12 (+1) go mad in Oldbury

With their performance last week and with us being 3 key bowlers missing we knew we couldn’t be over confident at the Wernley. It is a green we don’t know that well and when we have played it the heavens have opened an hour before. After a brief tease of Jack who bless him was ready to drive to Brum city centre and trawl bars to find Scott it was time to depart. We had a quick game of Tetris using bowlers as blocks in my car - how I ended up with all the awkward shapes ill never know - but I eventually filled the gaps and got everyone in and put some arcade fire on to keep little Lord Lowe happy in the back.

The last away day I had Dave in my car was a disaster. I followed the wrong person, going 3 junctions too far on the motorway before suffering a blow out at 80 miles an hour. With no clue even if I had a spare tyre let alone knowing where it was the repair duties fell to the inebriated Dave and Savo. How we ever made it home that night I will never know. You would have though Dave would have been happy getting home that night but when we did get back last orders had already been called and we didn’t have a fridge then.

The Green was a mixed bag lots of thick green and bare patches. The locals thought the green was the quickest it's been but after a few ends the general consensus was apart from one small area it was pretty heavy.

The green certainly didn’t agree with Larry who found Alan Turton once again on top form. Larry continued to scrap but got caught on a devil of a mark and lost 9. Alan is a lovely fella but he seems to have a hoodoo over the Olton so if we don’t bump into him again for a while we will be quite happy.

I came of the green second after an unusual game spent in the corners winning 8. After last weeks wood and steps smashing incident it appears I have a new nickname. It evolved from demolition man into wrecking ball and on to Miley Cyrus with constant shouts of twerk it. That evening we sat down the club house drinking as I watched twerking videos to pick up tips. We all agreed the winner of the UK 2013 twerking champs was rubbish - I know I can take her.

Jacko the good Samaritan has been struggling a bit away from home and the pressure seemed to be getting to him a tad. Our young stroker is learning though as he paused listened to the advice and played a top draw two shot instead of his usual miss by a mile strike. He closed the game out to 17 and hopefully this will be a turning point in Jacks away performances.

Steve Myatt continued his fine form in his unfussy way, bowling consistently well to win to 16 and put us 10 up after 4. The Messiah is pretty much the most underrated person at the tavern. He is a good secretary, shows up to help at all events, cancels personal arrangements to help fill sides, drives people about, supports and works tirelessly at the charity events and is pretty much the anti-Wiggly. Reason 18 The Moseley got rid of Wiggly - he isn’t Steve Myatt

Things were tight but old Ping Pong hasn’t lost since I put the blues stickers on his woods. Savo showed why he is my Bowls hero playing some cranky mark on top of the crown that left his opponent bemused and Savo with a win to 5 and the sweep in his pocket.

Jp’s game did feature possibly the worst end of all time but apart from that it was a really tight game with JP falling short on 17.

Rocky broke his opponent after a sustained run of beating excellent woods allowing him to close out the game to 14.

Killer was having a nip and tuck game at 11-10 against and the pressure was building. After last weeks no-ones supporting me tantrum, Chris changed tack and told us off for making so much noise he couldn’t concentrate. I wonder if Chris goldilocks makes his Mom do him 3 porridges for breakfast just in case ones too hot and ones too cold. After doing his best Johnny cash impression and flipping Scotty the bird he promptly run out just to show off.

After 8 39 up

Dave Lowe was on nine and just needed to keep things tight but at ten 3 down it was debatable whether there are actual lenses in his new glasses or he got them in a cracker. Lord Lowe is made of much tougher stuff than that and but for the rain storm may have won the game. Still a good 17 that took the last hope away from the guys from the Wernley.

Chris Downes was another to start of slowly finding himself 7-2 against, Dodge though is a man on fire recently and considering he only gets the one game a week has been brilliant since his return to the side. I am not looking forward to the endless miserable face book posts during the winter though.

Chris James was ten 8 down in a tight contest before a barrage of twos left his opponent shell shocked and Chris won to 11.

