1 Sept

SVBC played host to a men's county match - between Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire. Six Shiplake men were selected to play - and one Shiplake man stepped in for Hertfordshire who were one short. Many Shiplake members helped, in the kitchen, behind the bar and around the green wherever needed. Beautiful weather contributed to a most satisfactory day. Just one 'cloud' - Oxfordshire lost the match by 2 shots!

27 July

Sylvia Blackmore and Val Beaumont won the OWBA Unbadged Pairs.  They acheived an 18-15 shot win against opponents from Oxford City and County Bowls Club.

11 July

On 11 July the quarter and semi finals of the Ladies County Singles were played on Henley's green and a contingent of Shiplake members were there to support Margaret Bullock. In the morning Margaret had a comfortable win against Daphne Jacobs from Stuarts. In the afternoon, in the semi-final, Margaret came up against the formidable England player, Kathy Hawes. Maragaret lost 10-21, which was a very creditable performance against such a top class opponent.

Shiplake ladies advance in county competitions

Margaret Bullock has reached the quarter finals of the ladies singles and Sylvia Blackmore and Val Beaumont have reached the semi-finals of the Unbadged Pairs.

A rink of Margaret Bullock, Wendy Cross, Phyllis Mansfield and Mairwen West went to Thame on 2 July for the quarter-finals of the County Fours. In the morning they won their match against a rink from Banbury Central which qualified them for the semi-finals in the afternoon, where they lost to a team also from Banbury, a team which included an England player and an England finalist.

Well done to the ladies.

County game at Shiplake

On 17 June Shiplake hosted a county game between the OWBA and ladies from neighbouring Berkshire. Three Shiplake ladies played for Oxfordshire - Julia Perry, Phyllis Mansfield and Mairwen West. (Photo of Julia and Phyllis here). The catering team - led by Margaret Bullock - put on a superb tea and other club members helped behind the scenes to ensure the day went smoothly.

2 June

Margaret Bullock has been selected by the OWBA to represent Oxfordshire in the Johns Trophy. She has also been selected as reserve for the Double Fours. This honour is another feather in Shiplake's cap at county level. See SVBC, OBA and OWBA.

Maximum points

On 16 May Shiplake won convincingly in their game against Chadlington, their first in the 3rd division of the ODBL , taking all 6 points.

Shiplake took a maximum 12 points from Peppard in the game on 15 May. This game was in the Manchester Unity League and also for the Plomer Cup.

Oxford and District Bowls League

On 5 May the first game for Shiplake (ODBL Div 4 Champions for 2004) was a home game against Carterton in the League Cup. In 2004 Carterton were runners up in Div 1 and arrived at Shiplake odds on favourites. However they met stiff opposition, lost on 3 out of 4 rinks, and it is Shiplake who go on to Round 2.

In Round 2 Shiplake lost to a strong Oxford City and County team.

Getting ready for the new season

The traditional pre-season indoor match against Oxford City and County took place in March - see Press Reports.

The new fixture card is published and includes fixtures against six clubs in Oxfordshire that Shiplake has not played before - see Fixtures 2005. Palmer Park has joined the Manchester Unity Triples League, and with the news that Harwell and Hurst have picked up new members from bowls clubs that have closed, there will be stiff competition to win the league. Following their promotion the men will be playing in the third division of the ODBL.

Players at Shiplake in 2005 will see many changes including two new raised flowerbeds and another pergola. New backboards have been fitted and more work has been done to improve the surrounds. All done by volunteers, without whom the club could not survive.

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.