Essex County Closed Triples Event
Essex held there Closed Triples Competition at Gt Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 1st December 2024.
27 Triples teams took part with entrants from all areas of Essex. The teams were organised into Groups of three groups of seven & one group of six. with each team playing four other teams in their Group.
After the intial Group stages the four Group winners (Sewards End + Langham + Chignals & Mashbury + Paxman 2) and the four runners up (Finchingfield 2 + Dedham + Braintree RC 2 + Braintree RC 1) progressed to the knock stages.
In the first round (quarter finals) all matches were close but:
- Sewards End beat Braintree RC 1 in a close match 5 - 4
- Braintree RC 2 beat Langham in another close match 6 -3
- Dedham beat Chignals & Mashbury with yet a further close match 6 - 5
- Finchingfield 2 beat Paxman 2 by 7 - 6 after an extra end was needed to resolve the match with the scores level after the intitial seven ends
In the Semi Final matches both matches were won convincingly
- Braintree RC 2 beat Sewards End 9 - 2
- Dedham beat Finchingfield 2 15 - 2
The Final was between Braintree RC 2 (Joe Hull / Chris Dayer / Paul Young) against last years winners Dedham (Ron & Lin Hill + Trevor Holbrow)
The Final started as a close fought match with both teams winning alternative ends and it was 4 - 4 after four ends. However the fifth end saw Braintree take four shots and one shot wins on the last two ends by the Dedham Triple was not enough leaving Braintree as the winners by 8 - 6 in a good competitive match.
Well done to all teams who took part and especially to Braintree RC 2 who will now be invited to represent Essex in the Eastern Counties Champion of Champions at Littleport on Sunday 11th May 2025 & the National Champion of Champions at Stanley, Durham over the weekend of 6th June 2025.
Finally thanks must go to Terry Marsh & Diane Orrin and all the team who worked in the kitchen, those who sold raffle tickets and helped setting up & packing away the equipment. Also to Graham Evans for overseeing the day and to Paul & Ashley Perkins for organising the competition and scoring on the day.
Essex County Closed Fours Event
The Essex Fours Closed Competition took place at Gt Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 17th November 2024.
Teams from most areas of Essex took part, all playing four matches in the group stages before the winners & runners up of each Group moved into the knock out stages.
Group 1 winners were Sewards End with 6 points with The Mix team as runners up with 5 points
Group 2 winners were Helions Bumpstead with 7 points with Highwoods as runners up also with 7 points but slightly less shots
Group 3 winners were Hunters 1 with 8 points with Lawford as runners up with 4 points but the most shots
Group 4 winners were The Allsorts with 8 points with Paxmans 2 as runners up with 5 points
Well done to all who took part
The quarter finals saw;
Sewards End getting the better of Paxman 2. Helions Bumpstead similarily beating the Lawford team. The Mix beating The Allsorts team (both teams made up of players from two different clubs) and in the closest match, with a tie break to decide, Highwoods beat Hunters 1
Moving into the Semi Finals were The Mix Team (who won the competition in 2023) of Terry Marsh & Graham Evans (Paxman) + Ashley & Paul Perkins (Leaden Roding) playing against the Highwoods Team of Brenda Kettle/Sheila Near/Diane & Peter Orrin. However the match proved one too many for the previously unbeaten Highwoods team and victory was soon established by The Mix to go through to the final.
The second semi final was between the Sewards End team of Ann Harriman/Mike Rushmer/Sue Parrish & Rob Myall playing the undefeated Helions Bumstead team of Cliff & Lynda Richardson/Ginge Searle & Darren Wrenn. This match followed a similar pattern to the other semi final with Sewards End taking 6 shots on the first end and Helions Bumstead never able to catch up despite there best efforts.
The Final between Sewards End & The Mix proved one game too many for the Mix. The Sewards End Four were consistant throughout the match building an 8 - 0 lead after 5 ends and comfortably winning 9 - 2
Well done to Ann/Mike/Sue & Rob who proved the best team on the day and will now be invited to represent Essex at the Eastern Counties Champion of Champions at Littleport on Sunday 11th May 2025 and the English Champion of Champions to take place over the weekend 7th & 8th June 2025 at the usual Stanley, Durham venue.
