Bad weather threatened a Rye Bowls Club tournament on Saturday July 28, when high winds tore up three marquees the club had put up on Friday, and dumped them in the road on Friday evening.
Rye members were dashing about like mad things and many of the participating clubs complimented them on the event saying that it was the best tournament in the area. Several of the marquee poles had been damaged, however the situation was retrieved as members managed to re-erect them for the Saturday.
The club’s annual Open Mixed Triples Tournament saw 72 players from all over Sussex, Kent and Surrey compete for the prestigious trophy. Bowling began at 9:30am and ended at about 5:15pm with the presentation of the trophy to the winners, awarded by Judith Blincow, owner of the Mermaid Inn, who sponsored this popular event.
First prize was won by the Winchelsea No.1 team, with Mike Melvin as skip. They took away the trophy. Individual medals and a cash second prize was won by Winchelsea No.2 team, with Keith Sellens as skip. What a great day for Winchelsea – it was more than well worth the short trip out for them.
Both winning teams complimented Rye Bowls on organising an extremely successful event yet again and many of the other teams joined in with their thanks and appreciation too, A very big thank you goes out to all the members of Rye Bowls Club for all their efforts, above and beyond, in making this such a worthwhile tournament.
On Wednesday August 1 Rye played Pett away in a league match of four triples. It was a match both clubs needed to win to improve their league standing but Rye were not on form. The greens were strangely slow despite the dry weather. Monty, Rosemarie and Don had a convincing win but Rye were overall the losers both in shots and points.
The Rye teams comprised:
Team 1 – Annette Bull (lead), Eileen Peck (second), Roger Taylor (skip). They lost their match by 9 shots to 24.
Team 2 – Monty Crouch (lead), Rosemarie Crouch (second), and Don Williams (skip). They won their match by 25 shots to 17.
Team 3 – Phil Edmonds (lead) Roy Dyer (second) and Carole Osborne (skip). They won their match by 25 shots to 7.
Team 4 – Sandra Romeo (lead), Mick Wood (second), Margaret Everest (skip). They lost their match by 8 shots to 23.
Overall Score Rye 42 Shots (2 league points) – Pett 71 Shots (8 league points). A poor result for Rye.
On Saturday August 4 Rye played Hamstreet at home in an important league match of four triples,
The Rye teams comprised:
Team 1 – Mick Woods (lead), Anthony Kember (second), Carole Osbourne (skip). They won their match by 18 shots to 14.
Team 2 – Monty Crouch (lead), Rosemarie Crouch (second), and Don Williams (skip). They won their match by 16 shots to 13.
Team 3 – Annette Bull (lead) Eileen Peck (second) and Roger Taylor (skip). They won their match by 33 shots to 16.
Team 4 – Celia Kember (lead), Dave Harrison (second), Margaret Everest (skip). They won their match by 28 shots to 13.
Overall Score Rye 95 Shots (8 league points) – Hamstreet 56 Shots (2 league points). An excellent result for Rye and a good fun afternoon for all concerned.
On Sunday August 5 Rye played Guestling in a friendly match of four triples. Guestling have the quirkiest greens of the whole of East Sussex.
The Rye teams comprised:
Team 1 – Meredith Wilkinson (lead), Bob Nicholls (second), Rowland Gardner skip). They lost their match by 13 shots to 17.
Team 2 – Jo Davidson (lead), John Davidson (second), and Norman Hickman (skip). They lost their match by 13 shots to 27.
Team 3 – Dennis Fowler (lead) Mick Wood (second) and Dave Harrison (skip). They won their match by 14 shots to 17.
Team 4 – Monty Crouch (lead), Rosemarie Crouch (second) and Don Williams (skip). They won their match by 26 shots to 5.
Would you believe it! Overall Score – Rye 66 Shots – Guestling 66 Shots
On Wednesday August 8 Rye played Beckley away in a league match of four triples. It was a match both clubs needed to win improve their league standing. After a very promising start, Rye were 8 points to 2 in the lead but after tea Beckley responded strongly. The Beckley greens had suffered badly, especially the outer rinks, due to the dry weather and the trees that border the greens taking what moisture there was. Monty, Rosemarie and Don had a convincing win as did Phil, Dave and Margaret but Rye were overall the losers both in shots and points.
The Rye teams comprised:
Team 1 – Mick Wood (lead), Eileen Peck (second), Roger Taylor (skip). They lost their match by 10 shots to 19.
Team 2 – Monty Crouch (lead), Rosemarie Crouch (second), and Don Williams (skip). They won their match by 25 shots to 17.
Team 3 – Phil Edmonds (lead) Dave Harrison (second) and Margaret Everest (skip). They won their match by 19 shots to 13.
Team 4 – Sandra Romeo (lead), Roy Dyer (second), Carole Osborne (skip). They lost their match by 9 shotss to 25.
Overall Score Rye 63 Shots (4 league points) – Beckley 74 Shots (6 league points).
The league is coming to an end and Rye are, sadly, dropping down the table.
Photo: Rowland Gardner