Downton Bowling Club are pleased to announce the winners of our Club Competitions. Well done to everyone who took part in these competitions and congratulations to the finalists. Thanks also to Ann Galpin, our Competitions Secretary, for arranging these competitions. To view the results, click here.
Year: 2022
Salisbury and District final results
The Salisbury and District final results are in. It is quite interesting that although we finished at the bottom of the table we actually won more games than the team above us. In this League a team can declare at the beginning of the season that they will only play with three Triples as opposed to the default number of four Triples. Downton are one of such teams that play with three Triples. We are not penalised for this, except, we obviously cannot gain the same maximum points as clubs who play four Triples. There are nine clubs in the League, three play with three Triples, Downton, Alderbury and Wilton. All the other Clubs have the potential of gaining twenty more points than us over the season as they can field four Triples. So it is not surprising to see two of the ‘three-triple’ clubs at the bottom of the League. Congratulations to Wilton who managed to gain fourth in the League under these conditions. Considering the challenges we faced in the Salisbury and District league, we have done really well this season, winning four games, but also our players have supported every fixture – not once did we have to cancel a game due to lack of players, even with the distance travelled. Many thanks to all Downton players for playing these games, I hope you enjoyed the League. Thank you too to the Members who took on the Captains role – Mike Hallam, Geoff Warr, and Rod Hall. This is much appreciated.
Harold Ford Competition
CONGRATULATIONS to Steve Allen, Ivan Buss, Marie Clarke, Colin Morris,Jane Smith and Alan Waters on winning the Harold Ford Competition last night against the Amesbury B team by four shots. We also like to thank Cathy Dean, Rod Hall and Dawn Jones who help us along the way by beating Wilton and Amesbury A. Mere conceded their match with us. Well done!
End Of Season update
The Bowls Club is nearing the end of the competitive League season with just a few matches left. The good news is that our Ladies in the New Forest League, are at the top of their division, so we are hoping for some success from our lovely lady bowlers. We are also in the Final of the Mixed Triples League Cup. Paul Tanner just missed out on progressing to the last 16 of the County singles championship, losing 20-21. Marie Clarke reached the semis of the New Forest Champion of Champions.
Everyone is talking about the weather, and it is no different at the Bowling Club. As you can imagine, the hot, dry weather has meant we have had to cancel matches – and it affects the condition of the Green, but we are doing our best to keep it a nice surface to play on. The Green Team have just purchased a new mower which will improve the playing surface for years to come. The Club would like to extend gratitude to Downton Parish Council and the Wiltshire County Area Board for their support in this purchase.
Club Results
In the New Forest League, Downton Men beat New Milton 73-58 taking 7 points to 1. The Ladies won their game 6-2 against Milford.
In the Mixed Triples League Downton beat Wilton 63-28 on shots and 6-2 on points. This leaves them in 3rd position in the League.
On Saturday in the Bournemouth League Downton Bustards beat Fordingbridge 43 shots to 21 and 6-2 on points leaving them in 2nd position in the league.
Results Update
In the local Leagues Downton lost to Wilton, who are now top of the Salisbury and District League.
In the Mixed Triple League Salisbury are top of the table.
Most local Clubs will be organising the Bowls England Big Bowls weekend at the end of May. Downton held their Open days on Friday evening 26th and on Sunday 28th from 2pm to 5pm.
Downton Football Club
Downton Bowling Club hosted the Downton Football Club at their Annual get together last Sunday. It was a glorious day and at least 20 friends from The Robins joined in a Triples Match. Several footballers and their wives, girlfriends and children took part and the local Downton players were pleased to see that everyone else joined in the game.
Fun and Focus
On 5 May, Marie (our coach) ran her ‘Fun and Focus’ afternoon at Downton. She and Alan set up the 6 rinks in the morning the rinks measured out so each was exactly the same with markers for each of the 4 challenges she had set.
The aim of this popular event was to have FUN (you could wear what you like and chat as much as you like) but at the same time there was an element of FOCUS as well. Four unusual challenges were set – bowling to off-centre Jacks; blowing the Jack to a target; Show consistancy in bowling and finally a bit of fun bashing the bowls placed around the Jack. Measuring was a novelty as Marie had made 3-foot garden canes into measuring devices with green tape at 3 foot intervals to make it all nice and easy.
This event was so popular before COVID that this year Marie had to run two sessions. 18 members turned up, two played on each rink taking turns with the challenges, one playing, the other measuring and returning bowls to their partner player.
It was a lovely day weather-wise, everyone was relaxed, enjoying the challenges and found it was something a bit different to do on the bowling green. We had some imaginative scores at the end but the joint winners were Charles Burrows and Simon Stacey.
Bowls England Weekend
Thanks to everybody for entertaining the Bowls England Tourist Team yesterday. It was a super day despite the chilly breeze. Bowls England paid for their teas and Green Fees and our raffle gave us £172. The President of Bowls England, Terri Keen, gave prizes to the highest and lowest winning Rinks and a really superb Glass item which is displayed in our Club House.
Club Open Day
The Downton Bowling Green is opening on the weekend of the 16th & 17th April so please come along and support our Club.
Join us on Saturday, 16th April starting at 2pm for the Charity Fun Day and again on Sunday 17th April starting at 2pm for the Captain v President game.
All are welcome, mix and match teams.
Dress code for Players: Club or White shirts and Greys.
Spectators – the more the merrier. Please come along and join the fun.