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The season so far
The Green opened on Saturday 19th April, a bitterly cold day (7C) with almost constant drizzle. Hardly the weather we were looking forward to! A few brave souls (the really keen ones!) did turn up wearing multiple layers to deliver their first bowls of the season.
Fortunately the weather improved the next day and on a warmer, brighter afternoon, Caversham made the short journey to Shiplake BC for their opening fixture, a Plomer Cup match. Shiplake had selected a strong team and eventually won on 4 of the 5 rinks. A good display by Joyce Back's rink managed to prevent a whitewash. They won the final end to win by a single point.
Press here for photos taken at the Shiplake Match
On Wednesday 23rd April, Caversham visited Maidenhead Ticket for a Men's friendly where they won convincingly by 52 shots (104-52). This was followed by a close match at Thatcham on Saturday 26th April, which was eventually lost by 13 shots (91-104).
The following day the weather started atrociously, with hail ,thunder and lightning during the morning. However the rain eventually cleared and the first home match of the season, a mixed friendly against Pangbourne was able to go ahead in sunshine. In an extremely tight match Caversham maanged to win by a single point!
Press here for photos taken at the Pangbourne match
The next match on Thursday May 1st was a Men's friendly at Henley, which was won by 11 points (63-54). On Sunday 4th May Caversham had a Bannerette Match versus the RCBBA. This was played on a lovely afternoon. Although Caversham lost (105-127) and failed to win a Bannerette, there was some consolation in the fact that victories were gained on 3 of the 6 rinks played. Below are photos of the 2 teams.
Press here for further photos taken at the Bannerette match
The next day, in a busy week, Caversham Men played at Suttons in the preliminary round of the National Top Club Competition. Hopes were high when Graham Bland got Caversham off to a flying start with a fine one shot victory in the 2 wood singles versus Middleton Cup player Carl Brooks, but alas it proved to be Caversham's sole victory, although Alberto Perona came close in his 4 wood singles match losing by just 4 shots (17-21).
On the following day, after a Caversham Ladies win against Hurst in the afternoon, the men started their Kennet League campaign in the evening with a narrow and hard-fought 8 shot victory against Bracknell, winning on three rinks and thereby gaining 12 points to Bracknell's 2.
New members
A warm welcome to three new members: Russell Hill, Rab Cunning and Ray Piers. Russell has recently moved into the area from Hampshire where he played a number of games for the County U25 team. Rab has been bowling for over 20 years and he too has recently moved here from Scotland. Ray lives locally. He played for several years at another local club, had a break, and has now decided to resume playing with us.
Success for Caversham Bowlers at Rivermead Indoor Club Finals
Caversham bowlers probably had their most successful season ever at the indoor season just finished at Rivermead. They constituted over a quarter of the finalists in the indoor club's internal competitions. Joyce Back capped a marvellous year by reaching 4 finals! She along with Carol Walker, Pat Fowkes and Daphne Brown had an emphatic victory in the ladies rinks winning by over 20 shots. The same evening Dennis Rumble and Brian Hemmings had a great win in the Mens Pairs beating the highly fancied Trenthams pair of John Dearing and Colin Haslam 20-12.
The next day, Pat Fowkes, Mike Fowkes, Joyce Back and Ken Wheeler played in the final of the Mixed Rinks Competition. Hopes were high, especially after the team's fine win over last year's champions in the semi final, but alas the team made a slow start and never really recovered and had to be content with the runners up spot.
On the Saturday, Joyce played the third of her four finals in the morning when she narrowly lost in the singles competition, and then in the afternoon she teamed up again with Carol Walker and Pat Fowkes in the Ladies Triples Final. In a very exciting and close encounter they were pipped on the final end and so also finished runners up.
Press here for pictures of all the finalists.
Sue Reeves reaches Berkshire County Ladies Indoor Final
Congratulations to Sue Reeves on reaching the final of the County Unbadged Ladies Pairs competition. She and her partner, Janet Thompson from Henley, lost in the final 21-15 but nevertheless this was a fine achievement. They were the only players from Rivermead to reach any of the county finals.
Men's section appointments
Following John Eatwell's departure, Ken Wheeler has been elected Chairman of the Men's Section, and, by default, will therefore be Vice Chairman of the Management Committee. John Hutchinson has been co-opted on to the Men's Section Committee.
2007 - Another Successful Year
Following in the footsteps of Last years’ County Unbadged Winner – Maureen Eatwell – Joyce Back brings the cup back for another year. Joyce won five rounds to get to the final playing in very wet conditions through May and June. Thunder and lightning being Joyce’s worst nightmare! J oyce also got to the semi-finals of the 2 wood singles losing out to a place in the finals by only 1 shot. |
Joyce Back and Pat Fowkes were runners up in the Berkshire County |
 The fours had the opportunity to represent Berkshire at Leamington – an honour for any unbadged club member. Proven by the last minute scramble to “borrow” County Colours from any County player willing to share their clothes! Carol Walker, Mary Baldwin, Pat Fowkes and Daphne Brown were unlucky to draw the home side, Warwickshire in the first round but enjoyed their day out in the Shires none the less. |
The Ladies Thames Valley League team came top of their league and are promoted to the second division having beaten Bracknell into second place by 19 points.
Ladies Thames Valley League Captain, Pat Fowkes, in action. |
