The 2019 season was launched at Seafield with a grand opening bowl from president Brian Douglas’s wife Shirley. Her fine example was quickly followed by some very good bowling by members with the green playing surprisingly well.

it was a very encouraging start to the new season, especially Brian announcing the addition of five new members to help keep the club numbers healthy, A notable feature of the afternoon was the keen performance  of the juniors who acquired themselves well against the adults.

In welcoming members, Brian congratulated those who had given their services in renewing the green’s bank under the guidance of fabric convenor Norman Bruce who also made a great job of renewing and renovating the ladies toilets.

The afternoon ended with a first class feast of cakes and sandwiches provided by the ladies led by catering convenor Sheila Anderson.

Closing day saw no bowling because of a flooded green – the consequence of the heavy rain showers which have caused many postponed matches during the whole summer. But the final afternoon together proved a great success with more than 60 members entertained to a grand afternoon tea supplied by the ladies under the guidance of catering convener Sheila Anderson. Rene Yule’s home baking went down a treat.
A well subscribed raffle preceded the annual presentation of prizes by President John Leiper and his wife Magdalen.
The full results of the club competitions for the past season are noted below. 
 
LADIES (Winners first, and runners-up)
 
Evening triples -N. Morrison (sponsor), E. Webster (sponsor)
Thompson Plate (Monday Hat) – Nora Fraser, Annie Robertson.
Balloted Pairs – A. Robertson, N. Morrison: M. Middleton, M. Martin.
Nomination Pairs (4-bowl) – B. Robertson, L. Innes: V. Tocher, B. Robertson.
Nomination Pairs (2-bowl) – M. Mitchell, I. Shand: A. Bruce, E. Elder.
Nomination Triples – A. Bruce, E. Elder, N. Morrison: V. Tocher, I Raeburn, I. Shand.
Taylor Trophy – Isabel Raeburn, Myra Middleton.
First Challenge Cup – Isabel Raeburn, Audrey Findlay.
Senior Singles – Joyce Cormack, Irene Shand.
Handicap Singles – Dorothy McIntosh, Alice Bruce.
Singles Championship – Norma Morrison, Dorothy McIntosh.
Aberdeen Ladies Champion of Champions – Norma Morrison.
 
MEN
 
Triples League – Alf Leaper (sponsor), Fred Stewart (sponsor)
Fours League – Hamish Mitchell (sponsor), Tom Johnston (sponsor).
Hat Night Trophy – George Robertson, John Weddell.
Balloted Pairs – J. Weddell, B. Douglas, P. Tristram, M. Wheeler.
Senior Balloted Pairs – J. Leiper, W. McKenzie, A. McWilliam, G. Keith.
Nomination Pairs – D. Henry, G. Coupar, E. Davidson, R. Findlay.
Seafield Triples – rained off.
SBS Triples – T. Fraser, A. Bruce, B. Douglas: L. Dear, I. Raeburn, T. Johnston.
Nomination Triples – A. Will, E. Davidson, R. Findlay: D. Wright, D. Cumming, I. Innes
Mixed Pairs – N. Fraser, G. Robertson: L.&P. Dear.
Junior Trophy – Cara Gardiner, Sam Ashcroft.
Harvey Phillips Trophy – Tom Johnston, Keith Duncan.
Senior Singles – Peter Cocker, Gordon Keith.
Handicap Singles – Tom Johnston, George Robertson.
Championship – Jak Miller, Ian Innes.
 

The skills of the Seafield Juniors were very much on show in their summer competition on Sunday with the talented Cara Gardiner emerging champion. All six in the youngsters’ section participated and some excellent bowling was produced.
All the ties were keenly contested and Cara was a worthy winner against Sam Ashcroft in the final. President John Leiper presented the trophy to Cara and said he was delighted to find the youngsters bowling so well. The afternoon was attended by parents and other members of the club and was suitably finished off with a most enjoyable pizza party.
Now, if we had more of their like taking an interest in the sport, the long-term future of the club would be assured. Members who are parents of youngsters are urged to introduce their family to the joys of bowling.

