Pauline Black (Junior President), Ann Craigie (President Elect) and Jenny Ronchetti (President)
By Sally Smith 07/03/22 0 comments
The 2022 Championships Finals proved to be a triumph for Margaret Thorpe of Thorndon Bowls Club and Diss. Having reached every final, Margaret maintained an excellent standard of play throughout the day, assisted by Shirley Plummer and Jan Truin, to win all four Suffolk titles.
Hosted by Meadlands Bowls Club, the SCWBA 2022 Indoor Finals Day was opened by President Jenny Ronchetti. Flanked by Ann Craigie, Pauline Black, Veronica Southey, event organiser, and Linda Nunn, Jenny welcomed Keith Crabbe, Suffolk Men`s County President. Also assisting on the day were Umpire Mike Nunn and Ann Simpson who organised the refreshments. We were all pleased to welcome Immediate Past President, Barbara Rushbrook.
4 Bowl Singles
Margaret Thorpe was matched against defending Champion Sue Bryenton-Rochard in the first final of the day. This proved to be a very tight game with close heads. After an hour`s play the score was 8-8 with 10 ends played. In the 12th end the audience were on the edges of their seats when Margaret at three shots down took the shot with her last wood. However, Sue gradually pulled ahead and was 3 shots up at 14-11 after 18 ends. Margaret responded strongly and picked up a 3 to take her to a lead of 19-15, but she was certainly not allowed an easy win. With Margaret seeking to close out the game, a measure gave the shot to Sue bringing the score to 20-18. The game was finally won by Margaret in the next end with a superb second wood coming in just behind the jack. A 26-end marathon!
Senior Singles
The Senior Singles was a re-match of the 4 bowl singles. Margaret set off at a brisk pace, winning the first three ends, but Sue fought back in the 4th end, taking the jack clear of Margaret`s two shots, finishing with two shots herself. In the 6th end the lead changed three times, but Margaret finished with one shot, improving her score to 8-2. In the 9th end Margaret scored three, but Sue replied with a two in the 10th (12-5). However, the pattern of the game was becoming weighted in Margaret`s favour. In the 16th end, with Margaret requiring two, Sue initially held shot, but the jack was taken by Margaret to hold two. Despite a good try, Sue`s weighted shot was unable to change the result (21-7).
Two Bowl Pairs
Janice Brackenbury was joined in the final by Ann Craigie, playing in place of Pauline Wright, against Shirley Plummer and Margaret Thorpe. The match was closely-contested in the early ends, with the 7th end score at 5-4 in favour of Janice and Ann. However, Shirley and Margaret then increased their pressure and won three ends in a row, adding 9 shots to put them firmly ahead at 13-5. As the match progressed the accuracy of Shirley and Margaret headed them towards a win, but Janice and Ann continued to play their shots well and a competitive shot from Janice in the 17th end reduced a count of four to two. At the 18th end Shirley and Margaret finished off with two shots, the match ending at 22-7.
2 Bowl Rinks
The last final of the day saw Paula Gooch, Lesley Alexander and Sue Bryenton-Rochard against Shirley Plummer, Jan Truin and Margaret Thorpe. The first four ends were very close (2-2), but a measure for four jump-started the game in the 5th end in favour of Shirley, Jan and Margaret. In the next end Margaret`s triple were holding three, which was reduced to two by Sue, but losing 6 shots in two ends was beginning to look a problem. In the 7th end Sue`s triple were holding, but Margaret reduced their lead, only to have Sue play an excellent attacking shot to take the jack across to the right place and a four was scored. Back into the game, only two shots down (6-8). Sadly, their optimism was short-lived as Shirley, Jan and Margaret scored a three in the next end and also won the next two. The score at 10 ends was then 6-14 and the one shot gained in the 11th end by Sue`s triple was to be their last. The game finished at 14 ends with Shirley, Jan and Margaret gaining a 7-22 victory.
The day closed with thanks from President Jenny Ronchetti to all those who made the finals such a success, particularly the SCWBA Indoor Competitions Secretary, Veronica Southey. Jenny then presented the winner`s trophies, with special praise for Margaret Thorpe`s magnificent contribution to the day in securing four County titles.
