ON THE GREEN
Message from President Janet
I am delighted to be the New President for 2022 and, as is the tradition, sent the first wood onto the green on Friday 8th April to mark the start of the 2022 season.
It was marvellous to see the clubhouse packed with members meeting up after the long winter break, even more so because we’ve been unable to get the season off this way for two years because of the pandemic. I am looking forward to a full season of bowls with no nasty interruptions. It was also a poignant moment for me too as it was the 30th anniversary of my father’s death, John Scragg, a long-time member of the club and President in 1987. I felt sure he was smiling down and enjoying the moment.
Thank you to all those who have been working hard to prepare the club for the new season, including Ray Gregory and his Team for looking after the green through the winter, it is looking fantastic; Ray Wilkins and everyone who kindly came down to work with the Saturday Gang, we really do appreciate your efforts and everywhere is looking very smart; Rosemary Gregory and Sean Biollo for their work in the gardens, and Paul and Sue Murrant who have restored the club’s scoreboard which is now standing proud again. The club would not be the same without this scoreboard.
I urge you all to play as many matches as they can, as OBC, like all the clubs in the area, are desperate to get back to the status quo, and this can only be done when we have full teams for the planned matches. I would also encourage everyone to enter the Club Competitions and hope we will have a bumper entry this year. I urge our newer members not to be nervous about entering, as competitions are the best way to learn and improve your bowls. There have been many a surprising result out on the green and as they say ‘it’s all on the day’.
The online rink booking system will continue this year, and you will be able to nominate your rink this time. Thank you to Bob Spence for his time and expertise in running the website.
Chummies this year will be Wednesday and Sunday mornings from 10am. If you have any questions about these please contact Rosemary Gregory or Keith Hart.
I am really looking forward to my presidential year. I wish everyone a fantastic season and look forward to meeting you on the green.
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
Friendly Fixtures Survey
Thank you for the excellent response to Alan’s recent survey concerning Friendly fixtures. Not quite 100% response, but very close. The answers have all be collated now and were discussed at last week’s Executive Committee meeting. We plan to have a Members’ meeting at the end of August when the bowling diary is less congested, to discuss our proposals. But, in the meantime, these proposals are:
Thursday Mixed Interclub Friendly matches: Keep as they are. Advise opposition that we will be playing with mixed teams.
Saturday Mixed Interclub Friendly matches: We will not cancel the remaining fixtures this year, and play as many as we can, if we can get a team. Advise opposition that we will be playing with mixed teams. For next season we propose to consider cutting down the fixtures and playing only those clubs we have a good relationship with. Maybe only playing on a Saturday every 3 weeks or so. However, there must be the opportunity for members to play on Saturdays if they wish. Although only 9 members have committed to play on a Saturday on a regular basis. This will then free up Saturdays for other things, e.g. playing of club comps.
Ladies’ Interclub Friendly matches: We will not cancel the remaining fixtures and will see how it goes for next season. Whether or not other clubs will in fact have enough ladies to play these matches remains to be seen.
Sunday Mixed Interclub Friendly matches: There appears to be no problem getting a team for these fixtures. They will stay as they are.
One other question you might like to consider before the August meeting. Do you prefer to play in the daytime or in the evening?
Please do continue to put your names down for as many matches as you can. Ladies, why not try the Thursday and Saturday games for a change? I have thoroughly enjoyed my games this year. They are friendly, competitive and fun.
Also, at the August meeting we will consider the dress code for next season. Do we stick to Whites for our home matches or switch to Greys?
Oakham Bowls Club Update W.E. 24.09.2022
The Thursday teams last home match of the season was a triples match played on five rinks against St Margaret’s from Leicester.
Rink one’s lead was Bob Swarbrick, Derek Harper at two and Alan Jones was the Skip. After four ends St. Margaret’s were 3 shots ahead. Then Oakham won the next four ends establishing a 4 shot lead. The next seven ends were won by the visitors with Oakham only able to add 5 more shots to their total. The game ended with the scores at Oakham 14 shots, St Margaret’s 18
Bob Spence skipped rink three with Jackie Cole as lead and Sean Biollo at two. This was a game that Oakham never looked like losing. Ahead from the first end they steadily built a lead which after eighteen ends gave them a comfortable winning score of 21 shots to the oppositions 12.
Another excellent performance came from rink four. Adrian Wilkinson was the lead, Norman Coville at two and Chris Wallis as Skip. Quickly establishing a solid lead Oakham dominated the game finishing with a total of 27 shots to St Margaret’s 9
Beryl Birch led on rink five with Gail Robertson at two and Paul Murrant as Skip. Oakham had to work hard over the first nine ends before levelling the tie at 8 shots each. From then on they played a very solid game restricting St Margaret’s to winning just two more ends. Final score was Oakham 28 shots, St Margaret’s 14
Rink six had Barrie Payne as lead, Graham Cole at two and the Skip was Janet Horwood. This was an evenly matched and very close game. St Margaret’s took a 2 shot lead on the tenth and then each team won four of the remaining eight ends.
Unfortunately for Oakham their additional 5 shots still left them 1 shot behind with a final total of 11 shots to St. Margaret’s 12.
The match ended with a convincing win for Oakham with 101 shots to St Margaret’s 65
Four senior members of the club contested the Ladies Pairs final on Friday. Maureen Douglas and Beryl Birch versus Julie Healey and Janet Horwood. The first six ends were fairly even with a 1 shot lead for Julie and Janet but 3 shots on the seventh put them further ahead. Up to this point the jacks had been very short but two foul throws saw the jacks placed at maximum length. This suited Julie and Janet who continued to set long jacks taking 8 shots from the next three ends. Maureen and Beryl responded with 1 shot on the twelveth but the next three ends went to Julie and Janet adding 6 more shots. This left Maureen and Beryl needing 4 shots on the sixteenth end to keep the match alive. Regrettably they only added 1 shot leaving the victorious Julie and Janet with a 24 – 9 winand the title.
Oakham’s last Saturday away fixture of the season was played, under grey and threatening clouds, at Syston. The match was played on four rinks of triples over eighteen ends.
Rink one was skipped by Gail Robertson with Sylvia Shalders as lead and Derek Harper at two. Syston took an early lead and although Oakham kept in touch by the thirteenth end they were 6 shots behind. They won the next two ends putting them just 1 shot in arrears. But Syston took 5 more shots from the remaining ends and won the gameOakham 11 shots Syston 16
Mike Shalders led on rink two, Ros Carter at two and Denis Smith was the Skip. After four ends Syston were 6 shots ahead and Oakham hadn’t opened their account. Galvanised into action Oakham won the next seven ends and established a 5 shot lead .Although Syston won five of the remaining ends they only added 5 shots to their total whilst Oakham increased their score by 6 finishing the game with a winning 18 shots to Syston’s 12
Janet Horwood skipped rink three with Ann Newton as lead and Norman Coville at two.
Oakham started well and held the lead for the first seven ends. Syston scored 5 shots on the eighth putting them in front and by the twelveth end they had an 8 shot lead. Oakham staged a mini revival, won the next three ends and took a 1 shot lead. Their joy was soon diminished as Syston won the final three ends and the game. Oakham 14 shots, Syston 20.
A strong Oakham team played on rink four. Mary Smith led, Barrie Payne at two and Chris Wallis was the Skip. After losing the first end they won seven of the next eight establishing a 10 shot lead. Syston fought back to within 2 shots on the fifteenth end but Oakham won the last three ends adding 6 more to their winning total of 19 shots to Systons 11
The combined scores on Oakham’s two winning rinks were enough for them to win the match with 62 shots to Systons 59