Scotty brought up the rear with a fine win to 12. Like Lowey the rain stalled his progress a little but he pulled out a classic two shot to finish the game and leave us with a victory by 59.


The tea was good with mild and strong cheese which is always a nice touch and Killer particularly fond of the array of cakes.

2 Swiss rolls, 3 cup cakes, a stroudle and half a gateaux later his appetite appeared sated. It was about this time that Chris had word from his informant and local gossip Cat that CJ had been scrapping with someone who stopped his bowl. Its a good job his sons are more even tempered.

Last week's Midweek round up

As all games were played Wiggly-less last week, Captain Craggers was unable to summon up much enthusiasm for events. He has managed, however, to sum up the week in a series of haikus' - Ed

Monday

Re-arranged home game
Water Orton get beat
Deluge of shots

Wednesday

Dead Slow triplex
Kill's Tavern title dreams
New woods do good

Thursday

Both sides win
Some grumpy players did not
Happy captains smile


Craggers limps all week
Hobbled by woods I wasn’t
Yoda talk like I am

I act real funny, and I don't know why, scuse me, whilst i smash my wood against an edging slab....

This Saturday started badly with rain, rain and more rain. This leads us onto reason 17 Wiggly's picture is used as a dartboard at the Moseley - he is a selfish Pr*ck. While his team mates are preparing for a game, whilst some are racing back from a family holiday to play, Wiggy - who didn’t fly till 10 on the night incidentally - is busy doing a rain dance to get the game off. Secretly putting the water on at 5 am Saturday morning to try and make sure the game has to be rearranged for when he comes back. At a conservative guess by a chief OPTA analyst, Wiggys actions cost the side at least 40 shots, 3 corners and 2km per man in coverage. I hope a little metre squared rain cloud follows you on holiday.


By two the green had one puddle and lots of surface water. By three the puddle was gone and pockets of surface water remained and as the game continued it was any ones guess whether your wood would run on or stick in a hidden pool.

Larry was first up and continued his fine season with a great win to 8. Larry has been incredibly consistent all year and for me has probably been our best bowler (Wiggy is 6th before he asks).

Jack looked confident with his new woods but the look on his face when he dropped them in the club house was priceless. Relax Jack they are just bits of composite and mean nothing, do not get emotionally attached to them and don’t give them a name or take them to bed with you at night. As a Jedi bowler you should know love and passion will turn to hate and anger - emotions are your enemy young padawan. Jack looks comfy throughout and wins 14.

Steve Myatt made his season debut in the first team and after a wobble in the middle of his game bowled very well, showing why he is the reigning club champion. Steve ran out from a fair way down to win 18.

I was last of the first four. My opponent was excellent and I have no excuses for losing to 18. The green was wet and slow though and Alan was really lucky, add to that the slippy nature of the green that added to my injury I sustained last Monday resulting in me having to hop through the day and have only have one leg to balance on while delivering my bowls.

According to Russell Grant this was going to be the worst day of my decade and I should have stayed indoors. Mercury was battling Venus in Uranus which is particularly bad for a Capricorn when Wiggy is in your new moon performing a rain dance. The Tarot reading I had that very morning suggested I would be betrayed by a friend (wiggly I presume but friend is a bit strong), the weather, a card marker and a rogue tuft of grass that kept moving to whatever mark I was bowling. As I say no excuses Alan was just the luckier man. At this point I should point out that it wasn’t a fit I had at the side of the green but my Jimi Hendrixing of my bowl was suggested by my Voodoo master who had also seen the terrible nature of this day in his chicken bones.

A sacrifice was called for and with 3 players on holiday I couldn’t spare any. For those interested the Bowls have been found a loving home and are recovering from their injuries but should live a long and happy life together, I think they are planning to retire in Warley.

I will keep you updated on my health via facebook I am at the surgeons this afternoon to see if they can repair me again. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life walking around like Walter Brenan in Rio Bravo

Rocky was our number five. After a slow start rock had bowled himself into a winning position and then promptly lost. This game set the record for the most woods carried for no score and got Scotty singing again.

JP who once again came up trumps with the grub had a hard game and similar to my own just couldn’t lose his opponent anywhere before falling to 18 in a high quality game.

