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County Friendly Matches 2012
Kent County Indoor Bowling Association
The first match played for the Kent Invicta Horse donated by Peter Newman was played at Mote Park on 18th April and the
final score was 90-124 giving the Indoor Association a 34 shot lead to take into the second leg of the competition. There
were new county badges presented to John Russell of Sidcup, Gary Walker of Sheerness St Georges and Jack King of Bromley but
with no winning rinks there were no top rink prizes to award on this occasion. This game marked the last game for outgoing
Indoor President Roger Fuller.
The second game was played at Sandwich on 4th July on a very good
green and under cloudless skies with the Outdoor Association winning the game 127-114, but not enough to overturn the deficit
from the first encounter. This game marked Albert Robinson’s first match as new Indoor President. The top rink prizes
went to Ken Gilbert, Cyril Schopman, Norman Bishop and Bernie Todd. The KCIBA therefore retain the trophy won last year, and
they were so confident they did not bring it to the game for presentation.
Bowls Cambridgeshire
This game was played at HSBC Bowls Club on 16th May with Kent winning 137-91. In the absence of President Sue Alexander the immediate past
president of Bowls Cambridgeshire, Tony Taylor, officiated on a rather chilly mid May day. There were new county badges presented
to Michael Sacre (Gravesend) Alan Walton (Dane Park) Paul Rolfe, David Boast, Doug Laidlaw (all Met Police) and Michael Stark
(Hartley Country Club). The top rink prizes went to Alan Walton, Fred Beer, Terry Tonks and Ivan Hoile.
Bowls Hampshire
This match against Hampshire was played on 7th June at Oakley
BC which is situated on the private estate of Sir Michael Coleman (of Coleman’s
Mustard fame) but was ruined by constant rain throughout the game which was eventually called off at 15 ends. Hopefully Kent
can be invited back to this venue again as it was one of nicest clubs to visit and the green on a good day would be a pleasure
to play on. Peter Cole, Peter Wilks, Patrick Connor and Bernie Todd won the top rink prizes in a game lost to Hampshire 67-81.
Surrey County Bowling Association
This game was played on 14th June at Aylesham and Snowdown
BC on a rare sunny day and on a very good green. This was Surrey’s
first visit to Aylesham and Snowdown and they were very impressed with the green and the facilities. The match was won by
just one shot by Kent (127-126) despite
the best efforts of the President to give shot away on the very last end. Geoff Well, Roger Gee, Terry Farthing and Paul Rose
collected the top rink prizes on this occasion.
Suffolk County Bowling
Association
This game was played on 10th July at Holmesdale Bowls Club under cloudy skies, but having travelled
through torrential rain to reach the club we were happy only to be disrupted by light showers. The result of the game was
114 – 128 in Suffolk’s favour and Suffolk President, who is in the semi final of their county champion of champions,
had an outstanding game to help win his rink by one shot.
There were new county badges presented to Les Mason of Herne Bay, and Malcolm Whitehead of West Wickham and the top rink prizes
went to Colin Docksey, Roger Arnold, Peter Acott and David Holt.
Hertfordshire Bowls
On Wednesday 26th July we entertained Hertfordshire
Bowls at Halls Bowls Club in Dartford. Halls
is rapidly gaining a good reputation for its green and facilities and on this hot sunny day the green bowled really well.
Having been there five days earlier when the green was under water after a sudden thunder storm, conditions today were the
complete opposite.
President John Thompson lead the Hertfordshire team in a game played
in good company and with some very good bowling. On this occasion Kent won the
match 141 – 99 with the top rink prizes going to David Taylor, John Barnes, Mick Scott and President Mick Collins.
The
Halls ladies did us proud with a much needed
‘cuppa’ at ten ends and after the game with a welcome salad meal.
Thank Halls for a lovely day.
Sussex C.B.A.
On
Wednesday 1st of August we were playing at the Presidents club, Marden, where we entertained Sussex led by President
Vic Sherewood. On another glorious afternoon on a good green Kent won the match 116-80, small consolation after losing to
our neighbors in the Middleton Cup and Home Counties League earlier in the season. There was the last new badge of the season
presented to Malcolm Price of Canterbury BC who was a quarter finalist in the fours last season. The highest winning rink
prizes were won by Ian Lockhart, Mike Sweeney, Terry Crawley and Peter Cooper.
As
usual Marden’s ladies treated us to a very nice after match meal and the Sussex players returned over the border beaten
but very grateful for a great day out. Thank you Marden for your hospitality.
Essex C.B.A.
On
Thursday 2nd August we played Essex, led by President George Coster, at Rayleigh BC in Essex to play our second
friendly of the week. This was Rayleigh’s first ever county friendly played at their club and they certainly did everything
to make sure both teams remembered the day for all the right reasons. The green was very good and the changing rooms and eating
area were first class. Although they do not have a bar at the club they made the effort to create a temporary bar for the
day. Kent won the game 107-101 and the top rink prizes went to Ken Gilbert, Reg Bunn, Brian Wigmore and Mick Bannister.
After
the game we were treated to an excellent hot meal at which local MP the Rt. Hon. Mark Francois and Chairman of Rayleigh Town
Council Robin Dray attended.
Well
done to the members of Rayleigh BC for making it an enjoyable day.
Middlesex
C.B.A.
On
Tuesday 7th of August we visited Isleworth Bowls Club in Middlesex for our annual friendly encounter, where we were greeted
by County President David Todd. The day did not start well as two of our players, including our match secretary, were caught
in the Olympic Triathlon traffic and were late arriving, but the game eventually started a few minutes late and was played
on a very good bowling surface. In a closely contested encounter, played under the incoming flight path for Heathrow airport,
Middlesex eventually won the game 134-123 and the highest winning Kent rink prizes went to Andrew Smith, Patrick Connor, Bernie
Todd and Alan Easterbrook.
The
Isleworth club looked after us very well with sandwiches and rolls available on arrival and an excellent after match meal.
Our
thanks go to Isleworth for a memorable day.
Home Counties.B.A.
On
Thursday 9th of August Kent entertained a team from the Home Counties Bowling Association, for what was our last County friendly
of the year. This match is an annual fixture with the league winners from the previous year and therefore we were delighted
to welcome the HCBA to Sevenoaks BC for this year’s game.
The
team was made up of a rink from all participating counties plus one made up of Association officers, and was led by Chairman
Mike Cavill from Buckinghamshire Bowls.
The
game was won by Kent 160-103 with Bob Baldwin, Graham Funnell, Budgie Carman and Allan Chase, playing on rink 7, taking the
top rink prizes.
Unless
Buckinghamshire stop Oxfordshire collecting seven points in the last league game of the year, the game will be played in Oxford
next season, as they will be the new league champions.
The
Sevenoaks green was in good condition and the ladies provided an excellent three course after match meal.
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