A gallery of Photographs from the Finals is available Here
By WebsiteCoordinator 21/02/22 0 comments
The Program for the 2021/2022 Indoor Finals is available Here
By WebsiteCoordinator 11/12/21 0 comments
The draws for the 2022 (Ladies Only) outdoor competitions are now available under `Competitions`. Mixed events will be added when they are published by the SCBA.
By Linda Nunn 22/11/21 0 comments
Members of the SCWBA Executive attended the EBF & EWBF National AGM at Grantham on Sat Nov 20th where Paula Gooch from Halesworth Bowls Club became EWBF National President for 2022. Paula served as SCWBA County President in 2009. We all wish her an enjoyable and successful year as she carries out her Presidential duties.
By Sally Smith 01/11/21 0 comments
SCWBA members met at the Bramford Golf Centre on Saturday 23rd October for the annual luncheon and presentation of outdoor and indoor trophies and awards. After missing last year`s event due to the pandemic, it was especially pleasant to be able to gather together again. The Suffolk ladies were delighted to be joined by EWBF President, Mrs Gill Bush and her husband. President Barbara Rushbrook, accompanied on the top table by her sister, proposed the toast to the Queen. SCBA President Neil Parfitt proposed the toast to the SCWBA and Jenny Ronchetti, SCBWA President Elect proposed the toast to the guests.
President Neil brought the Victor Ludorum trophy from the Skegness finals to show to the SCWBA. He acknowledged the vital role of a lady player (Linda Nunn, Senior Mixed Pairs Champion with husband, Mike) in winning this trophy; without their win Suffolk would not have been successful. President Barbara spoke to us about her history in the game of bowls. She showed us a tiny trophy, greatly treasured as her first award, and told us the history of the small bear that we have come to know so well. Barbara was awarded the trophy as a member of the winning Silver Jubilee Vase team, having been asked to play for the first time in the team as reserve at short notice for the final. The bear was with her for the final, accompanied her to all following competitions and supports her to this day. President Elect Jenny passed on her memories of the recent Indoor Finals at Newark, postponed for such a long time, and looked forward to her Presidential year. National President Gill also referred to her time at Newark. Primarily an outdoor player, she rarely plays indoors, but agreed to join the North Essex Harry Carver team. She was then approached to stand in to play the Ladies Pairs with Eileen Parker, in which they managed a close match against the eventual champions Derbyshire.
The trophies and awards to runners-up were then presented with a lot of light-hearted banter in the process. The successful luncheon closed with a raffle of many generously-donated prizes, which raised 287 pounds for the SCWBA.
Margaret Thorpe, last end, 4 Bowl Senior Singles
Shirley Plummer and Stella Utteridge, Ladies Pairs
Margaret Thorpe and Stella Utteridge playing with Shirley Plummer in the 2 Bowl Rinks
Mixed Rinks, Round 1. Shirley Plummer & Bob Sillett
Mixed Rinks, Round 2. Shirley Plummer & Bob Sillett
Mixed Rinks, anxious moments at 11 all in the semi-final
The Mixed Rinks Winners receive their trophy
Sue Rochard in the 4 Bowl Singles
By Sally Smith and Linda Nunn 16/10/21 0 comments
At last, the finals scheduled for April 2020 were able to take place and the opportunity to compete again indoors was much appreciated by the Suffolk ladies and their supporters. Proceedings began for Suffolk when the Executive team members played in the Harry Carver competition and finished joint 7th. Following this, SCWBA ladies competed in six championships, of which two were mixed SCBA competitions. They were keenly supported by President Barbara and other members of the Executive throughout the week.
In the 4 Bowl Singles Sue Rochard came up against an experienced Northants opponent in a long match extending to 25 ends. Sue was comfortably ahead for much of the game, but her opponent took control of the later ends finishing 21-15 ahead.
The 4 Bowl Senior Singles representative for Suffolk was Margaret Thorpe, who had a late bye in round 1 and went on to play a Northants competitor in the second round. The match had the Suffolk supporters on the edge of their seats as the lead regularly swapped between these evenly-matched players. Skilful ends were played by both. Unfortunately for Margaret a close decision at 18-19 resulted in the two shots required to see her opponent go through by 18 shots to 21.
Shirley Plummer and Stella Utteridge had to wait until Thursday for the 2 Bowl Pairs competition to begin and it was to prove a disappointment after the wait as they were unable to find the lines on the edge rink. An early lead against their opponents from Humberside soon evaporated, with the game level at 5 all after 7 ends. Their opponents then pulled steadily away and the final result was a convincing 19-8 win for Humberside.
