On Thursday, Berkhamsted Men played Kitcheners in the Ray Cup Second Round at home and won overall by 3 shots, but they did not fare so well on Friday when they were well beaten in the Herts Team Ten Competition by Garston at Garston although there were some very close scores.

However the week finished on a high when they travelled to Welwyn Garden City to play Round 4 of the National Top Club.  It was arguably one of their best wins ever against a strong club, winning 4 Games to 1. The results were, Two Wood:  Tony Howard won 14-11; Singles:  Trefor Jenkins won 21-18; Pairs:  Steve Burrell and Kevin Clarke won 24-17, after trailing for most of the way, until the 16th end; Triples:  Brian Livesey, Brian Ralphs and David Brown won 18-14; Fours:  Dave Sear, Tony Smart, Bill Howells and Peter Rowling lost 14-20.

Berkhamsted enjoyed a good victory on Sunday when they defeated Kings Langley in the 3rd Round of the Tony Allcock Trophy. Carole Dunn, Anne Furlong, Trefor Jenkins and Tony Howard won by 20 – 13 and Janice Murgatroyd, Jackie Cormack, Kevin Clarke and David Brown won by 19 – 12 so they now progress to the 4th round.

To finish the week Berkhamsted played a friendly of 5 mixed triples against a team from Hemel Hempstead and won by 85 to 69.The top rink of Elizabeth Baker, John Webb and Alan Jones won by 20-12. Other rinks were Eric Lloyd, Gill Howells and Ken Maynard 18-12, Marion Maynard, Stuart Wesley and Bill Howells 16-14, Janet Spooner, Alan Baker and Gary Fisher 21-15, and Maurice Primo, Tom Presland and Tony Smart 10-16.

The ladies of Berkhamsted have had a busy week. In the County Pairs Alice Biggs and Jackie Cormack had a narrow win against a duo from their own club winning on an extra end by one shot. Jackie then bowled with Anne Furlong in the Watford & District pairs but on this occasion they lost by one shot. In the Watford & District league against Croxley Guild the league team of Sarah Marshall, Kay Lingwood, Alice Biggs and Marcia Dunstone had a narrow victory by 18 shots to 17.  The friendly rink of Marion Maynard, Sylvia Smith, Linda Ralphs and Jackie Cormack stormed to victory by 28 shots to 8.

The men then had a resounding win in the W&D Vets match against Bovingdon with Paul Shorne, Tony Smart and David Brown winning 31-7 & Eric Lloyd, John Bell and Brian Ralphs winning 18-11. This now means that Berkhamsted  are now 3^rd in the W&D Division after 6 games.

Berkhamsted entertained Chess Vale at home on Tuesday and came out winners scoring 80pts to 61. The game was tighter than the score suggests. The win was due  to good score by Rink 4 who won by 25 to 9.  The match was played in good spirit and enjoyed by all and also the weather was kind turning out to be a fine sunny evening. The teams were as follows with rink 4 getting top rink. Ring 2 –  Tim Bailey, Maureen Smart and Bill Howells  13 – 13. Rink 3 –  Janice – Cheshire Burke, Alan Baker and Peter Batchellor  16 – 11. Rink 4 – Jill Griffin, Bob Anderson and David Sear   25 – 9. Rink 5 – Liz Baker, Toby Bunting and Phil Bunting 9 – 15 and Rink 6 – Janet Jackson, Mick Young  and Peter Burke  17 – 13. However things did not go so well for the Men in the National Men’s Two Wood Competition as they lost heavily to Baldock Town 19 – 49 Shots. The teams from Berkhamsted were Dave Sear, Rowling, Phil Bunting and David Brown and Paul Mackness, Brian Ralphs, Trefor Jenkins and Tony Howard.

In the result of the National Top Club Round 2 fixture against  Hertford, Berkhamsted won 4 Games to one and they now go on to play Welwyn Garden City. The results were as follows…..Two Wood: Tony Howard won 17-2. Singles:  Trefor Jenkins won 21-19, going from 16-19 to win. Pairs: Steve Burrell and Kevin Clarke won 21-12. Triples: David Gomm, Peter Rowling and David Brown won 31-13,  picking up 16 in the last 4 ends and in the Fours: Toby Bunting, Peter Burke, Brian Ralphs and Phil Bunting were behind 13-18 after 16 ends, when the match was called off.

The week finished on Sunday with Berkhamsted signing over their Green to Watford & District for their match against Hertfordshire’s County President and Berkhamsted find it very gratifying the County deem their Green good enough for their Matches.

Kevin Clarke ( President of Berkhamsted) welcomes David Worker, President of Hertfordshire Bowls to Berkhamsted Bowls Club, with Alan Sayers (West Division Chairman) and David Brown in attendance.

