THE summer outdoor season at Minehead Bowling Club is well underway.  It opened on a sunny Sunday at the end of April with an interclub Presidents v Captains day; with 6 rinks of triples outdoor and 3 indoors.  

With the collective scores taken for both teams over the day saw a narrow win, by just one shot, for the President’s team; 125 total shots to the Captains' 124.  The best rink indoor went to Colin Hirons, Lee Ross and Audrey Manners playing for the President and best outdoor rink was Nick Gardner, Mike Foster and Rita Caddy for the Captains.

Minehead Ladies’ have entered the Somerset League for the first time and have played their first few games.  In their inaugural match on Saturday 4th May they faced Yeovil away, and then played Ilminster on the 18th. 

Inexperience was perhaps telling with a defeat in each game, going down on all 3 rinks, in both games.  However, on Saturday 25th May they played Wellington away, and claimed their first minor victory, winning on 1 rink out of the 3.  

The men have fared better.  On Sat 4 May they snatched victory against Taunton Vivary by 1 shot, and on Sat 11 May, beat Taunton Deane on all 3 rinks, and overall by 5 shots.  They travelled all the way to Castle Cary on 18th May, only to turn around, and travel back due to a water-logged pitch.  It was the same story for the Men’s Double Rink against City of Wells on Sunday 26th May.

On Wednesday 8th May a mixed side travelled to Byeways to play a friendly but sadly lost on all 5 rinks. Entering an A and B team in the West Somerset League, Minehead A have made a convincing start.  They travelled to Taunton Deane on Thursday 16th, winning on all 3 rinks.  Then to Bridgwater the following week, to win on 2/3 rinks.  On the same day the B's lost on 2/3 rinks to North Petherton and had the same result the previous week against Taunton Vivary. On 19th May a mixed team entered the over 60s Tony Alcock double rink at Westlands Yeovil but were knocked out. On the same day a side played a friendly against Watchet, in the sunshine, and secured another narrow win, again, by just the one shot. 

Exmoor Trophy League began with a game against Porlock, away on 22nd May, with Minehead losing on 5/6 rinks. The local Jack Stephens and Evelyn Yandle began on Monday 28th May.  The two men’s teams playing at Williton won on both rinks, but the two teams playing at home both lost.  The ladies have made a very strong start, beating Watchet 21-7 and Williton 20-9, at Williton.