This is a continuation of our 2011 image archive commencing on 14th July 2011. For images prior to this go to GALLERY 1.

 

Tuesday 27th September 2011 - End of Season Ground Maintenance.

Under the close supervision of our Head Greenkeeper, Ken Hann, a happy band of workers assisited with green maintenance.  Removing about 2 tons of 'plugs' after the tining operation was the first main task.  This was followed by the spreading of 5 tons of new top soil mixed with seed.  The whole operation took about 6 hours.  Fortunately, the ladies who were on a craft morning were on hand with a regular supply of tea and coffee.  And, noone complained when Bert Pluthero opened the bar for a well-earned free drink. Well done everyone.

Tom, with his tractor, props up our head green keeper.

 A couple of our 'cart horses' at work.

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Saturday 24th September 2011.

Closing Day.

The final day of the season was held on a warm, sunny day.  The day was well attended and was a fitting end to an excellent season for both the Ladies and Mens sections.  As we move into the Winter programme we all look forward optimistically to the 2012 season. 
  

  

44 Bowlers attended the final day of the 2011 season on a fine and sunny day.

Our Chairman thanks everyone concerned for an excellent day.

Our President's final speech gives thanks to all Club members for a successful good season.

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Sunday 25th September 2011.

Our Ladies win the Dorset League Pairs. 

 

The final of the Dorset Bowling league pairs was contested at Poole Park.  The Club was represented by Gill Walford (lead) and Sally Burton (skip).  Our team played extremely well and turned out comfortable winners by 30 shots to 17 against Di Towndrow and Monica Hodder from Greenhill.  Well done Ladies. 

 

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Sunday 18th  September 2011 - Poole Park - Winning the Percy Baker Trophy

Three of our four Percy Baker team won their Percy Baker leagues and went on to the knock-out stage of the competition which brought in teams  from West Dorset.  The final was held at Poole Park on a very wet day.  Our E2 team beat our E3 and E6 teams in the first two knock-out rounds and then defeated Swanage in the semi-final.  In the final against Greenhill, Peter Hawkins' (skip) team were on form to win by the large margin of 27-4.  Barry Males' (skip) team kept in touch with a strong Greenhill team losing narrowly by 11-17.  This brought overall victory by a comfortable 38-21.  Well done to all our Percy Baker teams and to their rather bedraggled supporters.

Our supporters protecting themselves from the inclement weather.

The victorious team with the Percy Baker Trophy - John Coady, Tony Walford, Barry Males, Kevin Donaldson, Colin Pickering, and Peter Hawkins.

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Wednesday 21st September 2011 - The Phil Collier Cup.

Sadly, as all our members are aware, Phil died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2010.  He was a well respected, much liked, popular and stalwart member of the Club.  Joan has presented a Cup in his memory. 

The inaugural competition was contested by 38 members of the Club.  Drawn pairs played in 4 round robin leagues with matches of 8 ends.  Each team comprised a 'less experienced' bowler who had 4 woods and a 'more experienced' bowler who bowled 2 woods.  The aim was to encourage and give experience to the newest members of the club.   Something that Phil would have supported. 

On a bright and sunny day the 4 leagues were well contested and there was a very high standard of bowling.   Only one team went to the knock-out stages without defeat.  In the semi-finals: Peter Preen and Frank Wood beat Mick Fitzpatrick and Cliff Walters 12-3: and Judy Walters and Gordon Crabtree beat Peter Hawkins and Gerry Griffin 8-7 after  an extra end. In the final Judy and Gordon hit a rich vein of form to win 12-3 and thereby complete the contest undefeated throughout.  It was agreed by everyone present that Phil would have approved of the proceedings of the day. 

Semi-finalists - Gerry Griffin, Peter Hawkins, Mick Fitzpatrick, Cliff Walters, Peter Preen, Frank Wood, Judy Walters and Gordon Crabtree,

 

,,,,and the crowd went wild!! Jenny Fitzpatrick delivers a wood watched by Jan Cornick. Joan Collier and Judith Walters at the excellent buffet. 

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Sunday  11th September 2011.