Savo was seven won to 14 in an inconsistent game. I believe Ping seems to go close to the jack But pong just goes up and down the side of the green.

Eight starred the killer who was magnificent up to 19 and then his opposite number decided she would be great until she got to 12 which I can only imagine she felt was a respectable score and promptly threw them all over the place allowing Killer the win that should have come 20 mins earlier.


9 featured the return of the Lowe who was resplendent in his new glasses. I think he was going for the Harry Palmer look but came out more Harry Hill. Lowey wasn’t at his best but still won 12 and had a sing along to my sharona.

Dodge was on at twelve but came of in short order bowling some excellent stuff with a win to 7. Thanks for cutting the holiday short Dodge hope the win proved it was worth it. Wiggy take note this is a proper team player.


That left Scotty and Jaymo on the green at the same time. They have been together at the end of most games this year and appear to have some kind of symbiotic link. Both Got the block at 16-15 down and both bowled the same mark at opposite ends of the green. These two are that much in sync they should replace that gay diver and his partner no one remembers at the next commonwealth games. It did come slightly askew at the end as Chris won 16 and Scott won 17 but their partnership on the green is uncanny and certainly makes my life as a captain easier.

245 -181 a win by sixty four on a very wet and tricky home green. On the day the Wernley were superb and made a mockery of their league position however we have been brilliant away from home all season and I can only see more to come from this side. Today didn’t all go our way and we know we have to continue improving to reach our goals I am confident we won’t let our standards slip again and we will push on stronger as the season progresses.

Midweek Madness

Tuesday

Solihull Marsh Lane is a short hop from the Olton - which is a good job as that is pretty much all I can manage in my weakened state.


The first four featured Savo and his Ping Pong balls bowling very well to win 13 against Keith Saunders. He claims he was much better that morning on Moorpool but I think that is a lot of wif waf.

Karen was well down against Melvyn but suddenly found some weight and was excellent in fighting back to 18.

CJ allowed his frustrations to get the better of him. Whilst having to battle man flu and an opponent who thought his brown woods were blue proved to much for him as he lost 19

Bob Horn was up against Ken Frost and couldn’t settle on a mark he liked and ken was very consistent leaving bob on 6

Scotty bowled well to win 11 while trying to show his novice opponent some of the nuances of the game.

With killer stuck working ungodly hours harming himself I was called upon to play and won to 19. After 6 we were 1 up.

BA came of winning and it left us with an insurmountable lead.

With the game won captain crystal consistently curled corking conkers in an exhibition standard game before finally succumbing 18 - inspirational stuff from the captain.

A good win away on a tricky green against a side with some very good players in it so good stuff lads and lass.


Wednesday

Xxx B were the visitors on Wednesday night and while the name looks like a porn film the bowls was anything but X rated for the Tavern. 8 winners including 2 7’s and 2 9,s led to a comfortable win on a green that was a tricky pace. The flowers were looking lovely though and a couple of spectators came down for a role up after the game. Jaymo promptly smashed them winning all their beer money off them and sending them home in tears.


Thursday

2 and a half pairs of Olton members played in the over 60’s doubles on the Maggies. It was win one game and you qualify and a massive throng of Taverners had gone to support. Even Little Lord Lowe had left his chauffeur at home and driven to the venue. Despite all this effort our 5 bowlers were pretty terrible - Buck and Rocky came closest to qualifying but it was not to be. Before the dust had settled they were working out who is newly eligible next year and were busy swapping partners. Back to the drawing board boys.

Afterwards I went with the Savages to get some new bowls from the wonderful Mr Meddings at . Jack came away very satisfied with his new woods and itching to get bowling with them. It was the first time I had been to Stews and it was great to catch up with both Stewart and Jason again. I stocked up on Grippo before we left as nobody ever seems to have any at the Olton, I still have a couple spare so if anyone needs any give me a shout.

On the way home we stopped of for a drink a local hostelry, won some cash on the bandits and Jack showed what a pro he is handling a foot long sausage.

