Our President David F ‘opened the green’ after a short welcome speech by casting the jack and putting up a bowl. We played a short six end game to get our arms in ready for outdoors and then had our customary tea and cakes. Twenty-eight members plus some guests enjoyed a chat with refreshments provided by Helen, Melanie and Pauline.
The next day during our committee meeting the green was transformed back to winter mode by a hailstorm!
Although Mike B made plans for a back-up day in the event of poor weather we were blessed with the perfect day on Saturday to get all the outdoor painting done ready for the outdoor season.
18 volunteers came to garden, paint, build screens and finish off painting the clubhouse. The bulk was done in a couple of hours and we enjoyed a well earned rest with lots of yummy cakes thanks to Helen, Pauline and Barbara.
There are just a couple more jobs to do but we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Sunday 14th April at 2pm to our refurbished club house. Come and join us for a short game, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and collect your fixture booklet and sign up for club competitions if you haven’t already. Report by Debbie and photo by Mike.
On Sunday 17th. March, at Wey Valley Bowls Club, Castle Green played Merrow in our annual indoor match. Initially Merrow went ahead and then at the half time tea break the two captains adjusted the handicaps giving Castle Green an additional 45 shots. Having done this the score was virtually even with only a couple of points difference. This inspired Castle Green and made Merrow try even harder. The final result was a win for Merrow (145 – 115).
Unfortunately at the end of the game the Castle Green Captain, went home ill and handed his speech over to John R. On the plus side Ken B did get an extra Pork steak!
Great fun was had by all and we all look forward to the outdoor games with our friends from Castle Green. Report by Allen M.
Lots of work is going on behind the scenes to get the club ready for the new season.
Ditches are being cleared, the banks have been lifted, the green is being regularly swished, and the flower beds, troughs and bank have been weeded and planted up ready for spring. Our ditch and rink markers have had their annual repaint.
Working parties are being organised to get the clubhouse painted and the outside woodwork (ditch boards, posts and sheds) painted for the new season.
The fixture booklet is in the process of being finalised before printing and the affiliation return to Bowls Surrey is being completed. We are also investigating new shirts for the coming season.
Thank you to everyone who contributes with these jobs.
Our penultimate indoor friendly against Burpham was played at Wey Valley. The result was a win for Merrow winning 4 out of the 6 triples. We enjoyed a post-match meal and drinks with our neighbours and look forward to playing them outdoors this summer. Our final indoor fixture is with Castle Green on the 17th March.
It might be frosty (or wet and windy) outside, but things are still happening. On Sunday 21st January, Trevor led Merrow to a welcome victory at Camberley Indoor Bowls Club (101-81). This was the second of our four indoor friendlies, with the next two at Wey Valley against Burpham (18th February) and Castle Green (17th March). Please apply on BIAS if you can play.
Our New Year quiz on the 13th January was very well organised by John and Sally. We had great fun arguing over the answers to questions and it was very surprising how many bowlers didn’t know what ‘the kitty’ was. We raised £227 for club funds.
Many thanks to Tony and his team who are swishing the green on a regular basis, and to Mike and Derek working hard (between coffee breaks) on levelling the bank nearest the clubhouse.
Merry Christmas Cakes
There were 12 of us at the Owen residence on Tuesday 5th including a few new faces. We had a refresher on how to marzipan the cakes which everyone undertook with ease. Like their bowling they are all becoming real professionals at work!
I demonstrated the intricacies of the melting snowman and then one penguin. I had four more to show them, but they were all too keen and raring to go. So instead of watching they were OFF. And the great thing was that they all got very brave and went off piste doing their own version of their chosen design. Encarna had 3D layers of green/red trees with a lovely forest affect going on around the sides. Paul (a newcomer but by no means a shrinking violet) got going on, not one but, two Christmas cakes both melting snowmen; one with a flat cap and pipe. We also had blended use of a 3D Christmas tree and stars from John along with fab penguins or baubles from others.
Our reindeer pioneers came up with some super looks to their cakes but we didn’t have time for me to demonstrate my version so I just had to do it once they’d all gone!
Wonderful morning… assuming we do it again next year we will have to do something a bit more advanced.
So here’s wishing you all a Happy New Year and well done to one and all!
