On Friday at a neutral green, Blandford, Swanage lady bowlers played Greenhill in the area final of the national knockout competition, Ladies Top Club.

Uta Keats set the trend by winning on the singles rink by a super score of 21 shots to 10 (11up). This was followed by Lady Captain, Jan Cherry and Sue Bird on the pairs rink scoring on every end from the second to the eleventh amassing 24 points and finishing with a whopping score of 28 shots to 10 (18 up). The triples rink of Sue King, Connie Palmer and Gill Bryceson fought a long battle, picking up points and saving shots with skill but went down 9 shots to 28 (19 down). The full rink of Lil Bell, Ro Bibby, Julie Lomas-Smith and Judy Smooker again held the game and limited the shots against and lost 15 shots to 20 (5 down)

The game is normally decided on the number of disciplines won but at 2 each it is decided on shots difference, so Swanage won by 5 shots overall.

Well done the first time we are the area CHAMPIONS.

We now have to play St Austell, the Cornish area winners, by 14^th August, and then progress further!

On Wednesday 13^th July, evening, the Swanage Lady bowlers made further club history by winning their third-round knockout game against Poole Park and made it to the area final in the national Bowls England knockout competition ‘Ladies Top Club’.

On the singles rink Uta Keats limited her opponent to winning only on 5 ends in the 18 played and won by a fine margin 21 shots to 10. (11 up)

On the pairs rink Jan Cherry and Linda Wallis put up a good fight and kept their loss to a minimum by scoring 3 on the last end 13-27 shots. (14 down)

On the triples rink Nadine Evans, (who came in at the 11^th hour to cover for a Covid hit player), Gill Bryceson and Sue Bird again fought well and also kept their loss as low as possible, limiting their opponents to 1 shot on the last end 10-21 shots. (11 down)

On the fours rink Lil Bell, Jenny Carter, Julie Lomas-Smith and Judy Smooker rocketed ahead, their opponents not scoring until the 9^th end and kept the pressure on achieving a final score of 25 shots to 6. (19 up)

The winner of these games is the team who wins on the most disciplines but in the case of a draw, as today, 2 rinks each, the outcome is on the overall shots scored, therefore, Swanage win 69 shots to 64. WELL DONE.

The area final will be against Greenhill BC and played on a neutral green, as we are the challenger, Lady Captain Jan has more organising to do, as it has to be played before 31^st July!

Mens’ Leagues

Percy Baker E2 4th with 32 points

Percy Baker E4 3rd with 16 points

Bowls Dorset East Division 6th with 35 points

Bournemouth and District section 4 6th with 48 points

Ladies’ Leagues

Bournemouth and District Division 2 2nd with 37 points

Edna Paisley East 7th with 12 points

Mixed Triples 

Bournemouth and District Section 1 TOP with 43 points

‘Top Club’ is a national knockout competition, involving the four playing disciplines of our game. We won on all four rinks, against Blandford, on Thursday afternoon, 2^nd June, well done ladies.

SINGLES, Uta Keats, had a ‘nip and tuck game over the first 11 ends then won 5 out of the last 6 to achieve the required 21 winning shots!

PAIRS, Jan Cherry and Linda Wallis, raced away to a great lead of 13 shots to 2 after 7 ends but the opponents fought back to 13-12 shots after 11 but Swanage again took control winning 23 shots to 18 after the required 18 ends.

TRIPLES, Ro Bibby, Gill Bryceson and Sue Bird, were 13-3 up after 7 ends but were hauled back to 15-14 after 15 ends dropped 1 on the 16^th now 15 all, with great tenacity they held their nerve and won by 1 shot 17-16 after 18 ends.

FOURS, Lil Bell, Pam Roddick, Julie Lomas-Smith and Judy Smooker, after dropping the first 3 ends took total charge of this game and steadily built their lead, loosing only 1 end over the next 14 ends, not needing to play the last end went out winners 27-6.

This was an excellent victory and we meet Branksome Park at home in the next round, to be played before Sunday 3^rd July.

This was a first time WIN for Swanage in the first round of the national men’s ‘TOP CLUB’ competition.

Well done, Clive, 2 wood singles, Brian, 4 wood singles, Terry and Paul pairs.

Clive raced away in his game, after 6 ends he was 8-0 up, in the 7^th he gave 1 away but then continued on the rampage to go 14-1 up after 11 ends. The opposition pinched one on the 12 but after 15 ends Clive was unable to be beaten at 16 shots to 3 up so he won with 6 ends not needed to be bowled! (Opponent could only score a maximum of 12 shots)

Brian on the other hand had a ‘nip and tuck’ game. After 4 ends he was 3-5 down but ‘stuck in’ a four to go 7-5 up after 5, his opponent then took charge and went 10-7 up after 8. Brian, being the fighter he is, came back and matched the opposition when he took control after 17 ends was 17-14 up after the next three ends he was at the prescribed 21 shots up!

Terry and Paul, started as they meant to go on and took a 4shot lead on the first end, increasing this to 11-3 after 7 ends. Wimborne came back at them taking 3 shots on both the 11 and 12, cutting the lead down to 14-10, our lads, however, held the next 3 ends, going 20-10 up, coasting the next 3 ends and winning 20-14!

Unfortunately, we lost in the triples and fours, so that is all we will report on those two rinks.

We, therefore, WON the match 3 disciplines to 2.

Our next opponent will be either Blandford or Shaftsbury, yet to play.

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April 14th sees the President’s Coffee Morning. Mike Keats is looking forward to welcoming new and longer standing members to meet up between 10 and 12 to start his year of fundraising for Cancer Research.

The Club’s opening game of the season takes place on 19th April at 2pm, followed by fish and chips.

On 20th April and 21st April practice sessions begin for men and women, both starting at 2pm. Women’s practice sessions will then take place every Monday at 2pm.