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At the centre of short mat bowling in Devon

Another season is over and some of you will now be enjoying the outdoor season.  However there are Clubs that only play Short Mat and keep on playing during the summer months.  There are some Leagues played during this time and without the County Competitions it is a chance to catch up with some friendly matches.  The competition forms for all the County Competitions and Nationals competitions should be with the Club Secretaries by now so make sure that all Club members know about them and please make a note of the dates, as after the draw goes out in August to the Club Secretary there are no reminders sent to individual members.  A list of players that qualify after the preliminary rounds will be sent to Club Secretaries.

Devon County Short Mat Bowling Association – Committee 2008/9

 

Following the Devon  County Annual General Meeting the following members were elected to serve.

Chairman        -       vacant

Vice Chairman –       Brian Medland (01626 354472)

Secretary         -       Irene Smith (01392 874416) jandismith@tinyonline.co.uk

Treasurer        -        Robert Bartlett (01404 861434

Competitions Secretary  -  David Crisp (01752 895342) webmaster@dcsmba.co.uk

                                          Mobile 07989 603908

County Team Co-ordinator  -  Bill Brook (01837 83081)

‘A’ Team Manager -  To be advised

Area Representative (S & W) -  Brian Medland (01626 354472)

Area Representative (N & Mid)  -  Graham Heaman (01805 603576)

Area Representative (East)   -  Gordon Tremlett (01395 567827) gtremlett@onetel.com

Committee Member  -  Brian Glanvill (01395267660)

 

Please give any member of the Committee a call if you need help or advice.

Success at the World Championships and Nationals

Simon Pridham, James Smith and Lee Toleman of Wonford S.M.B.C. won the triples at the World Championships held in Belgium.

Phil Atkins and Michael Ivings (Exeter Nomads S.M.B.C.) together with Gareth Hill from Ivybridge S.M.B.C. won the Triples at the Nationals held in Kettering.   Congratulations to all of them.

A telephone call received by the County Secretary, from a player in Worcestershire, after the Nationals, congratulated our team on their excellent manner on the mat.

Graham Heaman Triples

On 16^th March this ever popular tournament took place at Merton S.M.B.C.  This was a knockout competition when 8 invited clubs sent two players to join one from Merton to make teams of three.  As compensation for those teams knocked out after the first round, a slap-up tea was served before the semi-finals took place.  After a sociable but competitive afternoon’s play, the eventual winners were Martin and Jenny Sexton from Bradford and Cookbury with Merton’s Mo Brown.  Pat and Gerald Broughton from Alverdiscott were joined by Sally O’Neill from Merton to take runners-up place.  Our thanks to those who stayed behind to watch the final – it made such a difference to the atmosphere to have an appreciative audience.  Well done, Graham, for giving us such a well-organised and enjoyable day.         

Sally O’Neill

Totnes Creameries Annual Charity Tournament

Totnes Creameries are delighted to announce that they made a total of £1,200 at their Annual Charity Tournament on Sunday 13^th April held at the Civic Hall, Totnes.

Winkleigh S.M.B.C. won the tournament with Wonford S.M.B.C. runners-up and the new Challenge cup given by Mike Sealey of Totnes Pet and Garden Limited, was presented by the Mayor and Mayoress.

The £1,200 raised is for a scanner for the Ricky Grant Cancer Day Care Unit at Torbay Hospital where Penny Perkins and Sonia, Sheila Gudger’s daughter, have both recently received successful treatment.

Penny Perkins says, ‘I would like to say a personal thanks to everyone for your generosity to help with raising funds for a new scanner for this essential unit.  It was so wonderful to see so many of you at the Tournament’.

Pamela Tulley, Totnes Creameries S.M.B.C.

Thelma Shere Charity Tournament

On Sunday 24^th February the Exmouth Pavilion was once again invaded by 128 Short Mat Bowlers from Dorset, Somerset and Devon.

The winners for the second year running were Wonford S.M.B.C. receiving the perpetual Thelma Shere Shield and individual cups and much prized certificates.  Exeter Nomads were runners up, also receiving cups and certificates.

This popular tournament, now in its second year, raised £450 for Cancer Research U.K. Cullompton Friends.

Next years tournament will be held at the same venue on Sunday 22^nd February 2009.  If your club has NOT played in this event before and wishes to take part please contact Jane/Arthur on 01395 274278.  Places are on a first come first served basis with only one entry per Club.

Arthur Cuff

Teignbridge Fours Tournament

This tournament took place on Saturday 5^th April 2008 and was won by Janet Davis, Arthur Cuff and June and Edwin White from Woodbury Short Mat Bowls Club.  They needed 3 shots on their last end of the last game to win. 

Comment from Woodbury Skip Janet Davis ‘too close for comfort’.

Arthur Cuff,  Woodbury S.M.B.C.

Exeter Nomads Ladies Pairs

This was the sixth year for this popular Ladies Pairs and once again we filled all 16 places very quickly.  It was an excellent day with everyone playing three games followed by quarter finals, semi-finals and finals.  The winners were once again Margaret Smith and Marie Toleman from Wonford S.M.B.C. who proved too strong for the ladies from Totnes Creameries.  An excellent lunch of freshly made vegetable soup followed by cheese and biscuits and fruit was provided and it was difficult to get back to the bowling in the afternoon. 

Exeter Nomads Generation Pairs

For the sixth year the Generation Pairs consisting of one under 18 playing with an over 18 took place on 11^th May.  Eight pairs took part with youngsters playing either  with someone from their own Club or in some case County Players.  They all played each other so had seven games during the day.  The winners were Michael Ivings (Nomads) and Gareth Hill (Ivybridge) and the runners-up were Elliott James (Yarnscombe) and Brian Glanvill (Nomads).  Gareth was playing as an over 18 for the first time this year and together with Michael made a formidable team but it was all good experience for everyone.  This will be Michael’s last time as an under-18 so he’s hoping to play next year with one of the under-18’s.  We were fortunate with a lovely sunny day and were able to have a lunch-time barbecue. 

Thanks to everyone who played and helped at both the tournaments.

Irene Smith, Exeter Nomads S.M.B.C.

Devon Website

This can be viewed on www.dcsmba.co.uk and in the coming months will have lots of information.  The Diary of events and the County & National Competitions are already displayed and can be downloaded.  David Crisp will update it from time to time so if you have any league results or competition reports or  photographs that you would like to publish on the site give him a call on 07989 603908 or e-mail webmaster@dcsmba.,co.uk.

The ESMBA also have a website which can be viewed on esmba.org.uk.

 

Know the Rules

How to count the shots

Often we see the two’s or three’s in a game walking round the head when an end is finished trying to agree how many shots are counting.  The correct method of deciding is both fairer and quicker.  Firstly it is for one or other of the players to concede the shot bowl to the other.  If there is no agreement then a measure is taken by either player or the umpire.  Once the shot bowl is conceded the losing player then carries on conceding any further shots until both players agree the score.  Note that it is for the conceding player to remove the bowls and not the winning player.  Finally if either player disturbs the head (e.g. by kicking the bowls out before both players agree then the other player can claim the shots because it is against the rules to disturb the head.  (It is also sharp practice and arrogant and not in the spirit of fair play!).

Hettie Kett