The 2 Bowl Rinks competition brought Margaret Thorpe, Shirley Plummer and Stella Utteridge up against a strong triple from Durham. The Suffolk players were unable to settle into a rhythm and found their opponents too much of a challenge, losing 5-27 to the eventual losing finalists.
In her third competition, Shirley Plummer partnered Andrew Pulford in the Mixed Pairs, playing again on the difficult rink 1. On a day when they were heavily involved in the Mixed Rinks, it was a challenge for the Suffolk pairing to find their form against the Huntingdonshire team and they went out of the competition 8-21. It is regretted that no photo is available of this match.
Suffolk finally found success in the Mixed Rinks. Our triple of Bob Sillett, Shirley Plummer and Andrew Pulford started their Newark National Indoor Finals campaign on Tuesday at 12:30pm. End rinks never favoured at this venue, brought an opening 17-14 victory over a strong Derbyshire trio on rink 1. The prize for victory was a second-round match later that day against our neighbours Norfolk on rink 8. This game was far less tense after a good opening few ends for Suffolk and ended in an 18-12 victory. The following day a 9:30am semi-final, again on rink 8, was played against a strong Durham triple. Bob and Shirley had played a big part in earlier games but Andrew Pulford, the young skip, played some brilliant shots to secure a 19-17 win and a place for Suffolk in the final later that day. The final against Humberside on rink 5 saw Suffolk gain an early advantage and by bowling very well throughout they maintained their lead to gain a glorious victory by 19 shots to 11 and become National Indoor Mixed Rink Champions.
Champions Bob Sillett, Shirley Plummer and Andrew Pulford with President Barbara Rushbrook and President Elect Jenny Ronchetti
By Veronica Southey 12/10/21 1 comments
With the return to indoor bowling, Suffolk ladies should consider entering the 4 Bowl Singles, Senior 4 Bowls Singles, 2 Bowl Pairs and 2 Bowl Rinks in the EWBF Indoor Competitions for 2022. The original closing date has been extended to Saturday 6th November, the date of the AGM. Please click Here and Here for entry forms, which are to be returned to Veronica Southey (Information: 07394658898).
By WebsiteCoordinator 14/10/21 0 comments
Clubs in difficulties due to Covid should follow the link in the `Links` section to discover whether local grant funding maybe available to them from Community Action Suffolk. The aim of the Suffolk Community Restart Fund is to enable organisations , like Bowls clubs, to restart previous sporting activities safely and/or to support them to restore former ways of working or to switch to new ways of Covid-secure working. Funding will cover such things as equipment, adaptations or additional staffing to enable an existing/previous activity to resume safely or to launch/develop a new activity/service. This includes funding to ensure such things as coaching qualifications, safeguarding and first aid training are up to date and in place. The grant may also cover funding to support the production of promotional materials, both in hard and electronic formats in order to recruit new members or encourage former members back to clubs. For further information please contact Carol Lukins on 07803 243771.
By Sally Smith 11/09/21 0 comments
The nine competitors in the 2021 Novice singles were given a warm welcome by Saxmundham Bowls Club and the weather was warm and sunny too. Four clubs were represented, with entries from: Fiona Cadman from Rookery, Gwen Supple, Linda Jackson and Linda Bond from Wrentham, Jane Sherlock, Rosemarie Hayne, Sue Stannard and Linda Smith from Thorndon and Sue Solomon from Yoxford.
Initially three sessions were played, with six bowlers involved in each session, thus each bowler played two matches, which were each of 10 ends. Three competitors, Fiona Cadman, Linda Jackson and Linda Bond qualified for the semi-finals after winning both their preliminary games, while the fourth semi-finalist, Sue Solomon progressed on shot difference. The semi-finals, which were also played over 10 ends, saw Fiona Cadman (Rookery) and Linda Bond (Wrentham) progress to the final.
The final, a full singles match, resulted in a win for Fiona Cadman by 21 shots to 15. Congratulations are due to both ladies for a very competitive game, which was much appreciated by the large audience. At the end of the competition Fiona was presented with the Novices Cup by President Barbara, who thanked Linda Nunn and all concerned for a very successful day.
Please click Here for a photo gallery of the Novices Competition.
President Barbara with competitors
Novices Cup presented to Fiona Cadman