The next Essex event will be the Essex Triples to take place at Gt Bentley on Sunday 1st December 2024
Finally thanks go to Terry Marsh & her team, who helped with the Teas/Coffees & Raffle, Graham Evans for timekeeping on the day and especially to Ashley & Paul Perkins for setting up and running the Competition.
Potters Annual Carpet Bowls Event
The Annual Potters Resorts Carpet Bowls Competition was held from Monday 21st to Friday 25th October 2024.
Bowlers from all over the Country took part in the Pairs and Fours Competitions which were run as usual by the Essex Bowlers Peter Orrin & Martin Bennet of Highwoods.
It proved to be a good week for Essex with both events won by Essex Bowlers.
The Fours Competition takes place during Tuesday & Wednesday evening with 4 games played by each Rink.
It was won for the 2nd year running by the Four of Don & Maxine Poulter (Hunters) & Marilyn Bennet & Diane Orrin (Highwoods)
The main event is the Pairs competition run during the daytime on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday with all Pairs playing 7 games before the knock out stages.
It was won by Don & Maxine Poulter (Hunters) who beat the 'made up' Pair of Derek Herbert (Broomfield) & Peter Orrin (Highwoods)
Well done to all who took part with the event confirmed to take place next year running from Monday 20th to Friday 24th October 2025
Chairman's Invitational Triples Event (Needham Market) 29th September 2024
Congratulations to the winners Trevor Kidd, Don Poulter and Graham Evans with an 8-1 victory in the final.
Newmarket Air Ambulance Charity Event 25th August 2024
Congratulations to the winners and runners-up featuring 3 Essex players.
Winners: Colin Lord (Essex) & David Folkes (Cambridgeshire)
Runner-Up : Trevor Kidd (Essex) & Don Poulter (Essex)
Doreen Jobson
We are sorry to have to advise that Doreen has sadly passed away after a brave fight against cancer.
Doreen was in her 90's & well known to carpet bowls. especially in the North West area,, having played at Wimbish for many years and more latterly at Finchingfield.
Our thoughts are with her family and those close to her.
Her funeral is on Wednesday 24th July at Wimbish Church CB10 2XE
Essex League Finals Day 28th April 2024
The Essex league finals were contested by Teams from Notley Green (Chelmsford East Runners Up), Chignals & Mashbury (Chelmsford West Winners), Elmstead Market (Colchester Winners) & Braintree RC (NorthWest winners). Unfortunately no team was available to represent the Tendring league.
With each Club being represented by two pairs and two triples/fours the best in each section were;
- First Pair Notley Green (Graham Michaels & Richard Pound)
- Second Pair Chignals & Mashbury (Ashley Perkins & Roy Smith)
- First Four Braintree RC (Haydn Bates, Terry Costigan & Christine Nastri)
- Second Four Elmstead Market (Kathy Sheen, Tom Reeves, Peter Dunnett & Dave Sheen)
Going into the last round of games Chignals & Mashbury had a narrow lead over Elmstead Market with the second pairs & fours from both clubs to play. Elmstead Market won both of these closely fought games to finish the day as overall winners with fifteen points
The final positions were
- 1st Elmstead Market with 15 points (113 shots)
- 2nd Chignals & Mashbury 12 points (107 shots)
- 3rd Notley Green 12 points (101 shots)
- 4th Braintree RC 9 points (100 shots)
A good competitive day of bowling by four quality teams, enjoyed by all with everything running smoothly to schedule thanks to the hard work of Paul & Ashley Perkins
Thank you to all who participated and helped to set up and clear away. a special thanks to the Essex Chairmaan Graham Evans who, even though he was not playing, oversaw the event and presented the winners trophies
Finally special congratulations to the winning Elmstead Market team of James Jordan, Jan Richardson.Mel Horgan, Paul Youngs, Ria Warren, Eileen Farthing, Mervyn Fathing, Judy Sharpe, Kathy Sheen, Tom Reeves, Peter Dunnett, Dave Sheen.
Essex Teambowl - Sunday 21st April 2024
The Essex TeamBowl was back again, after a five year gap and those who took part thoroughly enjoyed the format, especially playing with members of other Clubs.
58 players took part in six teams of 10 each with a Single, a Pair, a Triple & a Four. Two teams played short in the Fours following overnight drop outs. Each played five games during the day.
