Andalucia Lawn Bowls Championship 2016

FEDERACION ANDALUCIA DE BOLOS

andalucia lawn bowls championships

2016 SPONSORED BY

COMPETITION PROGRAMME VENUES: INDALO BC ALMERIA BC MOJACAR BC 23 - 30 SEPTEMBER OPENING CEREMONY INDALO BOWLS CLUB FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1700HRS

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 2

Welcome message from the Almeria Delegado

WELCOME TO THE ANDALUCIA LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS

David Sewell

Having bowled for about 30 years, the last 12 in Spain, I was asked to develop the Spanish National Bowls Coaching Scheme and the Costa Almeria Umpires & Markers Association as I was a Regional Coach in England with my speciality Sports Psychology and Youth Training and also an International Umpire.

Competition Secretary

Bowling has given me so much pleasure in the past, it has been an honour to be able to give something back to the sport of Lawn Bowls.

Now as Delegada of the Almeria area I am pleased to welcome all, from both Almeria and Malaga, to this the 2016 Andalucia Championships.

Ruth Compton

My first bowls game was at a holiday camp in 1963 when I was 11. In 1978, I took the game up properly when I was working for Price Waterhouse in Zambia. Back in the UK I joined Cheam Fields winning the club championship 3 times and obtaining my Surrey county badge.

I joined Indalo in 2002 but it took a couple of years to feel reasonably happy on the outdoor carpet since which time I have skipped the winning rink in the National Grass Green Championships and have been a member of the pairs winning team three years running.

Two years ago I joined the Indalo committee.

Tony Lear

Margaret Cain

John Sephton

Comp Secretary in waiting

Malaga Manager

CAUMA

Carole and I came to Spain in 2010. As committed sports enthusiasts we knew we needed something else to occupy our time, so we joined Almeria Lawn bowls Club.

We have truly found a great and frustrating “Pastime” which we both thoroughly enjoy.

I was approached to run Summer Club Competitions which have proved to be both interesting and successful.

I have now been asked to take over as Competition Secretary for CAA in 2017. I am looking forward to this new challenge.

I was honoured a few years ago to become the Joint Competition Secretary for the Federation in the Malaga Area.

With the support of John Carr, Jan Dando and I resurrected the Andalucian Championships. On our initial visit to Almeria I managed to “ENCOURAGE” a good 30 people to join the Federation and enter the Championships.

Now the championship is hopefully here to stay.

Who would have thought not so long ago that 46 playing members would be travelling from the Costa Del Sol to Mojacar to participate in this year’s event.

I came to retire and live in Mojacar with my wife Sue in 2003. I eventually became involved with Cabrera Lawn Bowling Club in 2005.

Since then bowling has been a big part of my life and I have now had the honour of being both Captain and President of the Club.

In 2009 I attended a CAUMA Markers Course. In 2011 I was invited to attend a CAUMA Umpires Course. Since which time I have umpired at the Nationals in Torrevieja and at the Andalucians in Malaga.

In March 2015 I was appointed to be Vice President of CAUMA after the previous Vice President retired.

Gerard Donck

Victor Parsons

Jill Cooper

Treasurer

Press Secretary

Sponsorship and Advertising

I am a Dutch National, from The Hague and living in Mojacar since 2008. Prior to my move to Spain I served for 32 years with Dutch Customs and excise I am in a civil partnership for 38 years with my British girlfriend Brigitte Joy. I joined Indalo bowling club and I have always been a very competitive sportsman.

This year I was asked to join The FAB (Almeria) as treasurer, which is a big challenge after the recent history. But the future looks bright and I hope that I can contribute to the success of the FAB and to the sport of bowls in our area.

On retiring from the Royal Navy after 25 years I joined Motorola prior to moving to Mojacar in Spain where my wife and I then set up a Property Management Company, ‘Sapphire Management’.

We had to cease trading when Joan got Breast Cancer. Fortunately, she recovered well.

