News

A team are Relegated from SCL Div 1 North BUT B Team are promoted.following their win by 1 shot against Isle of Wedmore .

A nasty accident occurred in the carpark when a car careered down the carpark and collided with the corner of the men's changing room.Colin Bailey and John Vincent were very lucky to escape injury as they were sat in the changinging room when the accident happened. Apparently the accelerator pedal got stuck .The driver was shaken put otherwise unhurt. It would appear the changing room was solidly built as although the damage is severe the car came off far worse. Temporary repairs have been put in place.

Despite a fine win in foul weather against Yatton A and 10 points . It looks like this will not be enough to save them from being Relegated from Div 1.

Captain Tony Dudley achieved his second 'hot shot' in 2 weeks when his rink got a perfect score in the match for the A team against Yatton A.(M Dorrington , P Fredersdorff, A Dudley, J Baker)

Wins by Tommy Ellis and John Bakers' rinks were not enough to retain this trophy against Madeira at Exmouth. Tommy was opposite the England Team Manager John Smerdon and was delighted to win by 10 shots. I hear that John had some tales to tell of his travels around the world managing the England Team.

30th July 2010

In the match against The Royal Household Margaret Smith,John Smith,Tony Dudley and Tony Watts scored a 'full house' "Hotshot" on the second end. Congratulations to all.

27th July 2010

This is Winscombe's first win since 2001. Who was the last Captain to win it in 2 successive seasons? Answer at bottom of page

The second leg of this annual tussle with our friends and rivals from Banwell saw Winscombe win by 16 shots. This followed our win at Banwell by 6 shots. President John Baker was delighted to receive the Shield from Banwell President Barry Taylor and victorious Captain Tony Dudley held the shield aloft.

As Captain Tony said after the match this was a team win but some need special mention......In the first leg a 22 shot win on Tommy Ellis's rink and a 10 shot win by Mike Adam's rink meant that once again we took a shot advantage back to Winscombe. This time however, it was not let slip and a fine win by Mike Adams rink by 16 shots ( despite dropping a 6 on the 20th end) and an 11 shot win by Mike Nash's rink (despite dropping a 5 on the19th end) saw Winscombe home by an aggregate 22 shots over the 2 legs.The Parrot Shield is back home where it belongs.

Winscombe 99 v Banwell 83 (The Parrot Shield Home leg): G Neville,M Hunter,A Watts,L Baldwin 18 -18 ;W Ainsworth ,G Tofte,R Feltham,M Adams 30 -14 ; K Whatling,R Lowman,J Baker,A Watson 8 - 20; R Knight,R Wootten M Roberts,T Ellis 18 - 17 ; N Hansford,L Collier,A Dudley,M Nash 25 - 14

B Team unbeaten - After 3 games just 2 points dropped. Clearly last years A Team have found their level. Will the A team need ' a shuffle'? Watch this space.

Turnbull Cup v Clarence - least said the better. We look forward to playing in Wedmore Plate.

Coaching by County Coaching team at 2.00pm .....This was over subscribed and 16 members were selected by respective captains. Everyone who attended were impressed with the exercises on the green. 4 different aspects of the game were covered. Video Delivery Clinic, Freeze the Head (reading the head), Phantom Bowler (team building) and etiquette. We also practiced delivering woods into a 2metre square and diamond. A good exercise anyone can try. Not as easy as you may think!! Out thanks to John Baker for organising and Pete Staddon and his team for coming and for their patience.

The Club hosted 2 Middleton Cup Team Trials on Sunday 8th and 15th May . All the top county bowlers attended .A stiff team talk was given before bowling began. (the language colourful to say the least !!). It was noticeable how young they all were. Very few over 50 ! However, a few hardy senior members of WBC were heard to offer advice discreetly from the bank. " straight woods" " too many short woods" were some of the critique offered.Selection must have been very difficult because no less than a dozen officials commandeered the ladies dressing room for over 2 hours after each trial . We have the opportunity of seeing the chosen team perform on our green on the 10th July v Dorset .

On Saturday the President's wife Carol Baker opened the new season at Winscombe when she delivered the first wood on a beautiful day for playing bowls.