The event took part at Gt Bentley Village Hall and our thanks go to Paul & Ashley Perkins for organising and running the competition. To Anthea Bushe for running the Raffle and to Terry Marsh who with her team looked after the Teas and Coffees. Also thanks to our Chairman Graham Evans for co-ordinating the day.
It proved a competitive but fun day with the overall discipline & team winners as follows;
Singles - Don Poulter (Hunters) -Team 6 with 8 points winning on shots scored
Pairs - Peggy Alston (Paxman) & John Smith (Finchingfield) - Team 2 with 6 points equal on shots scored winning on less shots against
Triples - Vic Goodey (Shalford) Kevin Francis (West Bergholt) & Rob Myall (Sewards End) - Team 3 with 7 points winning on shots scored
Fours - Pat Ramsey (Tipps Cross) Terry Marsh (Paxman) & Peter Orrin (Highwoods) - Team 4 with 7 points
Team Winners - with 24 points were Team 5 -Captain Mervyn Bushe (Langham) + Pauline Smith (Finchingfield) Maggie Walton (Paxman) Joan Clark (Highwoods) Sheila Higgins (West Bergholt) Peter Short (Gosfield) Alistair Kermath (Gt Bromley) Ria Warren (Elmstead Markett) & Geraldine Ide (West Bergholt)
A great day with the winners all coming from different teams
Champion of Champions 2024
Thanks to the hard work of Paul & Ashley Perkins, Essex have now completed the Championships for the four disciplines of Singles, Pairs, Triples & Fours.
The winners of these events have been invited to take part in the Champion of Champions as follows;
The Eastern Counties Champion of Champions - to be held on Sunday 12th May 2024 (an all day event) at Littleport Sports Centre Cambridgeshire. The winners to take part and all have confirmed that they are available. Programmes will be sent out to the attendees once received
Singles - Don Poulter (Hunters)
Pairs - Peter & Diane Orrin (Highwoods)
Triples - Ron & Lin Hill & Trevor Holbrow (Dedham)
Fours - Terry Marsh & Graham Evans (Paxman) with Paul & Ashley Perkins (Leaden Roding)
English Champion of Champions to be played at Stanley, Durham over the two days of Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd June 2024. Unfortunately the Pairs winners Peter & Diane Orrin are not able to take part this year due to prior holiday commitments and in their place the Runners Up - Val Kidd & Maxine Poulter (Hunters) will take their place. The team will be;
Singles - Don Poulter (Hunters)
Pairs - Val Kidd & Maxine Poulter (Hunters)
Triples - Ron & Lin Hill & Trevor Holbrow (Dedham)
Fours - Graham Evans & Terry Marsh (Paxman) with Paul & Ashley Perkins (Leaden Roding)
Good Luck to all Players competing for Essex in both events.
Essex Singles Competition
The Essex Singles Closed Competition was held at Gt Bentley on Sunday 10th March 2024
The event was played over one day only thanks to the changes in playing format set up by Paul & Ashley Perkins. Thanks go to these two for re-organising the competition in this way. Thanks also to Graham Evans for his input throughout the day and to Terry Marsh for co-ordinating the teas/coffees and Raffle, with her team of helpers.
There were 42 players taking part during a long day, who played in six groups all playing four matches with the Group winners and the two best runners up going through to the knock out quarter final stages. The qualifiers were as follows;
Group Winners - Group 1 John Smith (Finchingfield) - Group 2 Colin Lord (Sewards End) - Group 3 Mervyn Bushe (Langham) - Group 4 Don Poulter (Hunters) - Group 5 Cliff Richardson (Helions Bumpstead) - Group 6 Graham Evans (Paxman) with the two best runners up John Davey (Paxman) & Terry Marsh (Paxman)
In the Quarter Finals Don Poulter beat Mervyn Bushe - Cliff Richardson beat Graham Evans - John Davey beat Terry Marsh - Colin Lord beat John Smith
This set up two good Semi Finals with Don Poulter getting the better of John Davey winning 10-3 & in a closer match Colin Lord just getting the better of Cliff Richardson 5 - 3
The Final was played by two experienced Singles players who have both won the Essex Singles in the past (with Colin the 2023 winner). The match started in Don's favour winning two shots on each of the first two ends. Colin responded winning the third end by one shot but Don was able to take a further one shot on ends four & five to establish a 6 - 1 lead. Although Colin took two shots on end six and a further one shot on the last end Don was able hold on to win 6 -4 and take the title.