Report by Barbara
Ps I think the sloe gin and Christmassy chocolate cake helped too!
Winter Friendlies
We had a lovely warm welcome at Mole Valley from Sandy who used to be a Merrow bowler before moving nearer to Leatherhead and her team. We played four rinks, with trial ends whilst waiting for the latecomers and then 18 ends ‘proper’. The overall scores were very close with both teams vying for the lead, but Merrow just managed to hold on with a three-shot win thanks to Helen, Chris, Pauline and Tony.
Well done to those who don’t normally play indoors too for being part of the team and thanks to Chris and Mike for substituting in one way or another.
Report by Debbie
Winter Friendlies
Don’t forget to apply on BIAS for our four indoor fixtures. All members are welcome to come and play – it doesn’t matter if you have not played indoors before. The first is at Mole Valley on Wednesday 6th December.
Jumble Sale
Thanks to the generosity of donators, hard work from our members selling and a host of willing customers we made £550 from this year’s jumble sale. The proceeds will go towards our clubhouse makeover.
Many thanks to Joan and Allen for organising this.
Presentation Lunch
Fifty members and guests enjoyed a delicious lunch at Sutton Green Golf Course at our annual presentation lunch. Trophies and awards were given out to club competition winners and runners up and Knaphill Triple winners. We had an opportunity to celebrate success and thank all those who help the smooth running of the club, with a special mention to this year’s club person, Mike B, and Derek. A raffle by Andy and Ken rounded off the afternoon.
End of Season Work (22nd and 23rd September)
As the last two friendlies against Seale & Sands and Castle Green were away we took the opportunity of good weather to start the end of season renovation of the green. On Friday, the verticut, scarify and mow resulted in 70 barrowloads of thatch and clippings. Saturday started with tining and sarrel rolling followed by spreading root zone improver and grass seed. Cleaning up the equipment took ages too. Now we have to hope for favourable growing conditions.
The sheds have been rearranged and the ditch liners are up, cleaned and stored – all in record time.
Fish and Chips (21st September)
Just as last year, the weather threatened to curtail the bowling before our end of season Fish and Chips but we braved the wind, rain and worms for the last club night triples game of the season. No one can remember the results but Andy took this photo. Paul D arrived with the wherewithal to provide mushy peas and we even had lemon wedges, and bread and butter for chip butties.
John ran an impromptu quiz which turned out to have 19 rather than 20 questions and the winners scored 12! David still thinks a group of crows should be called a ‘nuisance’ rather than a ‘murder’. The evening finished with the expected entertaining raffle by Ken and Andy. Thanks to Trevor for arranging the evening for us all.
Annual Bowlers v Village Club (17th September)
The annual match between the Village Club and Bowlers in aid of the Village Club charity looked precarious at 2.30pm when the heavens opened. However by 3pm and the scheduled start the sun came out and so did the players for a 2 wood triples match over 16 ends.
The Bowlers won although at one stage Allen was getting worried as it was 14 all on his rink with two ends to play. We enjoyed a delicious buffet provided by the Village Club. Thanks to Ali for organising the food, everyone who contributed to the raffle and all those who took part.
Pauline accepted the trophy on behalf of the Bowlers.
Club Competition Finals (9th and 10th September)
It was unseasonable hot over finals weekend with over 30oC temperatures on both days which was sapping for the players, markers and spectators. All the matches were keenly contested and many could have gone either way. Well done to all the finalists and those who helped to organise a successful weekend. The trophies will be awarded at our presentation lunch in October.
Knaphill Triples
Having already won our zone, Merrow went one better than last year by winning the final at Knaphill. In the semi-final we narrowly beat Knaphill ‘A’ by one shot and in the final crept past Camberley ‘A’ by 3 shots. In addition to the people who played in the final, Barbara, David O, Jo and Mike B, Paul D and Sally contributed much to our success. Special thanks to David O, the reserve on finals day.
President v Chair
We had glorious weather for our rearranged President v Chair match on 3rd September.
We started with a ‘Spider’ (‘Ollie the Octopus’) which was won by Steve M. Several of our newest bowlers took part in their first ever full match, which was a five triples friendly. Tea was taken after 10 ends, when the score was very even. Delicious cakes and biscuits were provided by Chris M, Helen L, Melanie and Pauline.
