ON THE GREEN

 

                Oakham Bowls Club Update W.E. 8th Sept. 2024

Thursdays friendly match was at the Vale against Leicester Bowling Club. Played on five rinks over eighteen ends the result was an excellent win for Oakham who completed the match holding 102 shots to LBC’s 57

Rink one for Oakham had Jenny Owen as lead with Gary Tattersall at two and the Skip was Denis Smith. At the end of the tenth end both teams had 9 shots. LBC then took the lead but Oakham levelled the match, again, at the fourteenth end. Oakham were only able to score 1 more shot from the last four ends whilst LBC scored 3 shots and won the game. Oakham on 14 shots LBC on 16 shots.

Paul Murrant skipped rink two with Barry Drain as lead and Nigel May at two. After losing the first two ends Oakham opened their account with 3 shots and gained  the lead. They continued to score heavily and halfway through the game held a 16 shot lead  Oakham  went on to win  all but three of the remaining nine ends and the game holding 30 shots to LBC’s 7 shots.

Sylvia Shalders led on rink three with John Willcock at two and Chris Wallis as Skip. For the first six ends this was an evenly matched game but solid play from Oakham gave them an 8 shot advantage after 10 ends. With two ends to play LBC had reduced the  deficit  to 5 shots but their hosts won them both and the game. Oakham ended on 20 shots, LBC on 11

The Skip on rink four was Alan Jones with Liz Naylor as lead and Eddie Owen at two.  Both teams were contesting the lead over the first twelve ends in  close  game. At this juncture they were tied on 9 shots each. Oakham then took a 1 shot lead only to lose it to LBC on the next end. Then an excellent 4 shots put Oakham back in front and then a further 4 from the last two ends clinched the win for them. Oakham finished holding 18 shots, LBC holding 12.

The lead on rink five was Barry Payne with Mike Shalders at two and Ray Gregory as Skip. This Oakham trio were in fine form and after nine ends had been played the scores were Oakham with 11 shots, LBC with 1.  A superb 5 shots from Oakham on the twelveth  end increased their lead to 15 shots. LBC dug in, winning four of the remaining six ends  but Oakham were already ‘home and dry’ with the game scores at Oakham on 20 shots, LBC on 11

The second Club Finals matches were played on Sunday with some very competitive bowling on show. Three matches in the morning and three during the afternoon.

The Ladies 4 wood final was between Ros Carter and Janet Horwood and as was to be expected it was a very close match .The winner would be the first one to 21 shots. The  Match was  tied  after five ends but two ends later Janet had a 3 shot lead. Then a good run from Ros gave her a 4 shot lead after twelve ends.. Janet fought back, took the lead and with the scores at 20 – 18   in Janet’s favour, on the twenty third end she scored a single shot and won the match with final scores at 21 – 18.

The Men’s Plate finalists were Colin Wagstaff and Sean Biollo with the winner being the first to score 21 shots.. For the first sixteen ends this was a close and hard fought match with both bowlers holding 11 shots.  3 shots by  Colin on the next end gave him the lead and the upper hand. He carried on building his lead  and  on the twenty fourth end he reached 21 shots and won  the final. Sean finished with 13 shots

Ian Wilkinson and Stuart Primarolo contested the Men’s 2 Wood Final. Ian was in excellent form and very quickly took the lead which unfortunately Stuart never got close to. Ian won the match holding 18 shots, Stuart holding 8 shots.

The afternoon’s matches started with the Ladies Handicap between Lynn Scott and Janet Horwood. First to 21 shots would be the winner.  A nail  biting contest ensued  between  these two ladies with the match tied 11 – 11 at fifteen ends. Lynn then took the lead till Janet tied the match, again  at twenty one ends, scores now 15 all.  After  25 ends Lynn  had the lead holding   18 shots with Janet on 17. On the next end Janet scored 4 shots and now with a total of 21 won the match

The Mixed Pairs eighteen end  final saw Jenny Owen and Keith Hart playing Tamara Kelly and Stuart Primarolo. Jenny and Keith took an early lead with 4 shots from the first end. Tamara and Stuart swung into action and after 10 ends they held a 4 shot lead. Jenny and Keith retaliated , won the next four ends and they now had a 4 shot lead. Tamara and Stuart only managed to win one of the remaining ends whilst Jenny and Keith added 3 more shots and won the match with 19 shots to their opponents total of 14.

Ian Maclean and Eddie Owen faced Nigel May and Matt Murrant in the men’s Pairs Final played over twenty one ends .Ian and Eddie  scored 4 shots on the second end and took the lead which they retained throughout the match. Nigel and Matt kept plugging away and on the sixteenth end were only 1 shot behind. However, 7 shots from the final five ends ensured victory for Ian and Eddie with a total of 20 shots to Nigel and Matt’s 14 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