NEWS
MARCH NEWSLETTER
Just a month to go before Opening night, so time to get your bowling gear out of cold storage and make sure it’s not shrunk over the winter months!! If you need a club shirt or jacket, please contact Eddie Owen.
Next on the agenda at the club is Paul and Sue’s Quiz Night – Saturday 22nd March: 6.30pm for a 7pm start. £5pp which will include light refreshments during the interval. This quiz is always a fun event and there’ll be questions for everyone. Please make up teams of up to 6 players (no more) and have a team name ready. If you haven’t got 6 players, it’s not a problem as teams can be put together on the night. The list is now on the Notice Board in the Clubhouse, or you can email ([email protected]), ring or text Paul on 07960 902756.
Before the season starts, we have to get the club ready, and so will we be calling on the Saturday Gang to work their magic again. Ray Wilkins has agreed to once again oversee and direct the work that needs to be done, but this will be his last year as Gang Master. I’d like to thank Ray for the many hours he has spent at the club doing various jobs over the years. We are very grateful to you Ray. We are therefore looking for someone to volunteer to work alongside him this year and learn what needs to be done at the beginning and end of the season. As Ray says, ‘it’s not difficult’, but we need someone to be there to co-ordinate things.
First meeting of the Saturday gang will be Saturday 15th March at 9am and then the next 3 or 4 Saturdays following. We’d be grateful for as many members as possible to turn up and help with the jobs that need to be done, e.g. cleaning ditches and replacing ditch mats, painting outside furniture, clearing out the compound to name but a few. Refreshments will be provided midway through the morning, and again could someone please volunteer to do the first two Saturday refreshments as I will be away?
As well as the Saturday gang we will be doing a Spring-clean in the Clubhouse on Saturday 29th March from 10am. Please come on down with some rubber gloves, cleaning cloths, cleaning products and buckets to give the kitchen, changing rooms, clubhouse and storeroom a bit of a spruce up.
And then the day we’ve all be waiting for – Opening Night and Open Meeting: Friday 4th April 6.30pm
This year the format has changed, and we will hold an open meeting first commencing 6.30pm where members can ask any questions they wish. We will also be giving details of all the bowling that will be on offer throughout the season so that you can make sure you take advantage of all the club has to offer. We anticipate that this meeting will last about an hour, but certainly all your questions can be raised.
Following this our new President Colin will say a few words and then deliver the first bowl of the season onto the green. Whilst this officially opens the green, we will not actually be able to start playing on the surface until 11th April.
After this all your competition entries forms can be handed in, and I hope there’ll be a record number of entrants this year. Any queries about the club comps, please give me a call. Forms will be coming out soon together with the new club card. Eddie Markey has very kindly offered to play for us during the evening, so get a drink from the bar, enjoy the music and a chat for the rest of the evening.
The first game of the season is Saturday 12th April v Corby S&L at Home. Don’t worry about it being early in the season, everyone is in the same position and will be very rusty, so great opportunity to get onto the green and get your joints moving again! The first batch of Saturday and Thursday availability sheets will be on the board very soon, so please bring your diaries down to the clubhouse and get some games booked in. Colin and Nigel are the Thursday and Saturday captains this season. Please give them your support by signing up for as many games as you can, and don’t leave it to them to have to start ringing around to get a team together.
Sunday 13th April – First Chummy meeting of the season – 10am
Come on down for this first get together of the year and free up your limbs from their winter hibernation. Keith is running the Chummies this year, so any questions please get in touch. These mornings are open to all Full and Social members. If you would like some coaching, then please let Keith know.
Friday 2nd May – Competition Draw – 6.30pm.
This year we will be sorting all the competitions by an Open Draw. To see it happening and find out who you’ll be playing against and playing with, come along and join us. The bar of course will be open. The Triples League teams will not be done by open draw for obvious reasons. The teams will be formed to ensure there is a balance between them and that a good competition will ensue.
Saturday 17th May – Club Open Day – 10am
The Open Day committee are busy getting plans into place and shortly they will be asking for volunteers to help on the day, and with the distribution of leaflets 10-14 days earlier in the Lonsdale Way area.
Wednesday 21st May - President’s Evening – 6.30pm
An evening of fun and games with the intention of raising funds for Colin’s President’s day later in the year. More details to follow nearer the time. If anyone has any different ideas for games for the night, please get in touch. We will also need several volunteers to help on the night please.
Special events throughout the season for your diaries:
Monday 12th May – Norfolk Touring Team
Saturday 7th June – President v Chairman match
Thursday 10th July – President v Chairman match
Thursday 7th August – Zero Bowls Match 1
Saturday 16th August – President’s Day
Thursday 28th August – Zero Bowls Match 2
Sunday 7th & 14th September – Finals Days
Nigel May has kindly taken on the role of organising the Mowers and Minders for the year and has already planned the first rota. There will be a training get together for all mowers and minders on Monday 31st March. Nigel will be in touch with you concerning this if you are on the rota. If you are not on the rota and would like to assist then please contact Nigel, he is looking for more help.
We have had a notification from Knighton Victoria BC that they have set up a Marketplace website for any bowler or club to advertise unwanted equipment, bowls etc free of charge. There is also the facility on there to advertise for any ‘wanted’ equipment.
The link is: https://sites.google.com/view/southleicestershiretriples/marketplace
Can I please remind members to ensure that ALL doors are locked and lights turned off, if you are the last the leave the premises. Unfortunately, the gent’s changing room door was left unlocked recently.
Well, that’s all for now folks. Looking forward to seeing you all on 4th April and particularly welcoming our new members and returning members – ooh?! Let’s hope for a warm and sunny season, good competition and rivalry but above all friendship and enjoyment of this beautiful game.
Regards
Janet