ON THE GREEN

Oakham Bowls Club Update W. E. 21st July 2024

On a perfect day for bowling Oakham’s Saturday team welcomed Birstall to the Vale and at last, recorded a win. In a complete reversal of fortunes Oakham  got their revenge for the 56-85 threshing  Birstall  gave them earlier in the year, turning the tables with a 80-62 win. The match was played on five rinks over eighteen ends.

Rink one for Oakham had Jane May as lead, Nigel May at two and the Skip was Mike Shalders. After losing the first end they won the next three, established a lead,  which they held  throughout  the game, winning the tie with  17 shots to Birstall’s 9 shots.

Colin Wagstaff skipped on rink two with John McFadden as lead and Lyn Scott at two. Facing tough opposition, Oakham were  8 shots behind after five ends had been played. They stuck to their task and despite winning 9 of the eighteen ends they were still 5 shots behind at the completion  of the game. Oakham finished on 15 shots, Birstall on 20.

Lesly Webster was rink four’s lead, Brian Rolfe at two with Janet Horwood as the Skip. For the first nine ends this was a very closely contested game with Oakham on 5 shots and Birstall, 1 shot behind, on 4 shots. After a drawn  end on the eleventh Oakham scored 4 shots on the twelveth  and then another 4 on the thirteenth. This gave them healthy lead which they maintained , wining the game with 17 shots to Birstall’s 11 shots.

Rink five had Chris Wallis as Skip, Peter Craig as lead and Ros Carter at two. They allowed Birstall to win the first end but then  went on to win the next seven creating  a 9 shot lead. The remaining ten ends were shared equally but Oakham’s  better scoring rate ensured the game was won by them. Oakham on 18 shots Birstall on 8

The lead on rink six was Sylvia Shalders with Eddie Owen at two and Denis Smith as Skip. This game  did not start well for Oakham as they didn’t register a score till the seventh end at which point they were 8 shots in arrears. They persevered but were still 6 shots adrift on the completion of fourteen ends. This competitive trio, with great determination, fought on and won the remaining  four ends but agonisingly were just 1 shot behind at the end of the game. Oakham holding 13 shots, Birstall holding 14 shots.

An important date for your diaries. On Wednesday 31st July Oakham are looking forward to welcoming the Devonshire Touring Team to the Vale. The game commences at 1.30 pm

 

Good morning

At last a win for the Saturday team.  In a complete reversal of fortunes OBC got their revenge for their 56 - 85 thrashing earlier in the year and turned the tables with a 80 - 62 win.  A perfect day for bowling, warm and cloudy, although we did have to dash inside midway through the game when we had a very heavy cloud burst.  But this did not detract from a very enjoyable afternoon.

 

 

 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