We then joined the Almeria Bowling Club in 1998.

In 2001 I took over as Captain which I retained, together with the Competition Secretary for a further five years. I took over the Almeria Website and Press Secretary for the club in 2006 and was elected the Deputy Chairman in 2007.

Andy and I took up part time residence in Los Gallardos, Almeria in 2004. We contracted to Jack High in 2003 to run their Bowling Tours in Spain and had four very successful years.

We joined our present club Indalo, in 2011 having played on grass at Cabrera for 8 years.

I’d spent most of my working life in selling so when I was asked to sell advertising space for the Andalucian programme and to get sponsorship and as many raffle prizes as possible for the event I took up the challenge and hope you can see the result. Enjoy your bowling everyone.

4

WELCOME TO THE ANDALUCIA LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

W

hen I was elected president of the FAB, back in 2011, one of the priorities that I posed to the Assembly and the Board was the development of attractive sports programs, according to the demand from clubs and players, and consistent with the structures and systems of sports competition at all levels.

In an autonomous federation, like ours, the showpiece of each sport is a regional championship, where all athletes who hold a federal license in the Autonomous Community, can take part.

These regional championships award the most important titles athletes or a club can win in that territory, but also, as is usually the case in most sports, serve to help regional selection, in addition to the players who will represent the community at the National Championships. And those are the guidelines that mark our sports program for the Directorate General of Sports of the Junta de Andalucía.

For that reason, it was difficult to understand that, of the four types of bowling integrated into the FAB until 2011, only the Bolo Andalusian regularly organized Championships of Andalusia. My goal was for the fours sports disciplines under my management to hold their individual Championships. This aim was soon fulfilled, and in 2013 the four modes celebrated their respective regional championships.

Malaga province hosted the first Championships in Lawn Bowls, and from then on it would alternate each year with Almeria district.

The first champions of Andalusia Lawn Bowls were Terry Morgan (Male Singles), Janet Dando (Women's Singles), Mike Glithero and Gordon Kain (Male Pairs) and Susan Walker and Margaret Kain (Womans Pairs). Their names, and the champions in years following, will be inscribed on the role of honour and be part of the history of the Andalusian Federation of Skittles and Lawn Bowls Andalusia.

at your disposal to work with the goal that Andalusian Lawn Bowls have to its players and clubs. You know that Andalusia, a land that has always absorbed the best of every culture that has passed through this blessed land, feels very proud that Lawn Bowls, an ancient sport of British origin, has the will and vitality it certainly deserves. However, you can always improve. That is the goal of the FAB for your wonderful sport.

I just have to congratulate and thank the representatives of the Lawn Bowls in the FAB, especially Mrs. Ruth Compton having put body and soul into organizing these championships, but also to Ms. Janet Dando and Mr. John Carr who were responsible for the success of previous Championships, also to the Almeria clubs that are putting so much effort into making sure that everything goes well this year, and finally to the Lawn Bowls players preparing to participate in the biggest sporting event in Andalusian Bowls.

José Miguel Ojeda Nieto

To you all I wish you good luck in everything and say, once again, I am

President of the Andalusian Federation of Bowling

José Miguel Ojeda Nieto

Andalucia Roll of Honour YEAR VENUE

WINNER

CLUB

Men’s Singles

2014 2015

Almería Málaga

Tom Rogers Marcus Smith

Lauro BC

Ladies Singles

2014 2015

Almería Málaga

Linda Lester Maggie Holmes

Indalo BC

Men’s Pairs

2014 2015

Almería Málaga

Gordon Kain/Mike Glitheroe Chris Down/Mike Detheridge

Superbowl BC

Ladies Pairs

2014 2015

Almería Málaga

Barbara Land/Mary Detheridge Maggie Holmes/Doreen Hall

Mixed Rinks

2014 2015

Almería Málaga

Tom Rogers/Barbara Land/Terry Morgan/Mary Detheridge David Owen Scott/Julian Thomas/Jenny Parkin/Dorothy Pilmoor

