TWENTY-SEVEN bowlers from Minehead have been abroad on tour, playing four games at different venues on the Costa del Sol, Spain.  

All four games were played in a very competitive and enjoyable spirit, and on a surface the teams were not use to. The games were very close in score, the last game being the best one, only losing by 10 shots. The end of the Winter Indoor season is culminating with a few remaining league matches and the finals of all the club matches.  The first two were played on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd April, both the men’s and ladies Singles.  Sandy Booker went head-to-head with Sue Cox, and a very close game resulted in a win on the last end for Sue inching ahead 21-19 to become the Club Ladies Club Singles Champion.  The following day Tom Hill and Roger Prince faced off with Tom now the Men’s Club Single champion, winning 21-11. On Sunday. 7th April, Minehead Bowling Club held the Charlie Harvey competition, a novice indoor singles tournament.  Sixteen players with three or less years’ experience, battled it out over 3 games of 25 minutes, with the best four progressing through to the semi-finals.

There was a super close gamei between Sue Prentice and Nick Swan in one semi-final; Sue went ahead with the maximum score in the first end and Nick replied with the same in the second.  It was 7 all on the 5th end with Nick scoring 3 shots in the 4th and Sue securing 3 shots in the 3rd and 5th end combined.  Nick was able to pip Sue to the post on the final end with just the one shot to secure his place in the final and winning the semi-final 8-7. 

 In the second semi-final Robin Auster made a solid start against Chris Franklin, winning the first two ends and leading by 3 shots.  Chris, undeterred, matched Robin’s score in the 3rd end and then inched ahead in the 4th and 5th end, scoring a single shot in each to win 5-3. 

In the final, closely watched by most of the other players who stayed to support, the members involved in running the event, as well as many other spectators, Nick made a confident start with 2 shots.  Chris then dominated the rest of the game winning the next 4 ends, and with a 4 in the 3rd end.  The bell tolled just before the jack could be delivered for a 6th end, but Chris had already secured an uncatchable lead. This was a super event that was well supported by lots of members to ensure its smooth running and success.  So a big thank you to John Munson for presiding the event as as marking, along Janice Malarkey, Terry and Jayne Emmerson, Mark Palmer, John Munson and Colin Hiron who marked the 27 games between them; Geoff Murrell for running the bar all day, the Coxes for providing, once again, a lovely lunch; Jean Murrell on the impeccable time-keeping and albeit, slightly dangerous bell ringing, and Kristy Hirons and Sara Rew for organising the competition.  

A super well done to all 16 novices, including some member of the Youth Academy, for stepping up and entering, not necessary the easiest thing to do, especially for some of the members who have only just joined.  Minehead Bowls Club is not only growing in numbers now, also has some new players with great bowling potential.  Last but not least, a special well done and congratulations to Chris Franklin who deservedly lifts the 2024 Charlie Harvey Trophy.