ON THE GREEN

Oakham Bowls Club Update W.E.12th May 2024

On a warm and sunny afternoon  Oakham’s Thursday Team had an away match in Syston  It was played on five rinks over eighteen ends and despite only winning on one rink Oakham won the match with 82 shots to their Hosts 76

Oakham’s rink one had Carol Shelvey as lead, Nigel May at two and Graham Scothern as Skip. A steady start by both teams saw them, after ten ends, level with 7 shots each. Oakham then took the lead and three  ends later held a 3 shot advantage. The visitors were them stunned by a resurgent Syston team who won the last five ends adding 14 more shots, winning the game with the final scores standing at Oakham 11 shots Syston 21

Eddie Owen skipped on rink two with Liz Naylor as lead and Rosemary Gregory at two. This was a close game for the first eleven ends at which point Oakham had a 1  shot lead. Syston took the next two ends putting the 4 shots ahead. With two ends to play Oakham were just 1 shot behind but Syston won them both and the game, Oakham 13 shots, Syston 16 shots

Rink three had Dorothy Spence as lead, Sean Biollo at two and Ray Gregory skipping Oakham’s only winning rink.  A stellar performance from the Oakham team saw them, after just 8 ends, holding 19 shots to their Hosts 2. Whilst four of the remaining    ends were won by Syston  Oakham continued to dominate, winning the game with the final score at Oakham on 29 shots, Syston on 9.

Paul Murrant skipped rink four with Jenny Owen as lead and David Tomlinson at two. Syston won six of the first ten ends and holding 11 shots had a comfortable 7 shot lead, Oakham stunned them with 6 shots on the next end, cutting their lead to 1 shot. At  fifteen ends Oakham held the lead by 2 shots  Syston’s 4 shots on the  sixteenth gave them a 2 shot advantage. Oakham won the final two ends and drew the game .Oakham finished with 16 shots, Syston also on 16 shots.

Barrie Payne led on rink six with Match captain Ros Carter at two and Alan Jones as Skip. The visitors made a slow start but were only 1 shot in arrears after seven ends. However the next nine ends did not go their way and with two ends to play they were trailing by 7 shots. They   won the seventeenth adding  3 shots and then  the final end adding a further 3 shots but annoyingly  finishing just 1 shot behind Syston. Oakham holding 13 shots, Syston on 14.

Saturdays match was away  against St Margarets in Leicester on a bright and sunny  afternoon. The match was played on six rinks over eighteen ends. Unfortunately Match Captain Janet Horwood was a non player due to an injured left knee. An enjoyable afternoon’s bowling  was won by St Margarets with Oakham on 82 shots, St Margarets on 99

The Oakham Skip on rink one was Derek Harper with Club President Beryl Birch at two and Mike Creffield at three. Oakham made a positive start with the game level at 8 – 8 after seven ends. The next end saw St. Margarets take the lead but Oakham stayed in touch and at eleven ends had a 1 shot lead. 4 shots from their opponents on the next end was a blow from which they didn’t recover, the game ending with Oakham on 16 shots, St Margarets on 19

Ray Wilkins led on rink two with Lyn Scott at two and Chris Wallis as Skip. A tough match for the Oakham team who were just 1 shot behind after ten ends. The next six ends were won by St. Margarets leaving  Oakham with an 11 shot deficit.  Oakham won the last two ends but couldn’t close the gap. Oakham finished on 8 shots, St Margarets on 17.

A tight game on rink three which was skipped by Matt Murrant with Jackie Cole as lead and Reg Wadsworth at two.  The scores were level after seven ends but after three more ends Oakham held a 4 shot lead which they held till the sixteenth when  St. Margarets took a 1 shot lead. Oakham responded with 2 shots on the next end  putting them 1 shot in front. Not to be outdone St. Margarets won the last end with 1 shot, the game ending in a draw. Oakham on 13 shots, St Margarets on 13 shots.

Rink four was Oakham’s only winning rink of the match. Skipped by Simon Kolkowski with Sylvia Shalders as lead and  Denis Smith at two. A slow start by the visitors but after five ends they had secured the lead. Now firmly in the driving seat they maintained their advantage winning the game by six shots with the scores at Oakham on 17 shots, St Margarets on 11.

