President's Day Comp 2025

WADDE TURN UP FOR THE BOOKS!
John Waddecar was crowned President's Day champion after a pulsating final against Matt Hoyles.
It was an incredible feat from club greenkeeper John, who combined skill and resolve to get through a series of tough games and reserve the honour of becoming the first name on the new Arthur Parker Trophy.
John was by no means in the posse of Finals Day favourites, but the competition can always throw up a dark horse and this one went course and distance.
Matt was also the more fancied finalist after playing some absolutely wonderful bowls all afternoon. But despite feeling fatigued in the 80° heat, John persevered and was a match for Matt before coming out on top in the last couple of ends.
LAST MINUTE RECRUITMENT, A BORROWED PAIR OF WOODS AND THE REST IS HISTORY
John Waddecar hadn't entered the competition and only popped down to the green for five minutes one qualifying night and found himself recruited to play Colin Proctor by proxy. He borrowed some Drake's Pride 2.6's from the clubhouse and played a blinder to make it to the last sixteen.
Lucky woods perhaps? Well those same 2.6's were borrowed again and put back in the box unbeaten after dark horse John made it all the way to the winner's enclosure.
The new champion did it the hard way, wading through four more evening league first teamers on Finals Day. A tight encounter with Steve Marginson ended 21-19. Then it went to the wire against Len Wallis as drama unfolded at all-but across. Lenny looked to have landed a lead bowl to make the last four, but John made a valid call for long tapes - then inexplicably rolled the block off. Lenny landed another good lead but John had the tapes out again to good effect. At the fourth attempt at 20-20, despite a wayward lead, John then squeezed inside Lenny's with his last bowl. Moments like that and you start to wonder if it's your day.
John's confidence grew and in the last four, Harry Derbyshire was next to succumb to the eventual winner.
In the final, Matt Hoyles seemed to have the edge and was keeping his nose in front until 15-11 when John won five ends to lead 17-15. Matt then scored two twos to reach nineteen, but John replied with two two's of his own and took the title in what was a great final to watch.
Matt Hoyles looked like the player you'd put your money on. He bowled superbly and just didn't give his opponents a chance on route to the final.
He had a routine of licking his opponents on the green and then doing a bit of washing up for Pat in between rounds. It seemed to do the trick.
Matt didn't get to the sink after the semis though, but that probably wasn't the reason he didn't quite get his hands on the trophy.
Matt's remarkable level of intensity just waned a little whilst John's game held firm and proved just enough when push came to shove in the final.
The new Arthur Parker President's Day Trophy was presented by Arthur's son Graham who also made an emotional speech which touched on how much Arthur loved bowling at the Eagle as much as we all loved him.
Arthur created the wooden base for the new trophy some time ago and with the old Shield now almost full, it was Steve Wilson's idea that now would be a fitting time to introduce the new trophy in Arthur's name.
It was a day when we also remembered another loveable character that we lost earlier this year, Jim Turner. Jim and Arthur were really grand chaps and it goes without saying that they will always be missed.
Thank you to everybody who supported the competition and Finals Day itself. Thank you also to Club President Peter Rimmer and his wife Ann, who also attended all the qualifying rounds. Hoyles Senior and Hoyles Junior for their unwavering support throughout, and Linda for averting a last minute bunting and balloon panic.
And PAT LEWIS... awesome in the kitchen and tireless worker for the club. She did a double shift this weekend with Harry Glynn's Leyland League President's Day on the Saturday. Unbelievable
Next up The Tim Robinson Autumn Doubles in September. Keep your eye out for the entry sheet later in the week.