This week Berkhamsted hosted an evening for the Hemel Rotary Club in which they had a go at playing bowls. This is becoming an annual event and 33 members of the Rotary Club turned out for a full evening of entertainment playing bowls with members of bowls club lending a hand, when needed, to iron out any problems and smooth a few feathers. Berkhamsted’s blind UK bowling champion, Sarah Marshall, gave the Rotarians a demonstration of the techniques used by blind bowlers, assisted by Linda Ralphs. The pair of them are off to South Africa in March 2017 where Sarah will represent the UK in the World Blind Bowling Championships. Sarah needs to secure funding for her trip and anyone wishing to sponsor her should ring the Club Secretary, Christine Sims, on 01442873413 or E-Mail her at berkhamstedbowlsclub.sec@gmail.com. The evening was rounded off with and excellent meal provided by Lesley & David Brown, Janice Murgatroyd and Lesley Drake.

In the Dacorum Shield match Berkhamsted did not fare so well against Potten End losing 51 – 74 shots which gave 4 points to Potten End and 1 to Berkhamsted.
A match was held against the Chesham Pioneers who are a team of visually impaired bowlers which Berkhamsted won 36-21. This was helped by a top rink of Geoff Drew, Christine Sims and Dave Drew assisted by Berkhamsteds other team of Paul Sims, Corine Little and John Webb.
The week ended with a match against Broadway who unfortunately were 2 members short for the match. Rather than cancel it two members from Berkhamsted, Jean Greenfield and Eric Lloyd, volunteered to play for Broadway and ended up getting top rink for Broadway. Berkhamsted won by 58 shots to 33 with a top rink of Judy Kenyon, Geoff Drew and Terry Kenyon.

In the individual competitions this week David Brown & Kevin Clarke beat a pair from Garston by 23 Shots to 5 in the Watford and District Pairs competition. Success also came in the 2nd round of the Watford & District Ladies pairs for Carole Dunn and Mary Clarke who beat a pair of ladies from Garston.

In the friendly matches this week Berkhamsted won both. At the start of the week Cheddington were beaten 97 – 94 shots in a very close fought match with a top rink of Marion Maynard, Luke Swan, Peter Batchelor and Bill Howells. In the other close match Berkhamsted won 66-61 against Wing and again Marion Maynard was in the top rink along with Alan Baker and Ken Maynard.

Berkhamsted also played Little Gaddesden in the Dacorum Shield Competition winning 87 – 32. They won on all 3 rinks with the Ladies rink winning 27-7, the Men’s rink 23-14 and the Mixed rink 37 – 11 which was the top rink of Janice Murgatroyd, Linda Ralphs, Bill Howells and Ken Maynard, giving Berkhamsted an all 5 points win.

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Winner of the U18 District Singles Jack Bunting (fourth from left in back row) joins fellow competitors for a group photo having received his trophy.

Berkhamsted once again hosted the Watford & District Association’s Junior Mixed Singles Championship with fifteen competitors playing a whole day of group matches followed by semi- finals and final. Jack Bunting from Potten End overcame a very strong challenge from the home Club to eventually beat Harvey Marum with some excellent drawing. The event was a great credit to the Club who showed why they have been named National Club of the Year with their commitment to youth.

In other games, David Brown, Kevin Clarke and Steve Burrell beat a team from Hemel Hempstead by 19 – 7 shots to get through the 3rd round of the Watford & District Triples competition. Unfortunately 2 teams from Berkhamsted lost to Rosedale by 35 – 45 in the Tony Allcock Trophy.

In the Watford & District Ladies Pairs Carole Dunn and Mary Clarke fared better and had a good win against a couple of Ladies from Potten End by 24 shots to 11 to progress to the next round.

In the friendly matches Berkhamsted had a couple of good wins, first against Chesham by 72 shots to 66 with a top rink of Marion Maynard, Ray Kessler, Tony Smart and Tom Presland and in the other match against Hazels it was won by 94-75 with a top rink of Maurice Primo, Liz Baker and Del Root.