The Blandford team of Chris Hann, Joy Steele and Jenny Andrews retained the Benevolent Triples title at Dorchester Bowls Club. Having previously won 3 matches to reach the semi-final they beat a team from West Moors by 18 shots to 9 to face Lyme Regis in the final over 15 ends. The Blandford team were well ahead after 10 ends but Lyme won 5 ends in succession to level at 13 all after 15 ends forcing the match into an extra end decider. Blandford kept their composure to win the extra end by 1 and retain the title which the same 3 ladies won at Lyme Regis last year.  Well done ladies.

Saturday 10th September 2011.

The Dorset Ladies Bowls finals weekend was held at Dorchester on 10th and 11th September.  The club was represented on Saturday by our Edna Paisley team.  They had won their league in the western division and so, in the play-off, they played Portland BO who won the eastern division.   The weather was unkind and the first half of the match was played in wetproofs. The team was well supported but most of them remained under cover.

The match was exciting and the scores were close until the final three ends when our teams scored 10 points.  On rink 3 we won by a finally convincing score of 22- 8 and Rink 5 was 14-14 with our team scoring 4 on the final end.  Well done ladies. 

Also, the ladies cake stall at the event raised over £100 for Dorset Bowls. Thanks to all the 'bakers' and well done all round.

Rink 3 comprised Ann Dennis, Audrey Groves (skip) and Judy Walters.  Rink 5 comprised Sylvia Pink (captain), Carol Townley (skip) and Tina Anthony. 

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Friday 9th September 2011 - Friendly match against Ashcroft BC.

On a wet and blustery day we welcomed President Eric Merryweather and 6 mixed rinks of the Ashcroft BC from Stopsley, near Luton.  Our visitors who were touring with 50 bowlers from 7 clubs provided strong opposition.  Despite losing on 4 of the six rinks we ran out winners by a single point, 109 to 108.

Tony Ives extends a warm welcome to Eric Merryweather and bowlers of the visiting team.

The visiting president thanks our club captain and all members. 

Our top rink of Sid Steele, Gerry Griffin, Mick Fitzpatrick and Dave Burge.

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Monday 5th September.

Friendly match against Cornwall Masonic Bowling Association.

Our visitors are based on the Freemason's community of Cornwall.  President and Captain of the Day, John Davy brought 6 mixed rinks to Blandford as part of their tour of Dorset.  The weather was not kind and wetproof clothing was order of the day.  Our President turned out a strong team and we proved to be too strong by 127 to 82.   
Gwen Jesson welcomes John Davy and members of the visiting team.  Our Captain is amused.                  Our top rink of June Dunn, Peter Hawkins, Joan Collier and Fred Bishop. We are serenaded by our visitors. Very original, but they are advised not to give up their day jobs!! 

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Sunday 24th July 2011 - Ernie White Mixed Triples.

15 members contested the final stage of the Ernie White Mixed Triples competition. The trophy was first contested in 1985. Five teams played in a round robin league and matches were 8 ends. The league was closely contested and at the start of the last round there were three teams still in with a chance of winning. No team remained undefeated and the final outcome was decided on woods difference. The victors by the narrowest of margins were Steve Clayton, Ann Dennis and  Cliff Walters. 

 

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Sunday 17th July 2011 - The President's Handicap.

On a day when the weather was not kind to us, twenty bowlers were divided into four round-robin leagues.  Matches of 9 ends determined four semi-finalists. From these Jenny Andrews (-3) narrowly beat Sally Burton (-3) 4-3 and John Greening (+2) beat Brian Simonds (+1) 11-9 after a deciding end.  In the final Jenny was unable to overcome a handicap deficit of 5 and John won 6-5 on the final end.  Well done everyone.     

Semi finalists Brian Simonds, Jenny Andrews, Sally Burton and John Greening.
 

Jenny Andrews, Bob Trethewey and Les Moores in action during a sunny spell. 
 

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Wednesday 13 July 2011.  

The Club hosted Dorset Bowls' match against Bournemouth and District BA.

Derek Hawes, President of Bowls Dorset and Barry Zabell of Bournemouth and District brought 6 rinks to the Club.  Dorset were too strong and were victorious by the wide margin of 132 to 88.

 

Our President, Gwen Jesson, welcomes the Presidents of the visiting teams Frank Wood and Tony Walford were Club members playing for the victorious Bowls Dorset team.