Winter report - contributed by Julia Perry
SHIPLAKE BOWLING CLUB IS "WINTERING WELL."

ARE YOU ?

The bowling green may have been "put to bed" in late September as far as playing bowls is concerned, but for Greenkeeper Iain Robinson and his team work never stops.

Chairman Pat Main motivates the "Tuesday Club" the group who work around the green and in and on the clubhouse. All volunteers welcome!  At present the backboards are being upgraded. These are found at each end and at the sides of the green.  The boards absorb the strength of firmly delivered bowls - which in general have missed their target or been too strongly sent down the green for the job in hand. These overweight bowls rest, bump and on very isolated occasions even bounce back onto the green.  Who said bowls is boring?.

New flowerbeds have been built next to the patio, and the other at the far end of the bowling green.

Wednesday nights are club nights when you can enjoy a game of Crib, or Scrabble or browse through our books and enjoy a drink with new friends.

We're a go-ahead club with a Men's AIT Henley on Thames sponsored team entry into the Oxford District League.  We may have had to start at the bottom of the 4th Division in 2004, but we didn't stay there.  We came top, and with it promotion to the 3rd Division. Watch this column in 2005.  The selection of teams and administration is shared by Trevor Beaumont and Barry Lambourne. All male members are free to enter this league.

The club continues to take part in the Manchester Unity League, and can boast that they won the shield in 9 years out of the past 10, and were runners up in a further two seasons. The local Plomer Cup is another hard-fought for award entered into with the same spirit of wanting to win.

Shiplake's retiring Captain, David Bullock, will in December take up his position  as Senior Deputy President of Oxfordshire Bowls Association. We wish him a happy and successful term of office and leads to a year as President in 2006.

Mairwen West, current ladies delegate to the Oxfordshire Women's Bowling Association has been nominated by the club for the position of County Junior Vice President. The appointment is likely to take place in mid-December.  Mairwen arranges entry into Oxfordshire and National competitions, as well as those by women members qualified to play in County matches. Margaret Bullock has this season earned her blazer flash denoting her place in the National Event "The John's Trophy."

Barry Lambourne, men's delegate to the Oxfordshire Bowls Association and Champion of Champions runner-up plays in the nationwide event "The Middleton Cup", and looks after club entries for County and National competitions.

We have five Instructors available to help all new players, especially on our Annual Open Day the date of which will be announced early in 2005.  Boys and girls welcome. Flat shoes must be worn to protect the green. Bowls in all sizes are available.

Phyllis Mansfield continues as one of the five Oxfordshire ladies' selectors for women who are County Colts or already have their County badge, gained either via a club competition or reaching a qualifying level in a county
competion.

Our new Captain for 2005/6 is Wendy Cross.

Did you know about the first quiz of the winter?    No ?  Sorry, no room for you.  It has been over-subscribed  -  again. And you missed the Ploughman's Supper afterwards.

There will be ample time next year to come, enjoy yourself, and learn the game of bowls,and become part of an energetic  and excellent first class club.      Or, ask to come as a guest on a Wednesday evening, and begin to get to know some of us. The bowling green is situated at Memorial Avenue Recreation Grounds,
Shiplake Cross about 400 yards  from the A4155 Henley on Thames to Reading Road.

Ring Shiplake Bowls Club on Wednesdays 7.30 - 10.30 pm.  0118 9404113 , or the club Secretary on  0118 9470535.

September 27 2004
Winter renovation: greenkeeper Iain Robinson and a team of volunteers led by Pat Main begin to prepare the green for 2005.

August 19 2004
Shiplake men win Div 4 of the ODBL and clinch promotion.

August 18 2004
With one game to go the Shiplake men are top of the ODBL (Div 4)

August 8 2004
For the second year running Barry Lambourne was the losing finallist in the Oxfordshire Officers Cup.

August 8 2004
Shiplake hosted a county u25 match - between Oxford and Kent. With the Home Counties trophy at stake, both sides brought supporters to cheer them on. Kent won a close fought match.
Members of both teams and the supporters (over 80 people!) enjoyed a buffet afterwards - prepared by a team of volunteers from the host club led by Margaret Bullock.

July 2 2004
Margaret Bullock reaches quarter-final of county singles

June 10 2004
Vice-captain Wendy Cross reaches Oxfordshire semi-final of national over 55s

June 6 2004
Shiplake ladies beat Bicester in the first round of the Top Club competition

June 3 2004
SVBC host a ladies county match - Oxfordshire v Wiltshire

June 1 2004
Margaret Bullock has been selected to play in the Johns Trophy for the OWBA against Huntingdon OWBA on the 15th June.

May 31 2004
SVBC host a county match - Oxfordshire v Dorset. Oxfordshire won.

May 25 2004
Barry Lambourne has been selected for the Oxfordshire Middleton Cup squad to play the Isle of Wight on the 5th June. The match will be played at Banbury Central BC starting at 2.00pm.

May 20 2004
Shiplake win their first Oxford District Bowling League game against Florence Park, Oxford, 5 points to1

May 5 2004
Shiplake rink of Iain Robinson, John Chamberlain, Peter Higgs and Margaret Bullock get a Hot Shot in the match between Shiplake and Woodley.

November 2003
Captain David Bullock has been appointed Junior Vice President for Oxford Bowling Association