool then went forward to compete in the semi-finals.

In a very close final, Dave Fewell (skip), Len Mates and Ted Rogers beat Mark Soper (skip), Pete Jasinski and Dave Walter 6-5.

CRABLANDS

On finals day for the West Sussex Bowls League, as champions of division two, Crablands captain Ivan Jones headed three teams of four men who travelled to Worthing for a sunny afternoon’s play at Worthing Pavilion BC, where all clubs in the league were represented.

The games were followed by a meal and presentation of trophies to all three divisions and the winners of the PC Cup.

ARUNDEL

Arundel ladies held a charity day for the St Barnabas Hospice. They invited local clubs to join them.

They staged a raffle and a champagne draw. The match was followed by tea. Organisers thanked the Arun View and La Cucina restaurant for generous raffle prizes.

This year’s theme - as you can see from the photo - was pink.

INDOOR BOWLS

MIDHURST EAGLES

The Eagles started with a friendly against Nyetimber. On a good evening’s bowling featuring three very close games, Midhurst Eagles came out on top

by winning on two mats and just losing out by one shot on the third.

Scores: D Clark, L Stevens, L Mercer, R Weeks won 23-13; B Osbourne, D Berry, B Fallows, S Glazebrook lost 18-17; A Burton,S Tait, D Burton, T Berry won 19-15.

A league match against Bognor Greens saw Midhurst Eagles outbowled and losing on both mats

Scores: B Osbourne, D Berry, B Fallows, T Berry lost 20-11; S Glazebrook, L Stevens, L Mercer, R Weeks lost 21-16.

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