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BOWLING 2011
BOWLING 11th JULY 2011
A warm sunny day, a bar and the lovely setting of Guys Thatched Hamlet seems like an idyllic combination, but add a Round Robin bowling competition, (six games each with 4 jacks), and Probuses finest bowlers fighting for a trophy - and to get to the bar first - then you have a recipe for a good days spectator sport! In fact, although the organiser, (Malcolm Owen), didn’t realise it, it was an international event with Ron Moxhams’ daughter Diana and son-in law Tom over from the USA. Sad to say that Toms’ efforts with the bowls were, shall we say, not fruitful.
However, by the end of the day, first second and third places were so close that the result was down to the final game between Malcolm Cooley and Ron Gates. So what went wrong? We take Ron Gates along for the laugh not the standard of his bowling! What’s more Denise Cooley, Malcolm’s wife, took charge last year and gave them all a good thrashing whilst showing them how it should be done!
The standard of bowling, of some concern initially, was improved when Frank McHugh eventually, after some debate and expert tuition, decided which foot to put on the mat. There was also near fatal incident. Gerald Vandome had two woods almost touching the jack when Malcolm Cooley knocked the jack off the green! However, Malcolm is still alive and responding to treatment.
The real winners of course were the wives and members who just came along for the day out. They got hot pot, apple pie and Lancashire cheese just the same as those who had thrown bits of wood about in the sun all afternoon.
The Wooden Challenge Trophy was found after a year being cared for by Mrs Myrtle Smith who didn’t know what it was, and was promptly lost again by Malcolm Owen who left it behind at Guys!
THE RESULTS
First Malcolm Cooley, Second Dennis Ward, (just one point in it), Third Ron Gates, and Fourth Sue Wasson
First Malcolm Cooley, Second Dennis Ward, (just one point in it), Third Ron Gates, and Fourth Sue Wasson
ROUND TWO, 16th AUGUST 2011
The first game at The Grapes on the 16th we won, a bit of a shock but we won. Ray Haworth and Ron Gates won 21-0 and I discovered you don't win points or goals or whatever you win chalks, (don't ask), and I also discovered when you reach 20 everyone has to shout " all but" -- yes I know, it takes me back to short trousers and bike sheds.
Any way Ian Duncan and Frank Mchugh won 21-1 and Dennis Ward and Malcolm Owen won 21-9. So on aggregate 63 chalks to 9.
The return match was at Guys on the 22nd. Ron Gates pleaded a prior commitment, (but we all know that the shock of winning was still affecting him), and Ian Duncan claimed to be injured but was really still resting after his win. Both were unable to play and were replaced by Gerald Vandome and Malcolm Cooley. We won again with Ray Haworth and Gerald winning 21-0 and Dennis Ward and Malcolm Owen winning 21-5. Malcolm Cooley and Frank Mchugh lost 21-7. Even now the disgrace is difficult to bear. The team was so shocked by this that they forgot their responsibilities and were somewhat lenient with them. Normally they would have been sold into slavery. So the aggregate score was 49chalks to 26 making the grand total 112 chalks to 36. This sounds more like a Primary School stock take than a score.
Fourteen sat down for Hot Pot lunch with our Vice President Frank retaining the trophy, (which on this occasion was not mislaid), and thanking all those present for making it an enjoyable morning and hoping for a repeat next year.
Any way Ian Duncan and Frank Mchugh won 21-
The return match was at Guys on the 22nd. Ron Gates pleaded a prior commitment, (but we all know that the shock of winning was still affecting him), and Ian Duncan claimed to be injured but was really still resting after his win. Both were unable to play and were replaced by Gerald Vandome and Malcolm Cooley. We won again with Ray Haworth and Gerald winning 21-
Fourteen sat down for Hot Pot lunch with our Vice President Frank retaining the trophy, (which on this occasion was not mislaid), and thanking all those present for making it an enjoyable morning and hoping for a repeat next year.
THANKS TO Malcolm Owen for organising these gladatorial contests and Lancashire Constabulary for ignoring the Breaches of the Peace.
THE GLADIATORS BROOKS V PRESTON
Our Vice President praying that it will all end soon
She can hold her licquor and she came fourth
Ron Gates cries over an empty bottle
The evidence is quite clear here. Malcolm was in charge of the wooden trophy but was still drinking
Dennis talking quietly to Ron (with no threatening gestures)
