ON THE GREEN

Oakham Bowls Club Update W.E.28th Sept. 2024

Last report of the Season

Forty Oakham Bowls Club members got together on Saturday for a friendly Match  to mark the end of the season, a game  of rinks played over eighteen ends.  Vice President Colin Wagtaff’s team beat Saturday Captain Janet Horwood’s team by just 3 shots. The weather was kind, enabling both teams to enjoy a  competitive and enjoyable  afternoon’s   bowling  

The two Match  Captains competed  on rink one. Playing for Colin’s team were Mary Smith as lead, Jean Wilcock at two, Nigel May at three with Colin Wagstaff as Skip. Janets team had Barrie Payne as lead, Lee Saffron at two, Graham Cole at three and Janet Horwood was the Skip .From the first end Colin’s team were playing catch up, but never far behind. On the fifteenth end they drew level, 9 shots each. 2 shots on the next end put Janets team  ahead but 5 shots from Colins team from the last two ends secured the win. Colin’s team finished with 14 shots, Janets with 11.

Denis Smith skipped on rink two with Charlotte Pennington as lead, Jane May at two and Ian Mclean at three. Janet’s team was skipped by Derek Harper with Lesley Webster as lead, Fred Hewitt at two and Sylvia Shalders at three This was  a somewhat one sided game as Colins team stormed into an early lead and had a 10 shot lead at the halfway point in the game. They continued to dominate and finished with a winning score of 24 shots to their opponents 7 shots.

Geoff Tyler led on rink four with Meg Tasker at two, Peter Harrison at three and Clive Morris  as Skip. Facing them were Ray Wilkins as lead, Melanie Hewitt at two, Mike  Shalders at three and Sean Biollo as Skip. Colin’s team started well, holding the lead until the seventh end. However, the next three ends were won by Janets team giving them  a 7 shot advantage. They now had the upper hand winning all but three of the remaining ends. The game finished with Colins Team on 9 shots, Janets Team on 23.

Rink five was skipped by Chris Wallis with Peter Craig as lead, Pat Harrison at two and Brian Rolfe at three. Janets team had Rosemary Gregory as lead, Mike Creffield at two, David Tomlinson at three and Adrian Wilkinson as Skip. After five ends had been played the teams were level with 3 shots each. Janet’s team then stepped up a gear, won the next five ends taking a 6 shot lead. Colin’s team were only able to take 4 more shots from the remaining ends whilst their opponents added a further winning 10 shots, the game ending with Colin’s team on 7 shots, Janets on 19 shots.

Colin's team on rink six had Liz Naylor as lead, Jon Wheat at two, Keith Hart at three and Ray Gregory as Skip. Janets team was Skipped by Alan Jones with Carol Shelvey as lead, David Semple at two and Jackie Cole at three.  Colin’s team were quickly out of the blocks and after fourteen ends  they held 19 shots to Janet’s 3 shots.  Shell shocked they might have been at this juncture but Janets team steadied themselves, won the final  four ends but with little chance of closing the deficit.Colin's team won holding 19 shots, Janets team holding10 shots.

At the end of the match everyone gathered in the Club House to toast their successes and near misses and celebrate the end of an excellent season at the Vale.

               

 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