No lickey No likey

Jack decided he needed to follow me to the grasshoppers which condemned the captain to showing up late but fortunately Steve is an organised man and safely navigated the draw. With Jack wanting to go on first and being about five minutes away it was perhaps good fortune the heavens opened, the problem was they wouldn’t close even after we arrived. Two things Disappointed me about tonight. 1) The green flooded and the game was sensibly called off 2) The Grasshoppers never dress like David Carradine in Kung –Fu 3) that it was only males using tennis courts this evening.

By the time I returned to the Ranch the B side were down to the last 3 having already had 4 winners and 1 15 loser. The last 3 came home comfortably enough in a game that appeared to be played in an almost carnival atmosphere. The rearranged game will be played on Monday the 11th with a 6.30 start time

OTBC take Huddersfield then promptly give it back.

The Chuckles, the Taylor Twins, the nicest brothers in bowls, the epically talented and stunningly handsome Craig and his older brother. Whatever you call us Friday saw us travel to the all England. Well mostly we sat stationary on the M1 but eventually we arrived at the strange town of Brighouse.

A quick stop in the historic an beautiful local was punctuated by a news report on the all England that ran for 5 minutes and didn’t mention me once. The rest of the group decided on the tip of a local that we should head to Huddersfield. The logic seemed sound but well what can we say? Do not ever go to Huddersfield is what I can say. Apparently they have a great curry house but that was cordoned off by the police when we walked past. All the other restaurants (well fast food places) that looked less dangerous than the knife toting group goading police officers outside aforementioned eatery closed at ten. A quick taxi back found an adequate curry house before attempting to get some sleep in a stunningly hot hotel room.

Saturday

Breakfast was a solid affair nothing especially great but it would garner 3 Wiggys out of five. Despite the All England being played only a few miles away in Cleckheaton the taxi drivers seemed clueless about its existence and we had to blindly guide the taxi to its destination. The all England started a few hours before the Olton Club championship and already we had local players out and people being insulted - Jacko probably wasn’t even out of bed yet. The weather was glorious and local bowler and friend to us all Ant Bracken was making his way steadily towards the final. In the meantime Jack was keeping us up dated with the scores at the Olton and was assuring me my £2 on him was safe.

Chris green hill beat Dave Evans
Andy carter beat Bucko
The messiah beat Chris James in what was probably game of the day
Wiggly beat Karen

In the battle of initials JP beat CJ no word whether or not JP had fed everyone.
Larry beat Alan its time to get 2.6’s sav
Rocky beat Lord Lowe
And Jacko beat Julie .


At around this point I had a lovely hot dog and chips entered a miserable selfie in Mandy Padgett’s selfie competition (see above piccy) and had long since swapped pop for alcohol.



Wigg beat Andy
Jack beat JP
Chris beat Larry
Steve beat rocky.



We had two w&w bowlers in the qtrs but to be honest the heat had got to my head and I was looking like a match ready to burst into flame if you touched me. A taxi was promptly called and given directions.


Steve Myatt beat the Wigg
And Jack beat Killer

With ex team mate and Solihull boy Bracken in the all England final and my bet at home on Jack this looked like it could be a dream scenario unfortunately it was not to be. Brack lost the big prize 21-20 and Jack cost me £7 when Steve gave him a kicking in the final.

See how many Warwick and Worcester bowlers you can spot trying to get in on Bracks success!

Well done Brack a great effort, hopefully wiggy will go one better next year. Congratulations to Steve for deservedly winning and proving once again what a quality player he is. Jack you should have used my woods and it is the last time you let me down I will never put money on you again.

Photos from the All England are from the Facebook profile of Steve Davies, all rights reserved.

The Heart of England Doubles

With two couples through to the heart of England doubles hopes were high of a good showing for the Olton Tavern. Jack and Dave had done superbly well to reach their first ever finals days but unfortunately the finals proved a big learning curve as they went out to the eventual winners 21-2

The chuckles meanwhile got home 21-19 in a game they were well up in and had dominated. In the Semi final they were up against a two time champion and got of to a very slow start. A few ends later and the game was once again in the balance. At 10-7 down disaster struck as Craggers calf gave out and left him in a crumpled heap in agony on the floor and we soon found our selves at 17-7 down. Scott took over the lead duties and a run brought us back into striking distance at 17-13 down before one bad end cost the game losing to 13.

