A special day for a very special cause.

Club members got together on the afternoon of Saturday 16th August to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.

"The day started with a spider as usual.

The bowls are launched, the closest wood is agreed and the prize awaits.

This saw Gillian taking the jack and her bowl ran with it, however it stopped nearer to Christine’s wood.

The winner with her "lucky" bowl and prize.

The main event was a “whistle-stop“ triples playing five matches of four ends.’

Rules are explained, teams organised and bowls equipment stands ready.

 The first round is underway.

"Bring your wood in here."

The first measure of the match.

The scores are totalled.

The bowlers soon got the idea that time was a factor and scurried very quickly to find their next opponents.

Players poised to scurry...

...straight into the next round.

I'm claiming one.

Awaiting the outcome of another measure.

There's no let up.

as a wood comes onto the jack...

and players compete on other rinks.

Different messages, different signals.

A happy man...

makes others happy.

Good bowling.

More measuring...

and a "four" is agreed.

The President was poised with stop watch and whistle ready!

At last, to the Presidents delight, it was necessary to blow the whistle stopping the guilty skips from bowling their last woods as time had expired! This only occurred once to the credit of all our players.

Time was not available for a final.

The players were glad to retire to the pavilion to receive their Pimms/Prosecco and strawberries and cream together with shortbread biscuits.

The backroom staff of Judith Chappel, Eileen Devaney. Ann Lamb and Pat Wise had worked hard to prepare the food. They had also under the training and guidance off Ann O’Halloran prepared the Pimms and Prosecco.

The results of the bowling came next with the teams A to F having a clear winner which was Dorothy Parker, Paul Jacklin and Lynn Devall with maximum points.

The teams G to L had two teams drawing on 6 points but the team consisting of Judith Duncan, Ann O’Halloran and Paul Morton had four more shots.

The raffle went well with the table groaning under the contributions from members which earned £163.

One consistent winner was Ian Brickley who had just returned from Bedale having won The Elsdon Metcalfe Pairs Trophy with John Russell.  Fiona and Les Bentley together with Tom Bielby had also been at Bedale to support our victorious pair and had returned with them.

Naturally Ian only accepted one of the raffle prizes he won.

The "House" was attempted by several before Jean Lamb found the right key.

Jean can't believe her luck and immediately

donated half her win to MacMillan Cancer Support.

The "House" also contained a sealed envelope with the winning number of the "100 Squares" competition - with a prize of £50. The winning number was revealed to be 92. Richard went to the board to find who it belonged to - it was his grandson Charlie O’Halloran!

The evidence confirming there was no skulduggery!

The highest bidders of the silent auction were announced and this raised £477 for the charity.

Thanks were given by the President, who thanked all helpers and club members for their support. In particular Lynn Devall’s efforts with the sponsors."

Derek Chappel

President.

A Vote of Thanks to Our President.

On behalf of all present Angela Hollingworth thanked Derek for all his excellent work during his term as President which those present supported with warm applause.

£1129 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support

Derek subsequently confirmed that the silent auction raised £477 and the raffle raised £163 on the day, saying:

“I am finally delighted to announce that altogether we raised the magnificent total of £1129 for Macmillan Cancer Support.”

Words: Derek Chappel

Photography/format: Jeff Jaycock