Batchwood Men excelled themselves this year in the Watford Veterans Bowls League. Two teams play in the League, Yellow & Blue. The Blue Team is captained by Eddie Clark (Batchwood Club’s Green Ranger) and the Yellow team is captained by Ian Connaughton (Batchwood Club’s President). The Club’s Representative for the League is Dave Richardson ( Men’s Captain). To qualify to play members have to be 62+ years old.

There are 5 Divisions in the League. It consists of two triples games and there is a squad of 10 players in each Batchwood team. They play a total of 16 games on a Tuesday afternoon playing the opposition clubs twice in a home and away fixture. This season the Blues got promotion from 2nd Division to 1st Division, and the Yellows got promotion from 3rd Division to 2nd Division. Both teams did well, especially the Yellows as they had a depleted squad. Congratulations to all players!

Mark Trembling and Dave Richardson played in the Final of the Watford Vet’s Aussie Pairs but were defeated at the final hurdle and lost. Mark Trembling, Lennie Pearse, Eddie Clark and Dave Richardson played in the final of the Vet’s Fours and won.

The Ladies had a match against Oxhey BC at home. Batchwood won 49 / 44. The Top Rink was Liz Walls, Jackie Kenealy and Sue Swain – score 22 / 10.

It was FINALS WEEKEND at Batchwood. This was played over Saturday and Sunday as several players were in more than one final. Saturday’s finals were interrupted by a thunderstorm with torrential rain when players had to retire to the clubhouse for 15 minutes. Good competitive play took place with a number of members participating who had only joined the club in recent years.

The Men’s Club Championship was between Chris Kelly (in his third year) and Brian Parkes. A very interesting game to watch with Brian Parkes coming out the eventual winner. The Ladies’ Championship was between Jackie Bell (the defending Champion) and Joyce Hopkinson, another member of 3 years standing. At 13 ends the game was 10 all. Jackie realised she had to change tactics and, when she got the jack, took the mat up the green – it worked! Jackie won making it a hat-trick for her having won in the previous two years.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon in the Non-Winners singles Chris Kelly played Andy Pierce. It was a very exciting game to watch. It was ‘nip & tuck’ all the way. They played through drizzle most of the game. Chris eventually won 21 – 15.

Across our nine finals this weekend over a third of the participants were the product of our coaching structures at Batchwood over the last three years. Three of the titles were won by such new blood. The coaching team under the leadership of John Turkentine run FREE courses for all newcomers and are happy to give guidance throughout the season.

Tricia Gascoine

Press Officer