FINALS WEEKEND Men's and Ladies

On Sunday 8th August  at Tilehurst Bowls Club the men's triples of Gordon Knapper Russell Harper and Kevin Scrace will be playing the trio of Aland Symondson Simon Jones and Robert Newman from Reading Bowls Club .  We wish them Good Luck and am sure they will appreciate some support for this game.  Please refer to e mail from Gemma with regard to parking at Tilehurst. This match is scheduled for a 1. 15 pm start

The following weekend of  14th August again at Tilehurst Bowls Club sees our intrepid pairing of Maggie Scrace and Sue Goodchild up against Sally Gilbert and Jane Murphy of  Didcot Bowls Club and also we have our Club Secretary Gemma Hanks in the final of the unbadged singles against Carol Goddard of Island of Bohemia.  Both these matches are scheduled for a 9.30 a.m. start .  Again I am sure you will want to go along and show your support.

It is a great achievement for such a small club as Thicket to get to the finals of the County Competitions and we are very proud of everyone who entered and competed this year.

TORQUAY BOWLS TOUR

This year we were at last allowed to go on our annual tour which had been scheduled for 2020 but because of circumstances was cancelled . Torquay was our destination and on a sunny Friday morning we set off arriving at Torquay about 2.00 p.m. where the weather was a tad breezy and threatened rain. No match on Friday so everyone just got their bearings and enjoyed the sea air.

On Saturday it was the usual crazy golf tournament which Paul organizes  there were a lot of competitors and we all went off in groups of 4 adhering to the Covid Rules.  It was a close competition with lots of fun and banter amongst the groups the ladies overall winner was Elaine Worthy and the gentleman winner was our Club Captain Tommy Hanks (this might be wrong as it is over a week ago and my memory eludes me at times)

Our game on Saturday was just down the road from the Hotel at Torquay B.C. where we were made very  welcome and the weather was kind to us .  Team Thicket came out the winners in this match .  One down two games to go Sunday's weather was not so kind to us and our match with Kings Bowling Club was rain interrupted with a delayed start and then after 9 ends we had to retire to the club house for tea and biscuits  but we were able to resume and the game ended in an honourable draw. 

On Monday we were on our way home leaving Torquay about 10.30 a.m. bidding farewell to Torquay en route to  Taunton B.C a club we had played at on our way home on the last tour .  We were warmly greeted and had a very entertaining game on all rinks with Team Thicket coming  out the winners.  A lovely meal had been prepared for us and was very acceptable before making our journey back to The Thicket after a great weekend amongst friends and fellow bowlers

Emotional Weekend

Well another week has progressed and a busy week in the world of Thicket Bowls .  I have also had a busy time celebrating our Granddaughter's 21st Birthday a milestone in her life as well as mine.

Last Saturday saw the second lot of semi finals for County Competitions take place at  Reading Bowls Club.  Our intrepid pair of Maggie Scrace and Sue Goodchild were playing against  Barbara Smith and Morgan Merryweather . It was a  very close game played with such incredible skill and sportsmanship it was a shame one pair had to go out.  It was a game which meant a lot to both pairs as the winner would secure a place at Leamington and also neither pair wanted it to be the last game they played together.

Morgan's partner had moved to Dorset earlier in the year and was making this her last year  playing for Berkshire.  Maggie first went to National finals at Leamington in 1992 and has made many appearances  there over the last 30 years and declared she would also be bowing out of competitive bowling this year.The final score was 17 14 with Maggie and Sue going through to the finals. I had the privilege of watching this game and felt it encapsulated everything that bowls means to me.