Press Report Week ending 27^th May

 The week started well for the Ladies with the team of Janice Murgatroyd and Lesley Brown beating a duo from Bushey 21-13 in the First round of the Watford & District Ladies Pairs Competition. Not to be outdone Terry Kenyon & John Webb beat a pair from Hemel Hempstead 25 – 12 in the Watford & District Men’s Pairs Competition.

In the  Tony Allcock Competition against Tring, 2 Teams from Berkhamsted of  Lesley Brown, Brian Ralphs, Jackie Cormack, David Brown and Carole Dunn, Anne Furlong, Trefor Jenkins and Tony Howard won 39-28. They play Welwyn Garden City in the next round.

In the W&D Vets Competition against Garston Reds Berkhamsted won their 3rd game out of 4 played so far.  This was achieved by the 2 men’s teams of  Eric Lloyd, Mick Young, Peter Burke. and Dave Drew, David Gomm, Brian Ralphs.

Unfortunately Brian Ralphs lost to B. Kerry of Tring 17-21 in the Herts Unbadged Singles.

Berkhamsted had more success when they squeaked through 3 matches to 2 in their National Top Club fixture against Rosedale.  The match was only decided on the last end of the Fours, which they won 21-19 in the end. The team results were…Two wood:  Tony Howard lost 8-16, after being 8-7 ahead. Singles: Trefor Jenkins won 21-12. Pairs:  Steve Burrell and Kevin Clarke won 24-15. Triples: Dave Gomm, Peter Burke and David Brown lost 10-23. Fours: Paul Mackness, Dave Sear, Brian Ralphs and Peter Rowling won 21-19.

Berkhamsted played in the the Herts Eversley Trophy match against Bushey This was the closest game this season when Bushey won by 1 shot , on the last wood of the game. The Score overall was 57- 58 and the teams were as follows….Jack Bunting, Conor Hawkins, David Brown, Kevin Clarke 19-20; Steve Burrell, Tony Smart, Trefor Jenkins , Phil Bunting 20-21 and David Gomm, Peter Burke, Brian Ralphs, Tony Howard 18-17

To finish the week off Berkhamsted Bowls Club held their Annual Gala Bank Holiday Monday 27^th May 2019. The weather was variable but spirits were high as 28 teams competed. Bowls clubs from Abbotts Langley, Bushey, Chesham, Dunstable, Dunstable Town, Harperbury, Herts, Kings Langley, Kitcheners, Little Gaddesden, Met Police, Mill Bowling and Townsend took part together with one Home team.

The two top teams tied on Points and the winner was decided on Shot Difference.

First prize went to the ‘Spot On’ Team from Kings Langley BC comprising Marion Clarke, Carol Brown and Brian Smith. Second prize went to ‘Jane’s Gents’ from Townsend BC who were Jane Dixon, Peter Thomson and Robbie Ransted. Third prize went to ‘Mrs Browns Boys’ Team 1 from Dunstable BC, Debra Scott-Darling, Clive Bevins and Phil Bell.

The Prizes were sponsored by local businesses, Roy Chapman of Tring, Oakleys Estate Agents, Waitrose and Temple of Vroom Driving School, all of whom have been very supportive in recent years. Generous local businesses also donated great raffle prizes whilst Club members provided over 100 Tombola prizes. The bric-a-brac stall, run by Mary Clarke, Pat Oakley and Anne Cutting took £149 which will be donated to The Hospice of St Francis. There was a ‘Guess the weight of the cake’ made by Ken Maynard together with a cake stall and Bacon Roll stand.

A very successful Annual event, as usual.

If you would like to have a go at Bowling, you are welcome to pop in to one of our casual sessions on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon between 2 and 4 pm. or Friday evening 6 -9 pm. when advice/coaching will be available. We also have a very popular junior session on Fridays between 4 and 6 pm.

The winning Team of Carole Brown, Brian Smith, MarionClarke

Press Report Week Ending 19^th May

 On Tuesday 14th May Berkhamsted Bowls Club played host to Wingrave Bowls Club. It was an enjoyable evening with good sportsmanship prevailing throughout; good weather and an excellent green. On this occasion Wingrave had the upper hand winning a significant number of ends. However the final score was close Wingrave 69 and Berkhamsted 62 points. Berkhamsted did have a top rink of Kay Lingwood, Alan Baker and Bill Howells. 

On the same evening Berkhamsted Men played two W&D Triples matches.  Phil Bunting, Tony Howard and Dave Gomm played and beat Gary Eagles and his team from Hemel Hempstead.  But then Bob Anderson, Brian Ralphs and Kevin Clarke lost to a team from Gerrard’s Cross, who are new to the W&D League.  Berkhamsted  were leading 12-10 and holding 3, when their skip trailed the jack to pick up 3 and they lost 18-13.

