Greetings,
Despite a less than encouraging forecast, we pushed ahead with our 1st regular monthly OACT Tournament for the 22/23 season and were rewarded with a (mainly) fine day which actually gave us some well appreciated sunshine most of the afternoon. We also had a nearly full complement of teams, which again, given the forecast, was very pleasing.
Our green, which has recently been classed as being of international standard, played superbly despite the odd sprinkling it received during the morning, and provided our visitors with a very reliable surface on which to exercise their skills. The result was that most scores were very close, making the games that much more enjoyable.
We also witnessed the very rare event of a bowl splitting almost exactly into two hemispheres, creating some concern as it became difficult to determine which half was the shot - and the game was inevitably named as being one of Two Halves! If you are looking for a set of bowls that would be perfectly suited for playing in Triples matches, Mike Pugh of Birkenhead Bowling Club may have a very good deal for you………
On a less amusing note we also had one of our well known members experience a dizzy spell during the final game - which fortunately turned out not to be serious - but at the time created some consternation amongst the players. However, having been given a clearance by the very professional para-medics of the responding St Johns Ambulance team, he was declared fit enough to return home and rest. On checking with him today, he is back to his old form, if a little shaken (but not stirred) by the event.
The sport of Bowling is well recognised as a social and family oriented sport, and this has been made very evident in the last 24hrs. Beach Haven Club, and the Member concerned, have been overwhelmed by the thoughts as to his welfare being expressed by phone and email, and we wish to sincerely thank all those who have called and assisted in his immediate care yesterday. No doubt we shall all see him in the near future enjoying some more fresh air and good company with the rest of us.
Having ascertained that our player was recovering in safe hands, we closed play after the third game and declared that our Winners for the day were the home team of Karl Glenn, Ron Smith and Dave Hilson with another home team of Arthur Dewar, Colin Heath & Ian Davis in 2nd and the Takapuna team of Sue Rossiter, Christine Phillips and Graeme Chambers in 3rd place.
Once again, many thanks go to all our visitors for the day, which turned out to be a lot more eventful than usual in more ways than one!
Good Bowling!
The Badger
Press and Communications Officer.