There then followed our traditional spider for a bottle of whisky in aid of our club charity The South West Children's Hospice. Together with a collection later we raised over £160. The men then enjoyed a friendly competitive match between the Presidents team (John Baker) and the Captains team(Tony Dudley) which resulted in a very close game . Tony's team winning 3 rinks and John's 2 but overall the President won by 1 shot. However, on this wonderful spring day the real winner was bowls. The ladies then treated us to a sumptuous supper in the Pavilion which rounded off a perfect day.

On Sunday we did it all again when the ladies had their Opening Day. Ladies Captain Helen Watson had organized a mixed match which again proved to be a close contest with no less than 3 rinks all being decided by 1 shot. Unfortunately one rink (Tony Watts) did not enter into the spirit of the day by winning on the captains rink by 17 shots !! Again, a lovely day for bowls finished off by an excellent supper provided by our fantastic ladies...well done all

Thursday Indoor League - During the winter WBC have an Internal Triples League at the St Andrews Club on Thursday Afternoons...7 Teams compete on a league basis.

At the end of season dinner and prize giving at The Mooseheart on Thursday 15 April team members and their partners enjoyed an excellent meal . Graham Neville kept the winners secret as the result had been a tie between the Squrrels (Mike Adams, N Wordsworth and Derek Beaverstock) and the Otters (John Baker,Gordon Earthy and Ken Whatling )...both teams having won,lost and drawn the exact number of games. On countback The Squirrels were adjudged the winners. For the first year a trophy was presented together with individual winners plaques. Well done 'The Squirrels' and we look forward to our 25th season next year.

Tony Dudley and Andrew Watson (grouting?)..................Bob the Builder (aka Bob Weller)

Club Maintenance - 3 important projects have been completed. The new paved Terrace area looks magnificent.The club has had the electricity supply updated and the Pavilion has been insulated .

Ladies attended their first Committee Meeting - The Ladies Captain Helen Watson and Ladies Secretary Lorna Whatling were welcomed onto the Management Committee by President John Baker who said that this was a Historic day for The Club. Lorna Whatling thanked him on behalf of the ladies and said they all looked forward to working with the men for the good of the club. John reminded the members that there was a Ladies Club in 1923 just 2 years after the club was formed but this did not continue.

Dear Member,
As you are aware all full members of the club are expected to carry out bar duties unless they have received dispensation by the management committee not to do so. It is proposed that the bar rota for this year will again consist of 5 teams which means that each club member will be required to be responsible for the operation of the bar a maximum of 5 times during the season.

St Andrews BC v WBC ...............One of The Club's best kept secrets is the long running indoor Triples match between a rink from St Andrews and a rink from WBC. This has taken place for over 20 years on Tuesday mornings throughout the indoor season. WBC have retained the Cup for the 3rd Successive year with 2 games still to play .

AGM - Resolutions were presented requesting a change in the rules to bring the Club into line with our new Mixed Club Status. Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the motion to offer Ladies equal status with the male members. Henceforth Ladies will be able to vote at the AGM and hold office on the Committee of WBC. Effective from 1st April Ladies Captain Helen Watson and Secretary Lorna Whatling will serve on Committee for 2010 season.

Agenda and Resolutions for the AGM on Wednesday 24th February at 7.15pm in The Pavilion are now being circulated by Mike Adams. Please make every effort to attend .

Indoor 3 rinks at Taunton Vivary.........................We Lost ....But there are two bigger Stories!

Happily 3 very shaken team members,Tony Dudley,John and Margaret Smith arrived a little late after a very nasty incident on their way to the match when their car was 'nudged' and spun by a lorry. Police and 2 ambulances attended but no one was hurt.(that John Smith must have some influence to have TWO ambulances attend or maybe they had heard of his various "medical conditions". ) Glad no one was hurt guys.

We arrived in the carpark to find a nasty accident had befallen Wilf.The car park payment machine was underneath some trees.Our noble Wilf being the unhappy recipient of a gift from above. It was green and white a slimy and clearly didnt come from a dove. No one laughed.......honestly Wilf !!