However the Men had more success when they played Potters Bar in the National Two Fours when they won 47 – 32 in a combined score of the Two teams who were Jack Bunting, Trefor Jenkins, Phil Bunting, & Tony Howard, winning 20 – 18  and Steve Burrell, Brian Ralphs, David Brown & Kevin Clarke, winning 27 – 14.

The week finished on a high for Berkhamsted when they beat a visiting team from Bushey, on a warm & dry afternoon by 107 shots to 76. Berkhamsteds top rink was Dagmar McKay, Dave Drew and Bill Howells.

 Press Report Week Ending 12^th May

 A wet, windy and miserable day was made even more miserable by by Berkhamsted being beaten 111 – 67 shots by Townsend Bowls club.

There was only 1 winning rink for Berkhamsted with the team of Geoff Drew, Dagmar McKay and Paul Mackness winning 18 – 16. Other rink scores: Frank Cutter, Richard Gardener, Jackie Cormack  22 – 13; Janice Murgatroyd, Lesley Brown, Gary Fisher 29 – 9 ;  Maurice Primo, Kay Lingwood, Anne Cutting  19 – 15; Linda Ralphs, Allen Dann, Dave Drew 25 – 12.

In the Men’s County Senior 4’s competition Berkhamsted fared better in the rain with the team of Bob Anderson, Paul Sims, Tony Smart & David Brown beating a team from Riverain 22 Shots to 11. Unfortunately in the Ladies County triples 2 teams from Berkhamsted were drawn against each other but the winners were Sarah Marshall, Alice Biggs & Kay Lingwood 17 – 10. In the same competition Carole Dunn, Anne Furlong & Jackie Cormack beat a trio from Bushey closely by 3 shots on an extra end.

More success in the National Mixed Fours with the team of Lesley Brown, Linda Ralphs, Brian Ralphs & David Brown beating as team from Welwyn & District 21-18. The team were particularly pleased as the same team, from Welwyn, beat them last year by 1 shot in the same competition.

The week finished in lovely sunshine when Berkhamsted hosted Croxley Guild at home and ran out winners 88 – 77 and this was despite lending Jill Griffin, one of Berkhamsted members, to play for Croxley, who were 1 player short. Top rink for Berkhamsted was John Webb, Gill Howells, Anne Cutting and Bill Howells who won on their rink 22 – 9

Press Report Week Ending 5^th May

 The Season and the week did not start well for the Men with a loss against Kitcheners by 57 Shots to 75. There was a top rink of Steve Burrell/Pete Batchelor/Brian Ralphs & Kevin Clarke who won by 19-17.

The other teams of Paul Mackness/Dave Drew/Trefor Jenkins & Phil Bunting ; Jack Bunting/Eric Lloyd/Alan Jones & Ken Maynard and Paul Sims/Toby Bunting/Dave Sear & David Brown did not quite pull it off .  The Berkhamsted Captain reported that they dropped a lot of shots towards the end and it looks like a trip to the Gym to work on Stamina 3 times a week.

However  the Men’s team of Bob Anderson, David Brown and Kevin Clarke  fared a lot better in the First round of the County Triples, just beating a team from Herts by 20 shots to 19. The Ladies Team of Carole Dunn, Anne Furlong, Anne Cutting and Jackie Cormack also made a good start to their County Fours campaign by also having fought a close game against a team from Tring, winning 19 – 16.

The week finished on a high when Berkhamsted visited Harpenden and won 87-60, winning on all rinks with a top team of Lyn Kessler, Eric Lloyd and Gary Fisher.

 Press Report Week Ending 28^th April

Clearly Berkhamsted club members are fair weather players, for as the weather improved late afternoon yesterday, so did their fortunes in a match against their old local rivals Potten End.  Berkhamsted rallied from being down by about 15 shots at the halfway mark, to win by 131 shots to 102.Top rink was Frank Cutting/Dave Drew/Gill Howells/Tony Howard (returning to his old hunting ground), who won 38-8 on Rink 6.

The other scores were: Rink 1: Maurice Primo/Maws Smart/Alan Jones/Pete Batchelor 13-18. Rink 2: Jill Griffin/Alan Baker/Bill Howells/Jackie Cormack 28-20 (they rallied from 13-20 down), Rink 3: Liz Baker/Peter Burke/Dave Sear/Brian Ralphs 16-26. Rink 4: Corinne Little/Tony Smart/Kay Lingwood/Gary Fisher 19-10. Rink 5: Marion Maynard (sub Mary Clarke)/Geoff Drew/Anne Cutting/Ken Maynard 17-20