Latest news from Port of Bristol Bowls Club
In a previous edition we remembered what is very much the fun side of bowling when the outcome of the game matters much less than having fun on the green.
The fancy dress afternoon in September 2014 was very much about having fun and enjoying the spectacle of bowling in what was far from the usual dress on a bowling green.
The complete opposite to a fun game is a competitive game when the result matters a great deal to both sides taking part.
Each season the Gloucestershire Bowling Association along with most other county associations has a fixture list of games, largely against other counties, for both men and women to take part in. Some of these games are regarded as competitive and as friendly — but still competitive. Members of any club affiliated to the county can put their name forward for selection and selections are made by by selectors from each of the four sections in the county — Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud.
All clubs within the Gloucestershire Association can apply to host a county game and in 2016 the City and Port Club was successful in its application and hosted a game between Gloucestershire and Somerset. And so — on July 26th the two county sides came together to compete for the Small Cup.
At that time the club green was in excellent condition and provided a good stage on which to play a game at this level.
Hosting a county game is much more than simply providing a green to play on —refreshments have to be available before the game starts and a sit down meel must be provided at the end. Ladies of the City and Port Club worked very hard that day to provide what was required.
Formalities before play commenced including the formal handing over of the green by Club President David Hinksman to The Gloucestershire President Roy Walker so that the county owned it for the afternoon. It was handed back at the end of the game!!
Some very good bowling was seen on six rinks and 21 ends during the afternoon and when the last wood had been bowled and scores added up it was Somerset who came out in front by 129 shots to 109.
Such prestigious occasions came along rarely and sadly this was to be the last one ever to be played on the City and Port green.
Since it was decided to close the club at the end of the 2023 season there has been much activity at the green to sell off everything that enabled bowling to take place and be enjoyed for 50 years. No less than nine clubs from the Bristol area have shown that the spirit within the sport is very much alive by coming to the green and many of them have bought items of equipment or at least shown an interest in what has happened. Ahead of this there was a members only sale on October 31st ant which members during the final season were given the opportunity to buy all that was on display for a reasonable price.
If you are reading this and have memories of the club please call David Hinksman on 07932 387217.
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