All in all it was a good evening. The green isn’t the most natural fit for a doubles competition but ll the teams did there best and the standard of games was very high.

Tuesday the 22nd to Thursday the 24th of July

Tuesday saw the visit of Solihull Marsh lane. We are always happy to see the local boys and girls from the common end of Solihull - just as Yardley was the common end of East Birmingham when they all played for the Yew Tree. Please forgive the lack of details as this was a while ago and I have not only slept but have partaken in the odd glass of alcohol since.

I believe we won quite comfortably in the end after enduring quite a shaky start with Chris Greenhill pulling out a good win Over Melvyn Davey. Yours truly had a lovely game with a lady just starting out in the bowls world - It was a pleasure to bowl someone who was just happy to be learning and improving and she should be very proud of herself. Scott Saunders from the Moseley came watched some of the games before leaving in disgust at either his Dad's performance or the general standard but I guess that is a question best left to the philosophers.

Wednesday

Colebrook away

The Wednesday A side fell agonisingly short away at the Colebrook. I wont elaborate further on the game as Junior has already posted a report on talking bowls. The one thing I will comment on is I don’t think the Colebrook experiment of only cutting one side of the green is necessarily a winner.


Thursday

Now Thursday I remember or, more accurately, I took a photo of the card so I can make everything else up from there.

The game started slowly for the Olton. Ken and Karen came played okay but losing 13 and 18 respectively. Thankfully Jack and Steve were bowling beautifully to win 8 and 9. Jack can’t take all the credit for his man of the match performance though as moments before the game the young stroker was deliberating which woods he would bowl with. Neither option was filling him with excitement and poor Jack had the look of a bewildered and glum puppy. With me in a non playing Captain capacity I seized the day and thrust my bowls into his hands. Jack weighed them carefully and said “are you sure I am allowed to play with them?” his baby blues looking up at me all gratefully, beads of seat beginning to pearl on his brow as his breath grew shallow with the excitement. I best stop here we are in danger of tripping into 50 shades of grey territory (on that note do not watch the trailer you girls will only be disappointed). After a few ropey ends Jack, playing with a proper set of bowls, proved he can actually bowl a reasonable game. At least one member of the Savage family should get themselves a proper pair of woods.

The next four games could easily have gone either way but I am pleased to say Dave ,Andy, Alan and John all gutted out great victories. John particularly had endured a rough trot results wise so it was great to see him not only bowl so well but get the victory.

The B team were meanwhile winning at the most boring green on earth Wootton Hall. With CJ losing to a lady who was inebriated celebrating her birthday, Savo and Peter getting 20 and 18 others would have to step up as tonight’s heroes. Scotty and Graham picked up victories to 6 but it was Maggie whose card gave us a chance, winning 14. Karen and Lesley both dug deep in their games to score the points that secured the away win. In other news, a dog chased the sheep only for the sheep to realise they outnumbered him 40 – 1 and chased him back. No doubt when they caught him they gave him a good shoeing.

A wild and wet weekend

Saturday


The seniors travelled to the Pheasant,stood in the Car park for a while, went in for a drink, helped the remaining Pheasant boys and girls eat the tea then headed home. The journey back was hellish - the sky opened wide and let forth a torrent of water that made Noah’s flood look like a kid in a paddling pool. Four times the car submerged, streets were washed away while houses were propelled by us with the force of the current. The thunder boomed, scaring animals and nearly waking Ssavo up. Lightening was striking 100 times a minute all around us and for once I was thankful my fillings had long since fallen out.

Eventually we came out of the other side of this most ferocious of storms to find The messiah had already won seven and the game was on. Shortly after our arrival there was another deluge - not enough to clean the grime of CJ’s neck but a good few millimetres of the stuff. During the break, Wiggly cleaned the pub guttering, the sandwiches were called for and cancelled several times and we checked our plants had survived natures ravishing.