Mijas/Superbowl

Various

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

Andalucian Championship - Order of Play

5

PLAYING SCHEDULE 23rd September to 30th September

Friday 23 September

10am

Mens Singles Almeria pms 2,4,6 pms 8,9,10

Ladies Singles Indalo pls3,4,7 pls9,11,13 pls15,16,18

5pm-7pm

Saturday 24 September

Almeria pmx1-7 Mojacar pms1,3,5,7,11 ms4-ms9 Mojacar ms1-ms3 & ms10-ms12 ms33-ms38 ms49-ms51

Almeria ms13-ms20 ms21-ms28 Almeria ms29-ms32 & ms39-ms42 ms43-ms48 ms52-ms56

Indalo plp1

Indalo pmp3,4,5,7,10

Indalo ls1-ls8

10am 12am 2.30pm

Monday 26 September

10am 2pm

Indalo mx1-mx8 mx9-mx16

Tuesday 27 September

10am

mx17-mx24

Wednesday 28 10am 2.30pm September

Mens Pairs Indalo pmp1,6,8,9 pmp2

Indalo pls1,2,5,6,8,10 pls12,14,17,19,

Sunday 25 September

2.30pm

Ladies Pairs

Thursday 29 September Friday 30 September

TBA

INDALO quarter finals, semi finals and finals

Welcome at indalo.

10am

2pm 4pm

Mixed Fours

ls9-ls16 ls17-ls24

Almeria lp1-lp8

Indalo mp1-mp8

lp9-lp16 lp17-lp24

mp9-mp16 mp17-mp24

NOTE 1

Subject to weather restric ons, players playing in successive sessions should expect to have a minimum 30 minute break between games. You will be informed by the umpires / organiser when you are required.

NOTE 2

Matches marked in Yellow may be played off earlier.

NOTE 3

If there are problems with weather, the schedule for the Mixed Fours will be compressed into one day, similarly the Mens and Ladies Pairs.

Loca ons may be changed

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 6

Andalucian Championship - Conditions of Play

The competition will be conducted under the auspices of the FAB and controlled by the Delegada, Competition Secretary, Vice President CAUMA and Malaga manager.

Crystal Marks rules apply and all disputes and amendments to play will be handled by this body and decisions will be final.

ARRIVAL TIME: Due to tight scheduling particularly for singles, players should be ready to play 30 minutes before the start time of their match (15 minutes for the 9.30 or 10.00 starters). Any team that is not fully present after the start time will be disqualified. (Notwithstanding exceptional circumstances) CONDITIONS OF PLAY: (Subject to Organiser's and Umpire discretion) 2 trial ends at the start of each game for all competitions.

There are no restrictions to visiting the head or remaining at the head.

Dead ends will be replayed.

Once a team is unable to win, the match is

finished and competitors must leave the green immediately.

All bowls must be legally and clearly stamped and teams required to have the same coloured stickers.

WARNING. Should it be necessary to reschedule due to bad weather these rules will be changed and restrictions imposed.

This may result in time restricted games and in that event, umpires will be instructed to give warnings, and in the extreme, disqualification for slow play.

MARKERS IN SINGLES Volunteer markers will be required for the first round and losers are required to offer themselves to mark a game in the following round. This includes the following day.

SUBSTITUTES and REPLACEMENTS: A team entered may be altered at any time before the start of a given discipline by informing the controlling body.

After the start of the competition if any player is ill or has a valid reason for not

playing that player may be replaced by someone who is not already playing in that discipline but only with the permission of the controlling body. This replacement may play in any position.

If the team wins through to the next round the replacement may continue to play. If this replacement plays 2 games the original player cannot step back into the team except if another player needs replacing for illness or another valid reason.

SCHEDULING: singles players may be required to play three games in one day.

