News from the Bowls Club - August 2008

The weather hasn't always been very kind for bowling recently. One of the ladies county matches at Budleigh Salterton had to be postponed as the green was ¾ under water when we arrived. I was driving back from Sidmouth at the end of May when the heavens opened. That was the day of the floods which none of us will forget for a very long time. My passenger had to be driven to Clayhidon and there was no clear road out of Hemyock apart from the way that I had come in. There was nothing for it but to return up over the hill to Dunkerswell, negotiating all the boulders that were being washed down the road and drive back round via Smeatharpe. Quite a scary journey!

We’re sad to hear of the deaths of two of our bowling friends, Bob Heaton in May and not long afterwards Alan Harding. Bob and his wife moved to the village in Dec 2003 and they joined the bowling club together in 2006 as new bowlers. Alan had been a member since 1999 and latterly, due to poor health, had stopped bowling but was often doing duty behind the bar. We miss them both.
The first round for Hemyock Ladies Team in the Grace Matthews Top Team competition took place on our Green. This County competition was started by Grace Matthews in 1977. Before play started we heard that Grace had passed away that week at the grand age of 99, and a one minute silence was observed. Unfortunately our ladies team was knocked out in that 1st round.

We've had an 'Open Triples Day' organised by Sue Trott and 12 teams from various clubs entered. Our ladies laid on an excellent salad lunch with homemade puddings to follow. A raffle was also held.

Presidents Day was on June 21st. Our President Helen Lancaster had invited the Presidents of Wellington, Dunkeswell, Uffculme and Taunton Vivary to each bring a team of four bowlers for a friendly competition day followed by a barbecue. A good time was had by all.

It's good to report that the club teams are doing really well. The Men's Over 60's Team, having gone up a section last year, are in the lead in section 6. The ladies who play in The President's Trophy League are also at the top at the moment, and the men's County Trophy team have only lost one match and are in 2nd place.

The 'friendly' matches, mostly at the weekend, are open to all bowlers. Due to various factors some of these have had to be cancelled. We have had 8 new bowlers join the club this season and it is good to see them putting their names down for these games which are always very relaxed. The scores at the end of the day don't really matter, the object being to enjoy bowling and socialising.

I'm always asking myself why we can't get younger people to try bowling. I know that the game still has this image that it is a game for older people but it is not so. It looks easy when you watch the professionals, on the rare occasions of television coverage, but it is a very challenging game. All Greens are different and even play differently on different days, and at different times of the day, due to varying weather conditions.

We have two notable fixtures coming up soon. On Friday 25th July we are entertaining The Royal household visitors. This is a return match of our centenary visit to them. Then on Tuesday 29th July the Devon County Bowling Association are bringing a team to celebrate their centenary. They are visiting all clubs who are 100 years old or more. Good ones to see, and you are always welcome to come inside the gates, take a seat and watch for a while.