ON THE GREEN

Availability Sheets

There are also availability sheets now on the board for matches until the end of July for both Thursdays and Saturdays, so please have a look and put your name down.  If you've not already played, why not give it a go now that the weather is improving and the green is drying out beautifully.

Also on the board is the availability sheet for the A- Z match on 8th June.  This is the match when we play against each other.  Team one is those members with surnames A-M and Team two is made up of members with surnames N-Z.  All good fun.

Lots of bowls available, hope to see more of you signing up to play.

Thanks

Janet

Oakham Bowls Club Update W.E. 5th May 2024

Barnack were the visitors to the Vale on a very pleasant Thursday afternoon. The extremely  close match was played on four rinks of triples resulting in a win for Oakham  who finished on  55 shots , Barnack finished on 52 shots. Eight Oakham players played a match  on a fifth rink

Rink one for Oakham was skipped Chris Wallis  with Graham Scothern as lead and Janet Horwood at two. They found themselves facing strong opposition and after nine ends they were behind by 6 shots but after thirteen ends had closed the gap to two shots. Barnack went on to win the last five ends but  by just I shot on each end.   The game ended  with Oakham on 11 shots, Barnack on 18 shots.

Rink two had Club President Beryl Birch as lead, Reg Wadsworth at two with Ray Gregory as Skip. Oakham got off to a slow start and after four ends had yet to score whilst Barnack were holding 6 shots. At fifteen ends with three to play Oakham were still 4 shots behind. They won the last three ends to get to within 1 shot of the visitors total. Final Score was Oakham on 11 shots, Barnack on 12.

The Lead on rink three was Barrie Payne, Nigel May at two and Colin Wagstaff was the Skip. Another slow start for the home team losing the first three ends but by the ninth the scores were level at six shots each. An excellent 5 shots from Oakham on the next end gave them the lead which they increased over the remaining ends, winning the game with 17 shots to Barnack’s 10.

Rink Four’s Skip was Eddie Owen with Gary Tattersall as lead and Alan Jones at two. A positive start by Oakham saw them win the first six ends holding a 6 shot lead. Barnack fought back and after twelve ends Oakham had only increased their total by 1 shot whilst Barnack had a 2 shot lead. 5 shots on the thirteenth put Oakham back in the driving seat and they went on to win the next four ends  and with one end to play they had  a 7 shot advantage. Barnack scored 3 shots on the final end but the game was won by Oakham with 16 shots to Barnack’s 12

Match Captain Ros Carter skipped the Oakham Away Team on  rink five with Lyn Scott as lead, Mike Crefield at two and Jenny Owen at three.  Opposing them were  the  Oakham Home team with Carol Shelvey as lead, Bob Swarbrick at two, Jane May at three and Brian Rolfe as Skip. The Home team  team got off to a slow start but after  five ends the score was level at 3 shots each. However at the halfway point the Aways had a 6 shot advantage which, despite  the Home’s best efforts, they maintained to the conclusion of the game. Final score was the Home Team  on 11 shots, the Away team  on 17.

Saturdays friendly match against Fosseway was played at the Vale on a warm and sunny afternoon .Unfortunately Oakham were defeated on five of the six rinks in play and lost the match, 79 shots to 99 shots .Rink one for Oakham had Mike Crefield as lead, Eddie Owen at two and Ray Gregory as Skip. Oakham were in the lead throughout the game and on the seventeenth end held a four shot lead. Amazingly, Fosseway scored six shots on the last end, winning the game  by 2 shots. Oakham 18 shots, Fosseway 20

Rink two was skipped by Colin Wagstaff with Sylvia Shalders as lead and Peter Craig at two. After five ends the scores were level at 6 shots each. From then on the Visitors dominated proceedings  winning the game with Oakham on 9 shots Fosseway on 25.

Ray Wilkins was the lead on rink three with Lyn Scott at two and the Skip was Paul Murrant. This was a much closer game with both teams level on 8 shots each after ten ends. Fosseway then took the lead but Oakham drew level again  levelled again with two ends to play which Fosseway won. Oakham finished on 12 shots, Fosseway on 14

Mike Shalders skipped on rink four with Bob Swarbrick as lead and Denis Smith at two.  A positive start by Oakham saw  them at the halfway point in the lead with 5 shot margin. Fosseway then took the lead but the Home team levelled again at fourteen ends. Three of the last four ends went to Fosseway who won the game  by 4 shots. Oakham on 12 shots, Fosseway on 16.

Rink five had Carol Shelvey as lead, Brian Rolfe at two  and Janet Horwood as Skip, Oakham were struggling after seven ends, trailing their opponents by 8 shots.  They won the next three ends, closing the gap but after fourteen ends had slipped behind by 7 shots. A determined fightback over the remaining four ends got them to within shot of Fosseway with the final scores at Oakham on 14 shots, Fosseway on 15 shots.

Rink six was Oakham’s only winning rink of the afternoon with Chris Wallis as Skip, Liz Naylor as lead and Barrie Payne at two. Oakham were soon into their stride scoring a 3 on the fourth end  which resulted in a 4 shot lead. They continued to play steadily over the remaining fourteen ends winning eight of them with just 1 shot on each of their winning ends. Final tally Oakham 13 shots, Fosseway 9

Rosemary Gregory had two well supported Chummy sessions this week. On Wednesday twenty two bowlers played eighteen ends in a mixture of triples or pairs. David Tomlinson emerged as the eventual winner on 24 points. His success was helped by a splendid 14 shots achieved on the six ends of the third draw. Martin, Darryl and Jackie all tied for the runners up slot. On a beautiful Sunday morning twenty three players took part in a very enjoyable informal bowling session on one rink played in the more traditional format

A reminder that this year’s Open Day at the Vale  is on Saturday 18th May from 10.00 am till 3.00 pm  This event is designed to encourage anyone with or without previous experience of lawn bowls and come and ‘have a go’ in a relaxed and very friendly environment. Just wear flat shoes and all other equipment and assistance will be provided. For more information visit our Web Site at www.oakham bowlingclub.uk  find us on Facebook, or contact Club President Beryl Birch on 01572 770232

 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