Rescheduling maybe required and green allocations changed. Some same club competitor preliminary games will be played off on or before Friday 23rd September DRESS CODE: Players may wear whites or club colours.

Teams are requested to wear the same coloured attire.

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 8

Draw

Preliminary Round PMS1

PMS2

PMS3

PMS4

PMS5

PMS6

L John D Brannon R Birmingham R Ritson T Be ell A Reynolds T Lear T Whitehouse D Frith J Dedman I Jackson T Davies

Round 1 MS1 MS2 MS3 MS4 MS5 MS6 MS7 MS8 MS9 MS10 MS11 MS12 MS13 MS14 MS15 MS16 MS17 MS18 MS19 MS20 MS21 MS22 MS23 MS24 MS25 MS26 MS27

PMS7

PMS8

PMS9

PMS10

PMS11

C Ewer K Richardson B Green K Lester D Sewell J Sibley K Turner J Colquhoun F Mehmet R Brown

Men’s Singles

MS28 MS29 MS30 MS31 MS32

PMS1 PMS2 PMS3 PMS4 PMS5 PMS6 P Hughes G Edginton A Cox D Bridges B Seymour N Cummins B Thompson J Warn B Hill K Harvey J Fitzgerald M Smallwood T Young J Burgess M Micklefield R More M Smith T Rogers A Coleman M Detheridge M Bray A Lees D Ebdon S Gilkes G Kain M Banfield G Donck H Vander Veen P Sands T Collins D Horton J Turner J Mannall A Gateshill A Crilly T Mullen G Ellwood B Firth A Cooper A DeBoer B Gregory C Down J Carr B Davies M Reynolds T Land J Abeal C Taylor G Aldridge P Baldry D Carr R Swaine C Lewis PMS7 PMS8 PMS9 PMS10 PMS11

Round 2

Round 3

Quarter Finals

Semis and Final

MS33 MS49 MS34 MS57 MS35 MS50 MS36

Semi Final 1 MS37 MS51 MS38 MS58 MS39 MS52 MS40

Men's Singles Final MS41 MS53 MS42 MS59 MS43 MS54 MS44

Semi Final 2 MS45 MS55 MS46 MS60 MS47 MS56 MS48

Indalo Bowling Club I n 1999 eight people inspired a generation of local bowlers by pioneering the building of the Indalo Bowling Club - a club completely owned and run by its members.

Land was purchased near Los Gallardos, plans were drawn up and ÂŁ200,000 raised. The club was opened in 2001 and shortly afterwards Indalo hosted the "World Invitation Wheelchair Championships".

The Club prides itself in catering for a whole range of bowlers including those who enjoy bowling in a social environment and those involved in competitions at the highest level.

There is a team of coaches to help the new bowlers, as well as developing the skills of those with more experience.

Because the members own the club, a committee of fourteen is elected each year from among the members.

The club is well served by many willing volunteers who must take the credit for

the success that Indalo enjoys.

Today Indalo is a thriving Bowling Club with over one hundred members, twenty four annual internal bowling competitions and a growing program of social activities.

The club members participate fully in local competitions against other local clubs, have friendly matches against visiting clubs from Spain and the UK and take teams of players to competitions arranged by other clubs in Spain.

The Spanish National Bowling team are regular visitors and some Indalo members are, and have been, selected for the Spanish squad.

Indalo Bowling Club is delighted to be hosting the Andalucian Championships evidenced by the fact that over fifty Indalo members have entered the competition.

We would like to wish all competitors and spectators a very enjoyable and fulfilling bowling tournament.

