Cliodhna Boyce who won the Junior Singles, Molly Scott, Moya McGuile, Patricia Smyth and Sandra Bailie who won the Senior Fours; the Senior Triples winners were Irene Minnis, Vera McCourt, and Sandra Bailie.
So well done ladies!!
Sandra Bailie, Moya McGuile, Molly Scott & Pat Smyth
Also in the winners’ enclosure were the Men’s Senior Fours of Bobby Orr, Dessie McDowell, Ronnie McKitterick and Seamus Elliman who beat Willie Watson’s rink in the Final. Stanley Hegan was successful in the Senior Singles Final, beating Leslie Wilson, while John Nutt and Bobby Walker overcame Bertie Nixon and Willie Watson in the Pairs Final.
Club News: can I appeal, once again, to all members to kindly walk up the CENTRE of their rink when they have either bowled a bowl or are just walking up to the far end.
BIBC policy regarding DRESS for years has been greys and white shirt. A number of male players have been breaking this rule recently. Jeans of ANY COLOUR are not acceptable. I repeat, until a Notice of Motion at an AGM changes this ruling, the Committee will insist on correct dress for all league and Association matches.
DISABLED CAR PARKING PLACES: sorry, but yet again, can I appeal to ordinary fit members of the Club NOT to park in our disabled parking slots? You really are causing us problems. We are thinking of purchasing a wheel clamp.
You all might have noticed that our bookcases are full to overflowing. So – until we get more bookcases made, no more books please!!
You will also have noticed by now hopefully that we are intending to extend the Summer Leagues – posters are up. Please use the application forms in the foyer.
I assume all members are by now aware of the oncoming Internationals and British Championships. There are posters up everywhere. Daily entry will be £4. A reminder to all Club members that this fee applies to them also. We lease the Club for the 2 weeks to the BIIBC and they establish the entry fees, not us. We hope to disrupt the leagues as little as possible, but we do have to stop all league and casual play as from Wednesday 11th March in order to prepare the Club and greens. Please note that for most leagues there are 2 further weeks of play AFTER the Championships are over. Remember, if you complete all your league fixtures without cancelling or postponing a game, you will be entered into the draw for £100.
Press Launch for International Series & Championships
Molly Scott, Willy McCaw, Catherine Martin, Jim White (Deputy Mayor) & Cecil Davidson
SOCIAL SCENE: the Club’s major venture in February will be the Charity Fun Bowls and Skills Night on Saturday 28th. The previous event before Xmas was a major success, and we appeal to all members to not only make the effort to support a charity but also to have great fun. Posters are up! Looking ahead, there will be a Night at the Races on Saturday March 7th, so we will be looking for race and horse sponsors. Again, the forms are up in the foyer.
Coaching Corner: in order to fulfil his/her full potential a bowler needs what coaches commonly call the Four C’s. The first of these is CONCENTRATION. As in any sport, any player aiming for success must concentrate at all times whether he is a lead, second, third or skip. After all, in a normal game of 21 ends (2 or 3 hours indoor), a player will deliver 42 bowls, not allowing for dead ends and trials. The most obvious sign of a lack of concentration is a wrong bias. EACH bowl should count; concentration will help achieve this, as well as producing:
CO-ORDINATION: in bowls good co-ordination physically is important. There has to be good co-ordination between brain, eye and hand, and body. Practice and repetition will, of course, help immensely in this respect. Various aspects should be worked on: (1) Stance – which, for some players, may vary according to the type of shot being played; (2) Delivery – which may also vary for the same reason; (3) The line of delivery may vary, perhaps because of the green, weight, blockers, weather (outside). All of these factors, if practised, should engender:
CONSISTENCY: this is the key to success (especially at top level). For most bowlers, it is also the key to enjoyment of the game. Any player who can consistently ‘pepper’ the jack within an 18 inch distance will be a good player. Practice and repetition will, of course, also help to create consistency; this in turn should instil:
CONFIDENCE: top bowlers need to be confident – in general; not arrogant, but confident enough to play a bowl when under pressure eg. when facing a ‘count’, with only one bowl left to play. Of course, experience and talking to one’s colleagues are further considerations.
In summary, to be a ‘complete’ or ‘whole’ player, a top bowler must have ability plus motivation but the 4 C’s should also help him/her achieve at the top level.
RULES CORNER: Clarification on:
STANCE ON THE MAT – a player, at the moment of delivering the jack or bowl, shall have all or part of one foot within the confines of the mat. The foot may be in contact with or above the mat. Failure to observe this law constitutes foot-faulting.
FOOT- FAULTING : - (1) should a player infringe this law, the umpire shall, after having given a warning, have the bowl stopped and the bowls declared dead.
(2) if the bowl has disturbed the head, the opponent shall have the option of
(i) resetting the head, or (ii) leaving the head as altered, or (iii) declaring the end dead.
I trust that clarifies matters for some of you who have enquired.
Incidentally, just in passing, all members are reminded that there should be no practising on the rink prior to playing a match.
Apologies for some of the negative comments in this issue, but rules are rules!
Editor