Our very best wishes and support to Gill Bryceson and Sue Bird who are off to play in the National Finals Ladies Pairs at Leamington Spa this week. Go ladies!

Apologies to everyone who intended to play in the Carnival competition, but the weather has beaten us.

Hopefully the weather will improve for other carnival events.

Friday 28th July saw 3 Swanage ladies’ triples teams play in the Dorset East Benevolent competition.

With 20 teams competing we were delighted when all 3 teams progressed through to the second round . A complicated qualifying system meant that some teams had to win 2 matches to reach the County quarter finals, with only 2 teams having to battle it out over 3 rounds to get through.

Despite the odds 2 of our 3 teams drew each other in the second round only to then to find we were going to be one of the only 2 teams to have to play 3 rounds (hope you are following this, because we weren’t on the day!).

Our star team of Connie Palmer as lead, Pam Roddick as number 2 and skip Jenny Carter moved through to the 3rd round and then beat Poole Park in a tight game to go through to the quarter and semi final stage on 7th August at Shaftesbury.

GOOD LUCK LADIES!

Dorset Ladies Pairs Champions

Sue Bird and Gill Bryceson represented Swanage Bowls Club in the Ladies County Pairs Competition. Their first game at Broadstone Wessex started their winning streak. The next two games against a different pair from Broadstone and then West Moors were very close and down to almost the last bowl of the game for a win.

Sue remembers the tension as they played the quarter finals “we played at Lyme Regis against Blandford when again it was down to the very last bowl to make sure of a win.”

The Semi Finals were played on the same day at Lyme Regis against probably their toughest opponents from Poole Park. The scores were all level going into a very tense last end. Gill said “We took a slender lead but needed to protect it while the opposition fired 3 times attempting to remove our holding shot. Although they succeeded in removing two of our close bowls, we still held on to one shot to win the game.  We were both thrilled to win.”

The Final at Dorchester against Sherborne was scheduled for Saturday afternoon 22 July at 3pm. Nerves were intense for the excited supporters from Swanage Bowls Club especially as the rain was lashing down. Gill and Sue were relieved in the end when the game was postponed until Sunday morning. On Sunday the sun shone and a very vocal bunch of supporters cheered Sue and Gill all the way through the match.

The game started well and they managed to take a good early lead which they held until the end.  The opposition from Sherborne conceded on the 17^th end as it was impossible for them to win on the last end.  Sue and Gill told us that “We overcame our nerves to win 19 shots to 9.  We were again both thrilled with the result and will now go on to represent Dorset in the National Finals to be held at Leamington Spa on August 15^th.”

The National Finals are the pinnacle of bowls and Leamington Spa is a wonderful place to play. Some of our Club will be there to cheer Sue and Gill on and whatever the result at Leamington Spa, Swanage Bowls Club is immensely proud of them.

The bowling club will be holding a ‘Bowls Drive’ on Monday 31^st July, this will be open to members of the public as well as club members. All proceeds will go to the Swanage Carnival charity pot.

Registration at 10am for start of play at 10-30am. At a cost of £5 per bowler. The game will be over 18 ends and each 6 ends entrants will change who they play with, who they play against and on a different rink. The winners will a Lady and a Man with the highest score, who will be presented with a trophy.

Woods and equipment will be provided by the club but entrants must have flat shoes with no prominent heel.

Results and league standings weekend 8^th July

Bournemouth and District Saturday Triples:

Swanage Swans were away playing Pelhams Sharks and won overall 30 shots to 24 gaining    4 points and remain top of Section 1 by 5 points.

Swanage Dolphins were away playing Bournemouth Buffalos and won overall 43 shots to 24 gaining 6 points and return to top of Section 5B with 42 points, 2 points clear.

Swanage Seagulls were at home to Fordingbridge Fire and won overall 44 shots to 21 gaining 6 points and are now 5^th in Section 5A with 26 points.

Swanage Puffins were at home to Wimborne Charlie and won overall 43 shots to 30 gaining 6 points and move to 7^th place in Section 5A with 22 points.

Bournemouth and District Ladies’ League:

We were on the carpet this week playing Braeside 1 and won overall 35 shots to 33, a close game gaining 4 points and move up to 3^rd place with 41 points 1 point off the lead.

Edna Paisley Triples:

We were at home to Blandford Otters this week and lost overall 26 shots to 45 but gained 2 points for a rink win. We are bottom of this league with 16 points.

Bowls Dorset Men’s League:

We had a week off and remain 5^th place with 24 points.

Percy Baker E2:

We were at home to Wimborne and won overall 34 shots to 31 gaining 4 points and are in 3^rd place with 32 points.