The final result was a win for the Chair by 13 shots and David F presented the trophy to Richard. The day concluded with a raffle and picnic tea. We raised a total of £250 for the President’s charity, The Alzheimer’s Society.
Thank you to everyone for making it such an enjoyable and successful day.
Friendlies
On Saturday 23rd September, Seale and Sands, with excellent Captain Kate, were lovely hosts to a depleted Merrow team. The considerable challenges of reaching the club owing to A31 road works and approach road closures, did not prevent the match being played, or even be delayed.
Over the next 2 hours Merrow and Seale and Sands were neck and neck – but some sort of fatigue set in with Merrow, and we were soundly beaten in the end.
We all retired to the British Legion next door for a really relaxing early evening, forgetting about bowls and just enjoying each others company. A great fixture, a lovely venue, and excellent hosts. Report by Ian
On the 2nd September, Merrow were defending the David Matthews Cup in our annual match, which this year was away at Ripley.
The four triples match was level at tea but Merrow came out stronger after the break for the win.
Rosemary presented Steve M with the trophy and we all enjoyed a post-match drink and chat. Ken was keen to tell everyone the story about his hornet, even those who had heard it several times before!
We look forward to next year where the trophy will once again be played for, this time at home. Report by Debbie.
Friendlies
The weather stayed fine for our final Wednesday friendly at Holloway Hill. Our hosts led by Captain Roland were their usual accommodating and friendly selves.
The overall game was a win for Merrow. Rink results were: a draw, 13 – 13, for Debbie , Joan and Lesley who pulled back in three ends towards the end; a win,18 – 13, for Steve M, Steve D and John P; and a win 21 – 9 for Allen, Ken and Brian. Report by Allen.
Despite the threat of rain at our away match with Burpham Bowls Club on Saturday 26th, everything went like clockwork. We managed to get our 18 ends in with only a few spots of rain during the tea break at half time.
Overall it was a jolly affair with our kind Burpham hosts and a very close game finishing 90 – 86 in favour of the home side; it was 3 rinks each.
We all had a drink and a laugh in their lovely clubhouse afterwards. Report by Allen.
On Wednesday 16th August we hosted Puttenham for our usual two triples friendly. We had a very warm and dry match with Merrow comfortably in the lead when we stopped for a cream tea at half-time. Puttenham made a comeback after the break and were level on one rink going into the final end but Merrow managed to hold on for a close win on both rinks. Thanks to David E for sorting the tea and doing all the extra washing up. Report by Debbie.
Sunday 13th August saw Merrow play a friendly match at Woking Park. Despite the authorities digging up virtually every road in the Woking area, we all just about made it in time for the 2.30pm start! With the weather set fair, the four rinks produced a close match with Merrow ultimately coming out on top 68 – 54. Two of the rinks were drawn, John P, Ken and Michael picked up a three at the last end to win by one shot, whilst on the fourth rink Lesley, Melanie and Richard won with a little more to spare. Next Saturday (19th August) sees the return fixture when Woking Park visit Merrow. Report by Richard D.
Worms!
It’s been raining a lot and the worms have been having a field day. Mike B helped roll and scrape the (two barrowloads) of mud off the green before we attempted to mow.
Further extracts from the continuing diary of a new(ish) bowler
Whilst learning how to make tea for more than 12 people, I learnt that if the urn ‘trips out’, it can be easily reset by pressing the button underneath in the middle (not so easy if full of water), which is when you will find out it’s not working!?
If the bowl in the sink is full, water the plants.
Main bowls skill this week…Sign Language!!
With many people hard of hearing and/or poor sight, this is important when the distance between you is up to 40 metres.
So when placing the mat, or centring the jack or indicating how much your bowl is off the mark, I have learnt the following…
Use 2 hands to show distance, then point which way…
Roll and point your fingers to ask for the jack to be rolled once, roll twice for two rolls…
Be careful to roll the right direction, but even then it may not go that way…
Add your voice, to help those who are hard of hearing or sight…
e.g…. A touch/a smidgeon /a tad/a bit/ a bit more. How long is a bit?…
A metre, there are varying views to what that distance is as well.
Merrow Village Bowls Club 