The game eventually resumed and the RSJC didn’t seem to happy about it but with Bob and Eddie barely scoring again after the break the Neelesh comeback wasn’t a major gain. Rocky started his game right after the break and walked straight into a hailstorm of stunning bowls from his young opponent. Rocky stuck with it but nothing was going to unsettle the lad and I don’t even think he knows who Kenny Rodgers is. From that point forward though the side were excellent, eventually winning by a comfortable margin. The crowd of one 8 year old boy went wild, chanting for the Olton and proclaiming us the greatest side to ever play bowls.


Sunday

Rearranged Sunday games are the worst but thankfully the Olton showed in force, with not only a full compliment of bowlers who had agreed to put themselves out but a fair few spectators. The green was still wet and slow but the weather was set fair and the green was drying by the minute. Timmy Bastock was in the Beer garden playing a game of spot the Sheldon bowler.

The game started slowly for us with the Hamstead first four bowling exceptionally well.

Larry came of first winning to 17, it was a solid but not spectacular match and I presume the carvery after was similar. I just hope they weren’t serving the lamb.

Jacko had come straight from football, no shower no change of clothes and no trainers. To avoid any unwanted aerating of the green Jack went on without his football boots and was the first of our players to play this season in their socks. Jack had to bowl well to keep in the game, eventually picking up a win to 17. Jack then curled up in a little ball and fell asleep. He looked so cute as he lay there snoring and talking in his sleep. “ please don’t drop me crags, I can bowl honest. I love you.” lets move on shall we.

With wiggy needing to go on last in case he qualified (cough cough) at the masters Scott took his place at number 3 and was the third in a series of close victories against opposition seemingly loving Sunday bowling. Scott came back from the brink of defeat to snatch a victory to 18.

Wiz was the final of our intrepid first four and again came up against a bowler on top form. Dave battled hard whilst trying every mark on the green but it was to no avail losing 13.

So 3 up after four


Yours truly took up the baton at five. With the game level and my opponent looking good I managed to lock into a mark and take the game to 12.

Please listen carefully This is an Olton Tavern service announcement. To all Taverners - bowling up and down the green is now banned and any jack within five yards of the top edge will be deemed in my way and sent back whether I am playing or not

At Six was JP. John has been a massive plus for us this year, a quality player and a top bloke his home form though has been a revelation and after another quality home performance sits with the fourth best home record in the club only 1 shot behind Jack Savage who lest we forget has not lost at home on a Saturday for 30 seasons. John bowled very well to win 7 and finally set us on our way.

With Richie unavailable Savo won the lucky number seven slot and Ping pong and his fly away woods didn’t disappoint. Great credit goes to his opponent who put himself out to play today when others more qualified wouldn’t. Savo won to 2.

Rocky rounded out the second four. For most of us so far we had been short of the block but Rocky played yesterday and was finding things a bit quick. Rocky though proved why he has been such an important part of our season battling the conditions and Saturdays harrowing experience but still showing huge character to come through with a win to 19.

After 8 we were 47 up

The Chris triplets were up next, Chris Greenhill having his best game for a couple of weeks to win 9. Chris Downes took the win in a very close and well contested game to 19. Chris James showed signs of holiday rust and couldn’t really settle anywhere on the green while his opponent really hit his straps bowling well throughout Chris losing 13.


As stated earlier I put wiggly on twelve to give him the chance to qualify for the midland masters at The Colebrook. It turns out he had more chance in the masters at Augusta. Reason 16 the Moseley changed the locks on wiggy – He just can’t do anything right. You enter the merits to a) bowl against better opposition. B) To qualify C) to win friends and influence people. Wiggy played a bowler about the same level , he lost and was roundly booed and hissed at for being Wiggy so he pretty much failed on all counts. The Boy can’t even lose properly! If you are going to lose then lose and do it in style, at twenty nil down lug both in the pit. Strike at someone else’s end. leave your woods where they are and make a break for it climbing the wall and escaping, do whatever you like but do not start a comeback. If you positively have to start a comeback, for gods sake don’t get to 18 and then stop. The comeback isn’t a heroic effort unless you win, it is just a humongous waste of time if you then don’t go on to win the game. You wasted your own time, you wasted your opponents time, you wasted all the spectators time and most of all you cost your team mates a whole lot of piss taking time. Wiggy I am disappointed in you.