Well done to all who took part and congratulations to Don Poulter who will now represent Essex in the Eastern Counties Champion of Champions to be played at Littleport, Cambs. in May and the English Champion of Champions to be played at Stanley Durham in early June.
Langham Charity Fours Competition
Langham Carpet Bowls Club re-established their Annual Charity Fours Competition after a short break following the recent pandemic.
It was played on Sunday 25th February 2024 at the Langham Village Hall with 16 teams taking part.
A most successful day saw £300 raised for their chosen Charity - Prostate Cancer Researce UK.
Good competitive bowls were seen throughout the day with the four Group winners proceeding to the semi final stage. The semi finals produced two good games with Elmstead Market just getting the better of Langham and Highwoods similarly winning against Lawford.
The final was contested by Highwoods (Marilyn Bennet/Diane Orrin/Martin Bennet/Peter Orrin) & Elmstead Market (Ria Warren/Jan Richardson/James Jordan/Paul Youngs). The early ends of the match were level but after end four the Highwoods team took control and won convincingly leading by eight shots going into the last end when the match was conceeded. Well done to all who took part in what was a most enjoyable day.
Special thanks go to Mervyn Bushe and the members of Langham Carpet Bowls Club who worked hard during the day to make this so successful
Essex Pairs Competition
The Essex Pairs Competition took place at Gt Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 11th February 2024
36 Pairs took part with six Groups of six pairs, all playing 5 Group stage matches with the 6 Group Winners and the two best runners up going through to the knock out stages
With plenty of competitive matches seen in the group stages the following were the six Group winners;
Group 1 - Finchingfield 1 (Pauline Godfrey & Pauline Smith)
Group 2 - Highwoods 1 (Peter & Diane Orrin)
Group 3 - Elmstead Market 3 (Peter Dunnett & Dave Sheen)
Group 4 - Leaden Roding - (Ashley & Paul Perkins)
Group 5 - Elmstead Market 2 - (Ria Warren & Tom Reeves)
Group 6 - Sewards End 2 - (Anne Harriman & Mike Rushmer)
To complete the KO stages the two best runners up both with 8 points were Hunters 2 (Val Kidd & Maxine Poulter) & Sewards End 1 (Michelle Lane & Colin Lord)
The first match saw Finchingfield 1 take 5 shots on the first end against the Highwoods 1 pair but Peter & Diane came back to take 8 shots thereafter to win the match. Hunters 2 won a close match against Sewards End 1. It was the two Elmstead Market teams who then won through to join them in the semi final with Elmstead Market 2 beating Sewards End 2 and Elmstead Market 3 beating the Leaden Roding Pair
This set up two closely fought semi finals with Val & Maxine (Hunters 2) just getting the better of Peter & Dave (Elmstead Market 3) and Peter & Diane (Highwoods1) similarily winning a close match against Elmstead Market 2
This left the two pairs from Group 2 having a rematch after playing against each in a close match in the group stages, when the Highwoods Pair just won that early match.
The final was then contested by Peter & Diane Orrin (Highwoods 1) v Val Kidd & Maxine Poulter (Hunters 2). After an even first two ends Peter & Diane took a commanding 6 shot lead going into the last end. However same excellent bowling by Val & Maxine coupled with a poor bowling end by the experience pair of Peter & Diane saw the Hunters pair take 6 shots to go into an extra end. A close end finally saw Peter & Diane Orrin take the shot needed to win the Essex Pairs Championship for the second year running and their 5th title in this competition, having won all eight matches played throughout a long day
Well done to all who played and especially to Peter & Diane Orrin (Highwoods). They will now represent Essex in the Eastern Counties Champion of Champions to be played at Littleport on Sunday 12th May 2024. However due to a prior holiday booking they will not be able to play in the English Champion of Champions at Stanley Durham on 1st & 2nd June 2024 when Val Kidd & Maxine Poulter (Hunters) will take there place
Thank you to Ashley & Paul Perkins for running and scoring the competition. Thanks go also to the Chairman Graham Evans for overseeing the competition and to Terry Marsh for organising the refreshments and Anthea Bushe for running the raffle. It was a good and enjoyable day
Essex Triples Competition
The Essex Triples Competition took place at Gt Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 3rd December 2023
Twenty Eight Triples took part again mostly from the Colchester, Tendring & North West Areas
The Triples were split into Four Groups of Seven with all having 4 matches throughout the day. The Four Group Winners then went onto the Semi Final stage which saw Group 1 winners Finchingfield 1 playing Group 2 winners Jaywick Sands 1 and Group 3 winners Elmstead Market 1 playing Group 4 winners Dedham.