Paul Murrant skipped rink five with Jenny Owen as lead and Brian Rolfe at two. After four ends St Margarets  had a 3 shot lead  A gritty Oakham stayed in touch and after twelve ends were  only 1 shot behind. St. Margarets then hit them with a 6 followed by a 2 putting them 9 shots adrift. Oakham remained  resolute and won the last four ends but couldn’t quite close the gap. Oakham  on 16 shots, St Margarets  on 18.

Rink six has Mary Smith as lead. Barrie Payne at two and Mike Shalders  as Skip. Oakham started in a positive vein and had a 3 shot lead after four ends. On the next end St Margarets devastated them with 8 shots and established a lead which they never relinquished. A shocked Oakham trio continued to fight back taking 6 of the remaining ends but the game was lost. Oakham on 12 shots, St  Margarets on 21

A beautiful Wednesday morning encouraged twenty seven bowlers to attend Rosemary’s chummy session. With the green now playing faster there was some excellent bowling and close heads. The overall winner was Ros Carter with a splendid 26 points  scored on all but four ends. Nigel May was the runner up with 21 points. A warm and sunny Sunday morning saw twenty three players arriving for coaching or an informal bowling session. A particularly competitive triples game took place on rink five where the final score did not truly reflect the close ends.

Many of the players attending Rosemary’s chummy sessions are Club members who have joined in the last year or so. Quite a few of them as a result of attending our open Days. This Saturday,18th May, is our next Open Day. Whether you have bowled before or never held a wood  come and meet them and discover a new and enjoyable way of spending a couple of hours in excellent company, on the bowling green. Check our Web Site www.oakhambowlngclub.uk or find the club on Facebook

 

 History of the OK TROPHY 

The 'OK Trophy' was born in 2003.

As Fixtures Secretary I had already instigated 4 annual fixtures with Keyworth - Home and Away on Thursdays and Saturdays.

We had a very friendly and competitive relationship and, as it was my Presidents year, I thought it would add spice to the Fixtures if we had something to play for.

I had built up a good rapport with the Keyworth President - John Cowley - who sadly is no longer with us, and it was decided between the 2 of us to inaugurate a Trophy to play for.

It was decided that a cut glass vase would be appropriate and the 'OK TROPHY' was born, paid for 50/50 by the 2 Clubs.

These Fixtures became extremely popular and very keenly contested.

This year would have been the 20th year the 'Trophy' would have been played for - if Covid hadn't intervened and taken away the Fixtures in 2020 and 2021.

For 15 years things went along smoothly with Oakham leading 9 - 6 inthe matches.

Unfortunately in 2018 Keyworth decided to drop the Thursday fixtures as they clashed with their Nottingham League commitments.

This was a great shame with us now playing only in the 2 Saturday fixtures in our last 3  years of competition.

In the 3 years when we have only played 2 matches per season Oakham have won twice and Keyworth once making the current score for the 18 years of matches 11 - 7 to Oakham 

However the competition for the 'Trophy' remains strong,and hard fought over, as shown this year with Oakham winning by the narrow margin of 16 shots.  

Long may the OK Trophy continue to flourish.

Here are the results from the start: 

4 matches per season

2003  Oakham       +52 shots

2004  Keyworth     +50    "

2005  Keyworth      +22   "

2006  Oakham       +29    "  

2007  Oakham       +122  "

2008  Keyworth      +18    "

2009  Keyworth      +43    "

2010  Oakham        +16   "

2011  Keyworth       +26   "

2012  Keyworth       +13   "

2013  Oakham        +12   "

2014  Oakham        +47   "

2015  Oakham        +19   "

2016  Oakham        +39   "

2017  Oakham        +117  "

2 matches per season2

2018   Keyworth     +29  shots

2019   Oakham       +16    "

2020   Not played - Covid

2021         "                "

2022    Oakham      +16    shots

TOTAL TO DATE  OAKHAM  11    KEYWORTH  7

Chris Wallis