By David Horton President - Indalo Bowling Club

9

B Marsh & P Sands D Brannon & T Mullen D Bridges & D Ebdon B Seymour & R Brown B Thompson & J Fitzgerald M Detheridge & C Down M Bray & T Davies T Rogers & M Smith P Baldry & P Hughes K Harvey & G Donck

PMP6

L John & J Burgess D Frith & A Reynolds S Gilkes & G Ellwood PMP7 C Lewis & J Turner A Crilly & T Kiggin PMP8 M Smallwood & R Rand H VanderVeen & B Saunders PMP9 K Richardson & T Lear G Kain & G Aldridge PMP10 F Mehmet & K Turner

PMP5

PMP4

PMP3

PMP2

PMP1

Preliminary Round

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

MP16

MP15

MP14

MP13

MP12

MP11

MP10

MP9

MP8

MP7

MP6

MP5

MP4

MP3

MP2

MP1

j Warn & B Davies K Lester & B Green C Ewer & R Birmingham J Sibley & W Roberts M Reynolds & A Cooper A DeBoer & J Dedman T Young & I Jackson J Colquhoun & A Henshaw A Cox & J Abeal M Banfield & B Hill D Horton & R Swaine A Gateshill & N Cummins R More & T Land G Edginton & B Gregory J Carr & D Carr D Sewell & G Marlow D Leary & R Brown T Be ell & T Whitehouse C Taylor & M Harris R Ritson & C Pritchard M Micklefield & J Mannall A Bramble & R Savage

Round 1

MP24

MP23

MP22

MP21

MP20

MP19

MP18

MP17

Round 2

MP28

MP27

MP26

MP25

Semi Final 2

Final Men's Pairs

Semi Final 1

Semis and Final

Men’s Pairs

Quarter Finals

Draw

10

Almeria

11

Bowling Club

A

lmeria Bowling Club is known as the “friendly club�, and for good reason! As one of the largest clubs in the area, our members are firmly committed to enjoying themselves and their new lives in Spain via the happily addictive medium of bowls.

As part of the large Camping Los Gallardos mobile home park and campsite www.campinglosgallardos.com), the Bowls Club members enjoy all the facilities of the site complex, including a large salt water swimming pool, and one of the largest bars & restaurants in the area, with a thriving social scene open to everyone, all year long.

Los Gallardos Leisure was founded in 1991 by the Jackson family and quickly grew to become the largest mobile home park and campsite in Spain. In 1995 they started to lay the first grass bowling green and in 1996 founded the Almeria Lawn Bowling Centre.

The centre quickly added a second grass green to accommodate the demand from members. In 2011 the decision was taken to change to an eight rink carpet green, and this is the current playing surface today.

The club plays host to many international and expat bowlers throughout the year, and new members are always welcome. We always love introducing the area to U.K. Clubs who want to come over and play, so bowlers from across the world know they will always find a friendly welcome here in Almeria!

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 12

Draw

Preliminary PLS1 PLS2 PLS3 PLS4 PLS5 PLS6 PLS7 PLS8 PLS9 PLS10

S Lewis M Milsom S Morgan E Ritson C Micklefield T Seymour M Holmes J Thompson C Jewson P Baker K Vander Veen L Burgess S Kinson D Hall G Gilkes M Whitehouse L Lester A Reynolds P Fisher J Richardson

Ladies’ Singles

Round 1

Round 2

Quarter Finals

Semis and Final

LS1

LS17 LS2

LS25 LS3

LS18 LS4

Semi Final 1 LS5

LS19 M Detheridge LS6

J Jackson LS26 L Metcalfe LS7

M DeBoer LS20 J Banfield LS8

C Dedman

Ladies Singles Final B Land LS9

C Parkinson LS21 M Fewings LS10

G Young LS27 M O'Hara LS11

J John PLS11

PLS12

PLS13

PLS14

PLS15

PLS16

PLS17

PLS18

PLS19

PLS20

G Atkinson L Bray M Allen J Smallwood B Davies S Mannall M Kain B Gunn R Compton B Ruscoe L Harvey H Horton E More C Holle F Reynolds C Ivin J Baldry S Prichard J Aldridge D Colquhoun