Finchingfield got the better of the Jaywick Sands team and progressed to the final winning 9 - 3 and Dedham beat Elmstead Market to win 10 - 6
This set up a final between Finchingfield (Carol Sainsbury/Pauline Godfrey/Pauline Smith) and Dedham (Ron & Lin Hill & Trevor Holbrow). A good Final saw the Dedham team winning 9 - 3 having won all their matches throughout a long day. Well done to them and all who took part. Dedham will now be invited to represent Essex in the Eastern Counties and National Champion of Champions which takes place in May/June 2024.
Special thanks go to Ashley & Paul Perkins for preparing all the paperwork and the scoring on the day and to Graham Evans & Terry Marsh for preparing the raffle and teas & coffees. Thanks also go to those who helped in the Kitchen and selling raffle tickets.
The next Essex event will be at the same venue on Sunday 11th February 2024 when the Essex Pairs will take place
Essex Fours Competition
The Essex Fours Competition took place at Gt Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 29th October 2023
Twenty Five teams took part with entrants mainly from the Colchester Area, + some from the Tendring & North West Areas
After the Groups stages (involving four matches each) the 5 Group Winners - The Mix/Wix/Sewards End 1 & 2/Dedham + the 3 best runners up - Windmill 2/Langham & Paxman 1 went onto the Quarter Final knock out stages. These matches saw the following results
The Mix beat Wix 13-6 / Sewards End 2 beat Sewards End 1 9 - 1 / Windmill 2 beat Dedham 8 - 7 / Langham beat Paxmans 1 9 - 3
In the first semi final The Mix got off to a good start taking a six shot lead after the first two ends before Sewards End 2 started clawing their way back with the match finishing with the Mix winning 7 - 4
The second semi final saw Windmill 2 and Langham trading ends with Windmill 2 eventually winning 6 - 3
The final started as a close fought match with Windmill 2 (Carol Andrews/Sue Butters/John Gibson/Paul Dale) and the Mix (Ashley Perkins/Terry Marsh/Paul Perkins/Graham Evans) winning alternative ends. After 5 ends just one shot separated the teams. However a 7 shot score on the 6th end saw the Windmill team conceding the match at 13 - 5. Well done to all who took part and a special well done to the Mix (a team made up of two players from Paxman & two players from Chignals & Mashbury). They will now be invited to represent Essex in the 2024 Champion of Champions (Eastern Counties at Littleport in May & English at Stanley Durham in June)
Thanks go to Ashley & Paul Perkins for organising and running the Competition, their first as the newly appointed Competition Secretary & Assistant Competition Secretary. They should be proud of a job well done with the additional benefit of also being part of the winning team
Thanks are also given to all who took part and those who helped with selling raffle tickets, helping in the kitchen and setting up and putting away equipment
Further update on Essex Competitions
Please note that the closing date for entries for the Essex Fours Competition is Sunday 8th October 2023
Make sure that you get your entries in on time to avoid disappointment
Also a reminder that the dates for the four Essex Closed Competitions have been agreed and will be played as follows;
- All four Competitions to be played at Great Bentley Village Hall
- Essex Fours - to be played on Sunday 29th October 2023 - entry details have been sent to all affiliated clubs
- Essex Triples - to be played on Sunday 3rd December 2023
- Essex Pairs - to be played on Sunday 11th February 2024
- Essex Singles - to be played on Sunday 10th March 2024
The winners of these events will be invited to Represent Essex at the Eastern Counties Champion of Champions to be played at Littleport, Cambs in May 2024 and the National Champion of Champions to to be at Stanley, Durham in early June 2024
Essex Competitions
We are pleased to report that the Essex run Competitions are being planned for the 2023/4 season and full details will be publicised to all Clubs soon.
