Bowling in Almeria

Welcome to all our readers  and a Happy New Year. I will as usual concentrate on our club activities and report on others when I think they will be of any interest.
The first club competition of the year took place on Monday 11th and Friday 15th January ALBC Draw Rinks. Fourteen teams took part in this knockout competition reaching the Final on Friday afternoon. Winners were Brian Lovett, Mal Fritchley, John Mannal and Ray Herrity against Brian Saunders, Graham Patrick, Par Beattie and Chris Summers. The game was nip and tuck until the fourteenth  end when Brian Lovett’s  team took six shots to go in the lead by five shots and although Brian Saunders team took five shots on the sixteenth they were unable to reach a winning score, leaving Bran Lovett and team to take the first trophy of the year.
Our first open competition, the Los Gallardos Trophy, was played on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd January, involving twelve teams of fours, including two teams from La Mata and one from Cabrera Bowling Clubs. This was played over two days and was played in a ‘Round Robin’ format. Five timed games of up to ten ends were played resulting in the first and second of the two teams in each group playing semi-final and final. Both semi-finals were close games.
The Final played between teams made up of married couples. Alan, Pat Deacon, Ken and Viv Sykes against Tony, Mary Mullen, Rod and Linda Band.  Unfortunately for Alan’s team, the latter were on fire and won comfortably.
Thanks to Anthony and Shirley Jackson who sponsored the competition finalists. First prize 100 Euros and runner ups 50 Euro. Special thanks to Maureen Atkins, who helped me with the round robin format and prepared all the score cards.
It was good to see once again many of our members and a group from La Mata bowling Club staying behind to support the final.. Prizes were then announced by our illustrious Capitan Jim Pike and presented by one of our members,Christine Fitzgerald.

Vic Parsons
ALBC Press Officer