LS22 LS12

Semi Final 2 LS13

LS23 LS14

LS28 LS15

LS24 LS16

PLP1

V Savage & B Saunders G Atkinson & J Thompson

Preliminary Round

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

LP16

LP15

LP14

LP13

LP12

LP11

LP10

LP9

LP8

LP7

LP6

LP5

LP4

LP3

LP2

LP1

D Hall & M DeBoer S Lewis & E Hooper S Kinson & L Swaine S Pritchard & E Ritson J Richardson & B Gunn D Colquhoun & M Holmes P Baker & C Jewson M Kain & M Detheridge H Horton & C Micklefield F Reynolds & J Cooper J Baldry & E More J Aldridge & L Metcalfe K Vander Veen & J Laing M Fewings & J Banfield L Bray & T Whitehouse C Dedman & T Seymour C Parkinson & M O'Hara L Lester & C Ivin C Henshaw & L Harvey J Smallwood & L Band S Mannall & M Mullen G Gilkes & M Allen B Land & D Warn R Thompson & L Quantrell P Fisher & S Morgan B Ruscoe & B Davies J Jackson & G Young A Reynolds & M Milsom C Hollet & M Harris J John & L Burgess S Sephton & P Marsh

Round 1

LP24

LP23

LP22

LP21

LP20

LP19

LP18

LP17

Round 2

Draw Quarter Finals

Semi Final 2

Final Ladies Pairs

Semi Final 1

Semis and Final

Ladies’ Pairs

14

Draw

Competition

MIXED fours

ANDALUCIAN LAWN BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

C & M Micklefield, S & J Mannall F & M Reynolds, A & J Cooper J Carr, D Carr, L Metcalfe, J Abeal L & K Lester, D Leigh, C Ivin

PMX7

A Gateshill, B Land, N Cummins, Mary Detheridge C & A Henshaw, M Holmes, G Marlow

PMX6

PMX5

PMX4

PMX3

PMX2

PMX1

Preliminary Round C Taylor, M & M Harris, C Holle J & D Warn, B Davies, B Gregory R & E More, B Holt, R Hendry A & M DeBoer, C Ewer, W Roberts M & J Banfield, B Hill, M Fewings T & G Young, I & J Jackson H Horton, J Dando, K Jackson, D Sewell L & R Swaine, D Horton, R Compton

MX16

MX15

MX14

MX13

MX12

MX11

MX10

MX9

MX8

MX7

MX6

MX5

MX4

MX3

MX2

MX1

G & J Aldridge, P Fisher, S Morgan C & S Lewis, J Turner, E Hooper

G & S Gilkes, G Ellwood, M Allen L & K Harvey, D Hall, G Donck G & M Kain, Mike Detheridge, C Down K Turner, P Carter, F Mehmet, J Colquhoun T & B Seymour , C & J Dedman R & G Ritson, J Sheard, J Sibley L Bray, T Be ell, M & T Whitehouse P Baldry, P Hughes, J Richardson, B Gunn D Colquhoun, G Atkinson, D Ebdon, J Thompson B Ruscoe, T & B Davies, M Bray A Atkins, R Brown, L Lauer, S Easthope R & B Thompson, L Quintrell, K Sephton

P Sands, B & P Marsh, S Sephton

T Rogers, M Smith, J Baldry, T Land S Kinson, B Green, P & J Hill M Milsom, D Frith, A & A Reynolds C & J Fitzgerald, S Pritchard, R Birmingham G Edginton, P Baker, A Cox, C Jewson M & J Smallwood, R & L Rand H & K VanderVeen, D & B Saunders L & J Burgess, J & L John

C Parkinson, M O'Hara, T Kiggin, A Crilly K Richardson , T Lear, M Mullen, T Mullen

Round 1

MS24

MS23

MS22

MS21

MS20

MS19

MS18

MS17

Draw Round 2

MS28

MS27

MS26

MS25

Quarter Finals

Semi Final 2

Final Mixed Fours

Semi Final 1

Semis and Final

Mixed Fours 16

18

I

n December 2010 the owner of the La Mata Hotel complex suddenly closed the bowls green that La Mata Lawn Bowls Club had enjoyed the use for over 25 years leaving us without a bowls green.