At the present time these Competitions will be held at Great Bentley Village Hall, who have also agreed to store some of the Essex Carpets and Equipment which will be moved from Braintree Sports Centre. Despite efforts, no other venue within in the County which can hold at least 6 carpets has been found.
The first planned event will be the Essex Fours Championship which is open to all Essex Affiliated Clubs and this is to take place on Sunday 29th October 2023. Invitations will be sent our by email to all clubs by our newly appointed Competitions Secretary - Ashley Perkins in the next week or so.
Essex Open Pairs
Essex held a New Open Pairs Competition event at Braintree Leisure Centre on Sunday 21st May 2023. The number of entries that took part was extremely disappointing with only 17 pairs & with entrants only from the Colchester & North West Areas. (none from the other three areas). It meant that a financial loss was seen on the day and similar events would not be able to be held in the future unless there was more support or smaller venues used.
However thanks go to Duncan Lumley for running the competition and Graham Evans & Terry Marsh for organising the raffle which helped to reduce the loss on the day.
After the group stages the winners & runners up went onto the quarter final knock out stages.
Finchingfield 2 beat West Bergholt 1 by 11-1
Highwoods beat Leaden Roding 8 - 6 in a closer match
Sewards End 1 beat Sewards End 4 by 7 - 4
Dedham beat Finchingfield in the closest match by 5 - 4
It set up interesting Semi Finals with the Dedham pair of Lin Hill & Trevor Holbrow playing the less experienced Sewards End pair of Sue Parrish & Rob Myall. However Sue & Rob started stronger and were 10 - 0 up after just three ends and went on to win comfortably by 12 - 7. The other semi final was much closer with the Finchingfield pair of Carol Sainsbury & Pauline Godfrey taking on the more experienced Highwoods pairing of Peter & Diane Orrin. This proved to be the closest match of the day with Carol & Pauline leading 4 - 2 going into the last end. Despite the best efforts of the Highwoods skip they could only take one shot on the last end with Finchingfield going through to the final winning 4 - 3.
The final proved to be one match too many for the Finchingfield pair and it was clearly Sue & Rob's day. They built up an early lead and won comfortably 9 - 2. Many congratulations to all who played and despite the disappointing numbers it was a good competitive competition. Many congratulations to Sue Parrish & Rob Myall of Sewards End for winning this competition, their first competitive win having only taken up the sport in more recent years.
Also thank you for all those who stayed on to watch the semi finals & final, we had 21 to see the final & presentation
Essex Triples
The Essex Triples took place on Sunday 23rd April 2023 at Braintree Leisure Centre
25 Triples took part initially in Groups of five with the winners and the three best runners up going through to the knock out stages
After a long day the final was played between the Dedham Team of Lin & Ron Hill and Trevor Holbrow against the Rayne Team of Maxine & Don Poulter and Trevor Kidd. A good quality final saw the Dedham team winning. Many congratulations to all who took part and all those who helped during the day but especially to Dedham as winners and they will now represent Essex in the Eastern Counties Champion of Champions at Littleport on Sunday 14th May 2023. Unfortunately they will not be available for the National Champion of Champions at Stanley Durham on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th June and the Runners up have been invited to take their place
Essex Singles
The Essex Singles was held at Gt Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 12th March 2023
There were 44 participants initially playing in the Group stages with the Group Winners and the 5 best Runners up going through into the knockout stages
After a good days bowling the Semi Finals saw Colin Lord (Sewards End) beating Mick Wetton (Braintree RC) and Alistair Kermath (Gt Bromley) beating Val Kidd (Rayne) to go through to the Final
A good Final followed with Colin Lord winning and he will now represent Essex in the Eastern Counties and National Champion of Champions
Well done to Colin and all who took part and a special thanks to Graham Evans & all who supported him throughout the day with the Raffle & Teas & Coffees. Special thanks for the assistance provided by Ian Sinclair-Gunn and a big thank you to Mark Hammond & Mick Wetton who took over the scoring at short notice
Essex Pairs
The Essex Pairs was held at Gt Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 12th February 2023.