Congratulations to our skilled ladies triple skipped by Myra Middleton who emerged victors in the final of the Bowls Scotland District 4 to earn their place in the national finals in Ayre later this summer. They played a stuffy team from Stonehaven in the ultimate game at Whitehall but won 16-9.
Another Seafield team featuring the ladies finals was the pairing of Nora Fraser and Irene Shand. They played well but unfortunately not as well as their opponents from Woodend, going down 9 sots to 20.

A new defibrillator has been established at the Seafield club premises, thanks to the generosity of member Syd Anderson. The Powerheat G5 AED machine is fully automatic and comes with its own recorded instructions.
“I hope you never have to use it”, said Syd – but with a fairly advanced years membership, it could prove a lifesaver on rare occasions for the club.
The committee is delighted with Syd’s great kindness.

The Seafield committee has agreed to extend the hours of play by up to an hour following a request from certain members. Play can now begin at 10.30 am instead of the 11.30 start, although matches can be arranged for the previous time if so wished. The change takes effect immediately.
 

The 20017 season got underway at Seafield when Magdalen, wife of president John Leiper, successfully threw the first jack. While the weather did allow a few spots of rain to attempt to discourage play, it failed to do so, and the 36 who rolled up their bowls for the first time these year enjoyed eight ends.
The game was followed by a first class tea provided by catering convener Sheila Anderson and her team and the raffle afterwards gave rise to a few laughs. Bar convener Tom Yule and his helpers did well in dispensing drinks and he took the opportunity of reminding members that he needs barmen to cover from now until September. If every member did take their turn, that would just about do the trick. Please put your name down on the list.

A spanking new scoreboard will greet visiting teams to Seafield Bowling Club this summers, thanks to club member David Parkinson. David has underwritten the cost of the board which replaces a long-serving unit that was showing signs of old age. Hopefully, the newcomer will bring luck to the club’s efforts and show higher pointage on the ‘home’ side!! Thanks again David for your generosity.

Weather and the local football team’s involvement in a Cup Final were jointly responsible for a smaller attendance than usual at Seafield’s annual general meeting on Sunday. Some 50 members made the trip to hear most conveners agree that the 2016 outdoor season was on the whole a decent one for the club – early-season rain apart!
Acting chairman, past-president Jim Gray opened proceedings with a minute’s silence for members who had died over the past year – Arthur Binnie, Bill Moir, Bob Anderson, Jim Thomson and Betty Coutts. He said the club had hosted some BonAccord major competitions and the quality of the green had favourably commented on by many, and noted that the BA Friday night leagues had ended with Seafield fours promoted from Division 2 to 1. The triples had also done well but had just failed to make the upper division.
  Jim relinquished the chair in favour of the new president, John Leiper on the election of office-bearers, with Alf Leaper confirmed as the new vice-president. Alf retired from the post of treasurer, one he has held with great success for the past 13 years. Stewart Napier remains as junior vice-president.
The other office bearers elected were – Treasurer Norma Morrison; Match Secretary George Robertson with back-up from Ian Wark; Ladies Match Secretary Joyce Cormack with Irene Shand as back-up; Green Warden Bob Lawrence; Fabric Convener Reg Geddes; Bar Convener Tom Yule; Catering Convener Sheila Anderson; Social Convener unfilled; Seniors Convener Brian Douglas; Winter Section Convener Keith Duncan; Ladies Convener Rene Yule; Junior Section Representative Hamish Mitchell.
The four additional committee memberships went to Eric Davidson, Jim Gray, Ian Wark and Elaine Elder.
In his final treasurer’s report, Alf Leaper said the club had had a most successful financial season with a £5168 surplus and for that reason had recommended the membership fees remain unchanged this year, a statement received with approval from the meeting.
A proposal to create an executive committee within the club committee, submitted by Ian Wark, was deferred for further consideraion by the committe on an overwhelming majority vote of members.