Bridport Bowls Club celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a fun day, where the bowlers had to navigate six different stations with points up for grabs at each. The special equipment included a target, a ramp and skittles, buckets, a goal post with guards, a raised target with holes to aim for and a casting-the-jack task.
The winning squad was headed by Jill Willcox, and the players then enjoyed an American supper with all members contributing to a very well stocked table. Fortunately, the rain held off and a great afternoon was had by all, including several new club members.
In competitive bowls, the club’s teams enjoyed mixed fortunes.
Bridport men, depleted by injury and illness, still managed to field two County teams. Away to Melcombe Regis in Weymouth, the rink of Taylor, Kennedy, Tibble and Langdon had a runaway win of 28-9. Scott, Rumble Smith and Jones shot into the lead but dropped nine shots in the last three ends and lost by just three shots. The overall score was equally disappointing with Bridport losing by one shot, so gaining just the two points for a winning rink.
Bridport A were away to Lyme Regis, and the team of Crimp, Coram, Griffiths and Bartlett were the only winners. Duthie-Jones, Greenfield, Stone and Wilson picked up seven shots in the last two ends but still lost by four, to give Bridport A just two points.
Bridport A were away to Dorchester A in the South Dorset league, where the team of Medland, Brooks, Shortland and Thorne won by eight shots, gaining two points.
At home, Bridport B entertained Dorchester B and, in a closely-fought contest, had to settle for just two points gained by the one winning rink of Aylott, Stocks, Pomeroy and Seadon – and it was great to see Fred Pomeroy back in action following illness.
Monday evening saw Bridport at home against Portland Victoria with two winning rinks and the points for overall score, so eight points in total. Honours to Medland, Brooks, Shortland and Thorne. The losing rink of Kenyon, Rumble, Smith and Jones were really unlucky to lose by one shot against stiff opposition.
Bridport A were away to Portland Borstal with one winning rink of Pomeroy, Aylott, Bourne and Wilson. There were just five shots between the teams on the overall score.
More good, and unexpected, news on Tuesday for the Ladies, who were playing at home against strong opposition in Poole Park, and ended up with two winning rinks and all the points. The team of Mackenzie, Strange, Seadon and Willcox were trailing until the 19th end when they took a one shot lead, dropping one shot on the 20th and going into the last end equal. Jean Seadon managed to secure a shot for Bridport, thus securing the extra two points.
On Friday, 10 ladies travelled to Dorchester to play their National Top Club competition with four disciplines and one point for each winning one. In damp and windy conditions, the club’s singles player, Pamela Daters, was first to win for Bridport, although Dorchester then won the triples to tie the game.
The pairs finished next, with Bridport winning their round so all rested on the team of four who were the last to finish. They went into the last end all square at 18 shots each and the last end was a tied end where both the measure was so close they could not be separated, meaning that Bridport Ladies triumphed by 2 ½ points to 1 ½.