There was a good turnout for this event and special thanks go to Graham Evans for co-ordinating the day, which ran smoothly and was enjoyed by all who took part. Thanks also go to Black Notley & Highwoods who loaned a Carpet and Equipment for the event. Also to Terry Marsh for co-ordinating the Raffle with the support of the Paxman players. To those who helped on the day in the Kitchen with the hot drinks and to Ian & June Sinclair Gunn who with Peter Orrin did all the scoring etc on the day.
The Competition with Three woods each player was welcomed and as a result the competition ran ahead of time with some added good adjustments made. After some competitive Group stage matches it was the 8 Groups winners who went onto the knock out stages as follows: Group 1 - Gt Yeldham (Val Kidd & Sandra Strange). Group 2 - Elmstead Market 1 (Mel Horgan & Paul Youngs). Group 3 - Rayne 2 (Don & Maxine Poulter). Group 4 - Braintree RC 1 (Mick Wetton & Chris Dayer). Group 5 - Highwoods (Peter & Diane Orrin). Group 6 - Rayne 1 (Jim Green & Lee Gilman). Group 7 - Paxman 2 (Andrew Witney & Sarah Richards). Group 8 - Clacton (Ken & Jean Kendrick)
The Quarter Finals saw the Highwoods pair getting the better of the pair from Gt Yeldham, Elmstead Market having a good and convincing win against Rayne 1. Rayne 2 winning against Braintree 1 and Clacton beating Paxman 2. This set up some good Semi Finals - The Rayne Pair of Don & Maxine Poulter playing Ken & Jean Kendrick of Clacton saw a close first four ends with scores level but Don & Max took 5 shots on end 5 and a further 3 shots on end 6 to see their way comfortably into the Final. The other semi final between Peter & Diane Orrin of Highwoods against Mel Horgan & Paul Youngs of Elmstead Market, saw a similar pattern with Peter & Diane taking an early lead but were just 1 shot ahead going into end 5 when they took four shots to take control and see their way into the final
This all set up the prospect of a Final between two experienced Pairs Peter & Diane v Don & Maxine, who have both won this event in the past. As expected the final saw some quality bowling with Don & Maxine leading 5-4 after five ends. However it was end six which proved decisive with Peter & Diane taking three shots to have a two shot lead going into end seven. The match was not over when with just one bowl to go for the Highwoods Pair they were sitting two shots down with a tie break a possibility. However with her last bowl Diane bowled possibly the shot of the day to sit on the jack giving no chance for Don with his last bowl, resulting with Peter & Diane having a well deserved 7-4 victory
Well done to all who took part during a successful day and especially to Peter & Diane Orrin of Highwoods for winning this competition for a fourth time and will now be invited to Represent Essex in the Eastern Counties and National Champion o Champions played in May & June
East League
Please note now renamed Tendring League
Essex Triples
Now to take place on Sunday 23rd April 2023 at Braintree Leisure Centre - Further details to follow for all Clubs
Essex Singles
To take place on Sunday 12th March 2023 at Gt Bentley Village Hall - Entries must be in by 11th February 2023
The Essex Fours took place at Great Bentley Village Hall on Sunday 20th November 2022
Only 16 teams took part with five clubs providing 2 teams each. The games were played in four groups with the winners of each group going through to the semi finals
- Group 1 winners - Finchingfield
- Group 2 winners - Paxman
- Group 3 winners - High Easter
- Group 4 winners - Lawford
Both semi finals were close with Paxman beating Lawford by 6 - 2 and High Easter beating Black Notley 6 - 3
The Final was extremely close with the scores level at 3 - 3 after 6 ends. However Paxman took 4 shots on the last end to beat High Easter 7 - 3
The Paxman Four ( Sarah Richards/Margaret Stewart/Terry Marsh & Graham Evans) will now represent Essex in the Eastern Counties & National Champion of Champions to be played next May/June
Eric Sainsbury -
We are sorry to have to announce the sad death of Eric. Eric was such a well known carpet bowler over many years playing more recently for Wimbish & Finchingfield and in most County competitions. He died peacefully on Saturday 3rd December 2022 in the local Hospice after a period of illness
Our thoughts are with Carol and the Family and Friends at this sad time
Please note that the Funeral is to be held at 12-00 midday on Saturday 7th January 2023 at Stebbing Crematorium Dunmow CM6 3AL
Please wear Colour