The green was formally opened on Easter Sunday afternoon by our President, David F. Those members who didn’t have a family clash enjoyed an hour of bowling to get their hand in and then adjourned for tea and cake with the visitors who had joined us for the beginning of the new outdoor season.
Good luck to all those bowling competitively in leagues and competitions this year.
Mike and Derek have finished the refurbishment on one side of the ditches. It turned out to be a more taxing job than they initially thought with flints and stones needing digging out before the new plastic fence posts could be installed. As Mike told Debbie, “We have 30-year-old brains but bodies a lot older”.
We all agree the new ditch edge is a vast improvement on the wavy and unsafe bank we had before.
A huge thank you to you both.
On Saturday 22nd March the weather forecast was much better than predicted and 15 members turned up to help paint the sheds, ditch-boards and wooden frame and posts as well as start on the weeding and planting up of the flower borders.
Thanks to Mike for organising the work- party, Tony D for the wonderful breakfast and Lesly for making the tea and coffee. Those who missed out this time due to bowling indoors will be able to help when we have our next work party to get the clubhouse sorted and the ditch liners etc. back in place later in April.
Our series of indoor friendlies continues with wins against Camberley IBC and Burpham. Both matches were played in a very good spirit. There is one indoor fixture left with Castle Green, where we will be playing in mixed teams and enjoying a post-match meal.
Still some work to do but the Green was looking good in the sunshine after a winter cut. The bank repair will be underway very soon and we hope to be opening the green on 20th April.
Christmas Cake Decorating
For the third year in a row Barbara and David invited us to decorate our Christmas cakes together, learning new techniques and sampling cake and coffee. We all know now how to make edible silver paint from gin and silver lustre powder. This year we chose from several designs with robins with stockings, trees in the snow, a present filled sleigh, candy-canes, candles with Christmas roses and a mouse featuring on the cakes. Barbara had bagged up all the correct coloured icing for each design and David raised the tables so we could work in comfort. The more complicated designs were challenging but each of us left with cakes to be proud of. Thank you to Barbara and David for hosting.
Match Reports
A new indoor fixture saw us playing Auriol Outdoor Club at King George Field. Merrow lost (43-51) but all the players enjoyed their game and meal and we hope to repeat the fixture next year.
Ruth captained her first indoor fixture at Mole Valley where we almost stole a win (59-62), winning on three of the four rinks.
There are three more indoor fixtures in the new year so sign up on BIAS if you want to play.
A superb effort on Saturday!
Well done to everyone who helped, with special thanks to Barbara and her team for the organisation.
Donations can be brought to the Village Hall on Friday (1st November) from 8.30pm to 10pm or Saturday morning before 8.30am.
This year we returned to Sutton Green Golf Course for our presentation lunch, enjoying a lovely meal and company including our friends from Castle Green. Awards were presented by our Competition Secretary and Chair as you can see in the photos taken by Andy K and David O. The afternoon was rounded off by the raffle (organised by Joan and Lesley) but drawn by Ken and Andy in their usual inimitable style. Many thanks to Joan and Allen for organising this for us all. Report by Debbie
The outdoor season has finished but we have plenty to keep you busy during the Winter.
We held our first Merrow All Weather Unicorn Race Meeting on October 5th and invited punters from local bowls clubs to join us for seven themed races including our own take on the Grand National. Great fun was had by all, although one of our members was rather bemused by the evening and spent their time trying to determine if the Unicorns were biased (they weren’t!). The funds raised will go towards improving the club. Many thanks to Barbara and Steve for organising this. Special mention to Harrison for his sterling efforts as acting jockey for the first six races and marshalling the owners for the final race of the evening.
Our annual Fish ’n’ Chips night on the 19th September proved to be the last opportunity to bowl outdoors this season as the wet weather meant our last two friendly fixtures were cancelled.
We played in teams for Allen or Trevor in a combination of triples and pairs until the bell rang time. No one know quite who won! This was followed by fish and chips in the main club. Thanks to Trevor for organising and for all those who came to play or eat later and contributed to the raffle.
Our annual Bowlers v Main Club match was held on Sunday 15th in warmish sunshine. We played two bowl triples over 16 ends and finished with a barbeque and drinks. Everyone from the youngest who was 9 years old up to the oldest nearing 80 enjoyed some competitive bowls.
The bowlers won on 5 of the rinks and by overall shots. David O and Helen on the top rink accepted the cup on behalf of the bowlers.
Steve M, John and David E were successful in their WSBA Triples final held at Knaphill on Saturday 14th and will be awarded the trophy at the WSBA AGM. The game against Woodbridge Hill was very competitive but Merrow managed to open up a lead to win after 17 ends.
Our club finals were held over a week due to the WSBA semi finals and the poor weather. Spectators came to support the competitors for every match, which was much appreciated. The winners and runners up will be awarded trophies and medals at our annual presentation lunch on 20th October. Many thanks to David O for his organisation.
Report by Debbie.
After another successful season in which we reached the Finals of the Knaphill Triples for the third year running, the outcome was close but not sufficient. The final chapter was written under dreadful meteorological circumstances. It rained all morning in the semi-finals in which Merrow lost to Albury by one shot over two triples. The afternoon saw thunder and lightening and the green was waterlogged in places. The third-fourth playoff match was abandoned and Merrow will share third place with Knaphill. I would like to thank the other 11 players for their support in all the games. We won sixteen and lost only two, scoring 776 shots for and 489 against.
The competition, divided into four zones, is well organised and well suited to all players at the Merrow club. There are 40 teams, with several clubs having two or more teams. Report by John W.
The green was transformed into a 9 hole ‘golf’ course for our Crazy Bowls event organised by Tony D. We had great fun working out how to navigate the practise round before enjoying a really good spread for tea. Then the 20 players set off on a scoring round. Chris and Paul came in as eventual winners having the lowest combined score. Report by Debbie.
Merrow welcomed Ripley on Saturday 31st August for our annual friendly but with the David Matthews Trophy at stake. The match was close, with each side winning 2 rinks, but Merrow got the victory on overall shots. Thanks very much to David O for the mid-match tea. Report by Debbie.
A fun afternoon was had by all at Holloway Hill on Wednesday 27th August as they celebrated their centenary. Although Merrow lost there was only a 2 shot difference at the end with special thanks to John, Sally and Robin saving Merrow from a bigger defeat by winning on their rink 24 – 8.
Speeches were made and the Holloway Hill Captain presented Merrow with a Centenary pennant. Report by Allen.
Merrow Village Bowls Club 