To round off the character assassination, here is a picture of Wiggly showing us the washing in the boot of his car. Don't ask because I don't know!!

Fair play to Wig though he put his disappointment aside and bowled a tidy game to win 12 and close out the game , Final score 236 – 174 a victory of 62 for those without a calculator.

A big thanks to Hamstead, to all the supporters, to Timmy B and to all the Olton players who gave up their Sunday to play. You can all have next weekend off.


Reynalds cross assembly

As some of you may know we link up with Reynalds cross school over the summer term and they send a group down to come and play on the green. This activity is organised by Jess who works at the school and is Neelesh’s far, far, far better half. All summer on a Tuesday Steve Myatt and Cj have given up their afternoons to help facilitate the kids enjoyment and provide a different activity from the norm for them. We are proud of our links to the school and we have strived to show that a bowls club isn’t just for the current bowlers it is an important community asset. Hopefully we can continue this link up and have more with other schools and organisations to get more people using the green and more people interested in the game and the club.

This year we decided to run a raffle with proceeds going to the school. It was a bit last minute but we still managed to raise 185 pounds for the school so a big thank you to all that bought tickets. We were invited to present this cheque at an assembly that showcased the activities the school had partaken in. Unfortunately the assembly was held when both Steve and Colin were away - I know the school would have loved to have thanked them for their work and they would have loved to attend. In their stead I went to present the check and enjoyed a fantastic assembly showcasing how the children did at the activities. I hadn’t been able to get Tuesdays working from home so hadn’t been to any of the sessions but it was great to meet the staff and present the children with their certificates. It was an honour to be able to present Leanne with our cheque and I am immensely proud off the club and all involved in this endeavour.

The surrounds


The one thing I noticed about the tavern over the years is how the surrounds started to look drab and dull once Jimmy Bailey wasn’t able to keep up his gardening. On my return this year though it is great to have seen how much effort members have put into making the place look pretty again. O know it takes a lot to pretty a place up with Gilly and Dave Lowe sat there but it is working. Dave Hosgood has worked wonders with the hanging baskets , Jaymo and the chuckles have added plants to the border and Rocky has toiled hard not only planting and looking after his plants but has somehow managed to keep ours alive and impart some green fingered knowledge into us gardenaphobes.

The results are amazing so once again I would like to thank everyone for there hard work and Jaymo for buying colourful weeds. Hopefully we can continue this one and keep improving the surrounds. We should also look into selling cuttings after seeing the prices at notcutts we could be onto a goldmine.

Alan the Cowboy

On Monday we played Henley in Arden in the qtr final of the Heart of England constellation cup. I have no idea why its the constellation cup or which constellation my money is on Alan the Cowboy.

At home Karen and Kenny T both got twenty while Killer lost sixteen. Little lord Lowe, after complaining that he was to unwell to bowl, decided that excuse was rubbish and confessed to being too drunk to bowl. Never fear though we put the sprinkler on and gave him a cold shower. It appeared to do the trick as he won 6 to secure a home win by 8.


The away leg was an eye opener for me, apparently every time we drive past going to Stratford Scott informs me there is a green there but I think he is making it up. I definitely didn’t know it existed. If I had known I would probably be a member - posh ladies playing tennis is exactly the sort of place I want to be hanging about at.

Scotty won 13 snapping a sixteen game win streak for his opponent. I wouldn’t want to be cruel but I think Ray Charles was number 13 Helen Keller 14, Stevie Wonder 15 and Jack Savage was 16

John continued his run of bowling well but getting little for it as he lost 14

Steve got his monies worth losing twenty and once I stopped ogling the tennis players won 8. For a victory of 13 away

Next stop the Semis and a potential showdown with the b side.