Bowling in Almeria

Back in the chair after a pleasant summer in UK when the ‘Snowbirds’ come back from UK and join the ‘Sunseekers’ for the next six months. I will continue giving you reports of what is happening apropos bowling news within our club and if interesting, other bowling news.
Most of this will be published on our website, bowlingalmeria.com together with appropriate photographs of events taking place. Reports and photographs of the summer competitions, Eleanor McCraw and Reliant Trophy will already be found on the site.
The autumn commenced with visitors from Calne, Byfleet, Birstall and a touring team from Hertford bowls clubs. Overall, Almeria won more games than we lost, but results are not important as long as all players enjoyed the events, which they all appeared to have done.

The opening club competition for this period, the Non-Winners Cup, for members who have not won a singles competition here or UK for the past five years, commenced Monday afternoon 12th October, sixteen players started this keenly contested competition in glorious sunshine. The quarter- finals did not take place until Monday morning, 19thOctober, followed in the afternoon by the two semi-finals.
Eddie Donley took the lead on the third end and was doing well until Mike Hendry levelled the score on the fourteenth end. Mike then took two shots on the next end and the match continued to change leads until the twenty-first end when Mike scored four shots to not let Eddie off the hook and winning the competition.
The second semi-final was between Stan Brisco and Mary Mullen. Although Stan led all the way, at certain times,  Mary showed her fighting spirit by winning four shots on ends eleven and fourteen but eventually losing the match by only four shots.
The final on Friday afternoon of 23rd October between Mike Hendry and Stan Brisco was an interesting game on paper and turned out to be so. Stan returning to bowling after having a stroke early 2009, struggled until the fourteenth, when Mike had a seven shot lead. Stan then stated to pressurise Mike, scoring three shots on the next two ends. It was nip and tuck from this point until the scores were level on the twenty-fifth end. The next end Stan was holding two shots when Mike delivered a killer bowl, trailing the jack and in the end winning by two shot ending this superb final.

Our final visitors for October was a return friendly match with Mazerron Bowling Club on Sunday 25th. Sixty-two players took part in the competition followed by a lunch and wine. Almeria was able to have revenge on their heavy defeat at Mazerron by doing the same to them this time. However the result was not important. Brenda, the Mazerron captain Colin Sear’s wife, presented the Mazerron Cup to the Almeria Captain of the day Vic Parsons, who expressed how well the fun day had gone and looking forward to Almeria’s return match next year at Mazerron. Also thanks to the bar and catering staff for their efficient work and very nice meal.

The month ended with the ‘Welcome Together Trophy’ competition when the Sunseekers, those members who live in Spain most of the year and the Snowbirds, who usually return to Spain in the autumn and leave for UK at the end of the spring.
This year all available club members took part with eight rinks in action. This competition, although a friendly affair, still contains that inevitable tiger with each side wanting to win. Wonderful weather and everyone having a great time ended in a very close result synopsis. Dependant who you were, depended on who won. The ‘Snowbirds’ won five rinks, drew one and lost two. The ‘Sunseekers win on the two rinks were quite high scoring results. Jim declared the result as a win to the ‘Sunseekers’ by nine shots. I will leave it to the members to make up their minds who really were the victors. Who cares when the day ended with members having a buffet and a few drinks having a friendly chat with each other. Once again thanks to the bar and catering staff.

I am sure you will all agree it is nice to all meet up again and welcome all new members. A special thank you to  Terry Rodgers for all the hard work he has carried out on the bowling greens over the past years.  Jim Pike and Les Pratchet have now taken over this challenging job, which some praise might not go amiss, instead of the niggly criticism of the greens. Well done Jim, but don’t kill yourself by taking too much on. I think you will all agree that Jim is doing a good Captains job and will continue to support him