Shortly afterwards we approached the Lady Mayor of Mojacar to ask if she could help. Her response was a promise to build a new bowling green.

Construction of the green foundations began in May 2013, four months later the carpet was laid, an exciting time and another step towards completion.

In October 2013, our club was informed of the requirement for MBC to submit appropriate legal and financial documents to enter an official tender procedure for the concession to manage the bowls green facility.

Unfortunately we were unsuccessful with the Servigroup Hotel being

The rebirth of Mojacar Bowls C l u b granted the concession to manage the new bowls green facility.

However it was quickly realised that the Club could well benefit as the considerable financial and legal commitments involved in the management of the bowls green facility would not now be the responsibility of our Bowls Club.

MBC immediately sought discussions with Ricardo Escudero MD of Servigroup, which from the very first meeting were extremely positive for the future prospects of our club.

Over the following months, our Club worked diligently with Servigroup to establish a partnership for the mutual benefit of both our Club and the Hotel to pave the way for a positive future that our club is now able to look towards in a very positive manner.

2014 was a very important year for our Club with the official opening of the bowls green on 7th March by the Lady mayor of Mojacar, it was a fitting conclusion to the promise given by Rosa Cano early in 2011 to help our Club.

Prior to our very first meeting with the Lady Mayor early in 2011, the task of obtaining a new bowls green seemed an almost impossible dream, it was however made easier by the considerable help and support given from the other bowls clubs in Andalucia, from our many friends (Non Bowlers) in Mojacar and especially by the committee and members of the Mojacar Bowls Club who never wavered in their support of the Club.

22

New Kids at Bowling Club de Zurgena

L

ocated at La Alfoquia in the Almanzora Valley just a couple of kilometres from junction 547 on the E15 auto via is where you will find Andalucia’s newest bowls club . After more than 8 years since the idea was first mooted the inauguration of the Bowling Club de Zurgena took place in late 2015 with the running and control of the facility handed over to the newly formed Zurgena Bowls Club in March 2016.

Co-operation, frustration, determination are just a few of the words that describe what it took to get to where we are today. Co-operation from Zurgena Council for progressing with the scheme, frustration with the endless time delays and red tape, but a determination from all sides to realise the fruits of our labours.

Originally the club felt optimistic about attracting around 30 or so members but in just a few months we now have approaching 70 members with ages ranging from our youngest member at 11 years to the not so young 93 year old. The enthusiasm, energy and vitality of youth is maybe replaced by experience, guile and do I dare to say aching joints of the more senior members. Whatever your ability ( or lack of as the case may be ) you can always be sure of a warm welcome and the opportunity of a sociable get together.

The membership does include some experienced bowlers, but in the main is made up of bowlers who are either new to the game or those who fancy giving it a go again after years away from the rinks. For those new to the game there is a qualified coach to help them get started and of course the ‘old stager’s’ are always on hand with help and advice.

But it’s all part of learning the game, and of course there is always the social side. Whether it’s a good natter post game or whilst relaxing and enjoying a drink, (whatever your tipple may be). Also on the social side we have been fortunate enough to play a couple of friendly matches against our would be opponents in the league next year.

The most important thing is that we are all enjoying ourselves and making new friends. Still on the social side we have already had 2 BBQ’s with our very own galloping gourmet with in excess of 60 people in attendance. It all helps to generate much needed funds for the club and we have more social events planned.

Yes we are a new club and we still have a long way to go to get all the facilities we desire, but with determination we’ll get there eventually or manana !!!!!. whichever comes first If you would like to find out more about us then search for us on the internet for Bowling Club de Zurgena.