On behalf of Royston Bowling Club, we would like to thank David Harris and team (Harris Associates Wealth Management) who, over the last couple of years has supported us in particular his sponsorship. Which has this year enabled the club to purchase new shirts. This is greatly appreciated by all the members.
Anybody who might be interested in trying bowls (of Any age from 9 to 90) please contact the club on any of the following, the new season will be starting on 18th April so now is the time to give it a try.
Welcome to the start of a new decade and the 2020 bowling season.
It is a very great honour to have been elected as your President, something which I did not expect when I joined the club 6 years ago.
My charity this year is the North Herts Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society who help and support my wife Sandra and many other people in Hertfordshire. So, thank you for all the contributions however small throughout the season.
My Tour this year is to Bournemouth, where we will be staying at the Elstead Hotel, from 10th to 13th July. I am sure everyone will have a great time. I would like to thank Eunice, Keith and Rodney for all their hard work in organising this.
As a club we have a loyal and hardworking Committee for which I thank and hope that as members you can support them throughout the year. I encourage you all to try and participate in all types of games i.e friendly and competitively wherever possible.
Finally, I hope you all have an enjoyable season and every success in all you enter, and I look forward to playing with you on the green.
Four Royston members ventured into the centre of London to try out the new Festibowl pop-up event.
With a 1hr. dedicated rink booking at the Potters Field Park venue (adjacent to Tower Bridge), our research team of Stewart Brown, Heather Stapleford, Sally Ann & Steve Hart were on a mission to gather intelligence on this novel approach to the promotion of bowls to new generations.
The plan had been to quietly immerse themselves in the proceedings as beginners, but within seconds of taking the mat (following a couple of obligatory cocktails) their cover was blown when Heather was recognised by Chris Falkner, co-organiser and husband of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ellen – however the discovery led to some great behind-the-scenes insight, much merriment and even a bit of extra mates-rates time on the rink (and more cocktails).
Festibowl is aimed more at non-bowling folk (‘buggles’?), and is geared up for both general public participation as well as corporate team-building outings. It does have a deliberately unconventional approach and definitely not for the purists – when one of the team produced a standard bowls string measure to settle a count, it was promptly confiscated by the green’s MC and replaced by a builder’s style steel tape measure!
Standardised woods are provided, colourfully finished in vibrant swirling patterns and custom-made for the event – they actually played rather nicely on the artifical grass green. Rinks are unidirectional and on the narrow side, separated by thick boundary ropes to protect from the inevitable stray bowls. The green itself is fully outdoors although bowlers at the mat end would be protected from any rain by the overhang of the bar and seating area’s awning. This is an event that is certainly improved by a drop of sunshine.
At the end of the day, some people just can’t help themselves, with Heather taking a win in the Great British Bowl-Off (held after every 1hr. session!).
Congratulations to the Fours team of (L-R) Alice Lewis, Heather Stapleford, Jess Eley and Rachel Tremlett for winning their Women’s County Semi-Final, securing a place in the Leamington Nationals.
The County Final will be against B Maynard/S Bard-Bodek/P Hilson/S Maynard at Bishop’s Stortford, 28th July, 3pm.
