ON THE GREEN

                                          Oakham Bowls Club Update W.E. 24.9.23

The Thursday team travelled to Leicester  for their match against St  Margarets. It was scheduled to be played on five rinks over eighteen ends but once again, the weather intervened. It started to rain after nine ends had been played and a few ends later it started to rain heavily. The green quickly became saturated and the match was abandoned at twelve ends at which  point Oakham were holding 64 shots, St Margarets 29.

Oakham’s rink two was skipped by Graham Cole with Jackie Cole as lead and Barrie Payne at two. The visitors lost  the first two ends but  the scores were level, 3 shots each, after six ends had been played.  Oakham then went into the lead and restricted St Margarets to adding just 2 shots before the game was abandoned with the scores standing at Oakham on 12 shots, St Margarets on 5.

Martin Watts was the lead on rink three with Derek Harper at two and Colin Wagstaffe as Skip.  Oakham started well, winning the first two ends but then lost the next six ends and   finding themselves 6 shots adrift. They won the next three ends, closing the gap, but the game concluded with Oakham on 6 shots, St Margarets on 9

Rink four had Mike Creffield as lead, Sean Biollo at two and Graham Scothern as Skip. After three ends had been completed Oakham had a firm grip on the game. They had only played eleven ends when the match was abandoned  with the game score at Oakham on 11 shots, St Margarets on 4.

The lead on rink five was Lyn Scott with Adrian Wilkinson at two and Denis Smith was the Skip. Oakham struggled to impose themselves until they levelled the game with 2 shots at nine ends with the scores at 6 shots each. The went ahead on the next end with a single shot but scored five on the next and the game terminated with Oakham holding 12 shots, St Margarets 7.

Bob Spence skipped rink six with Brian Rolfe as lead and David Tomlinson at two. Out in front from the first end Oakham quickly established a comfortable lead. They continued adding to it with three shots on the sixth and then five shots on the seventh followed by 5 more on the eighth. Adding 4 more from the last four ends Oakham finished the game with 23 shots to St Margarets 4 shots.

 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?