The Ilford Bowls Club

The Ilford boys playedRomford in the pouring rain on Sunday night to contest the National Top Club only to narrowly miss out going through to the next round against Wanstead Central.  Playing Romford for the second time over the weekend, Captain Keith Tyler led the charge by winning the two wood singles.  Unfortunately for Dave Betts, it was not his night against S.Mitcherson in the 4wood singles, and Terry Hughes suffered at the hands of J. Holmes in the Triples.  Hope was restored for the Ilford crew as  skipper Chris Granger dominated the fours resulting in the Romford lads led by C.Bryan conceeding at 18 ends.  Victory was then in the hands of Paul Lidbury & Ian MacConchie to win the pairs, but the Romford duo of S.Pickford & R.Bolton proved too much and the Ilford boys lost by 6 shots.

The lassies were also out on Sunday playing their first Ernstein Plate game at Clementswood.  As the rain poured down, the captains agreed at the start to play a 15 end match.  Ilford Skips Anita Frost & Hayley Kenny took control of the match in the early stages, and kept the pressure on their opponents to win easily on both rinks and take all the 6 points in their first league match of the season.  The Ilford girls had already played Clementswood in the Saban League the previous week, and although losing on one rink, they secured the overall result and won the match 4-2.

The Ilford lassies met with Kings Chase on Saturday morning to play the first round of the National Top Club.  Vice Captain Hayley Kenny got the girls off to a great start by winning the singles 22-7, however it was not to be for the ladies with the pairs, triples and fours all just lsoing out on victory.

The Ilford lads met with rivals Romford BC  in the first game of the Jackson Shield on Saturday.  As the sun blasted down, the Ilford lads raised the heat winning convincingly on all three rinks and taking the 2pts from their first leg of the competition plus a 45 advantage on shot difference. Terry Hughes 30 J James 12  Bill Beney 26 G.Natham 11 Chri Granger 14 A.Lindfield 12.  Ilfordneed to repeat their performance when they meet Romford again in the away match, aswell as overcoming Elm Park BC who were also drawn in their section.

Leanne Granger & partner Simeon Madgewick, sailed through their qualifying rounds to earn their place in this years Joan Baker Final on Sunday 29th May.  Their opponents, new bowler Natasha Booker & Bill Beney had to wait before going through to the final on shot difference after 3 pairs tied on points in their half of the competition.  The final witnessed some fantastic bowling from both pairs, but as the game went on, Lea & Sim dominated the match to become this year’s 2011 champions.

The gentlefolk proved to be no match for park neighbours Cranbrook in the RAL this week winning on both rinks to take the full 6 points. Alan Potts, Frank Roberts, John Kennedy & Terry Pedrick won 33-14 and Laurie Lewis, Bob Taylor, John Smith and Bob Parnell completed the match with a 20-17 win

Pairs – Dave Waters and young Billy Frost, found themselves locked in a tight battle with their Old Dagenham opponents on Tuesday 31st May.  Being forced into an extra end, the couple pulled out all the stops to take the end and with it passage through to the next round.  It was not the case however for Chris Granger and Partner Ian Scammell, as they found themselves on the wrong end of the tie at Fords.

Triples – Trio Ian Scammell, Bill Beney & Chris Granger looked set for victory against their Woodford opponents, and at one stage looked to force the match to an early bath for their opponents.  Woodford however, took advantage of a lull by the Ilford boys to get themselves back in the game, but finally lost the match by 5 shots.  The Ilford trio now have their sights on Hudson from Wanstead Central, after hearing they overcame the challenge from Matt Frost & co from Ilford.

Club treasurer Adam Chessell, took his bride to be Shaneen, all the way to Spain for her to say I Do in a romantic chapel in Rebate.  Witnessed by 50 friends and family the idyllic setting had all the romance one dreams of.  The couple plan to hold a reception at the club later in the year for all the well wishers who were not with them on the day.  Congratulations to the happy couple from the club.

Stan McKenna passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday morning May 31st .  Everyone who knew Stan, referred to him as a true gent.  Stan unfortunately had to retire from bowling due to ill-health, but continued to support the club as an honorary member.  The funeral arrangements will be advised shortly.  Out thoughts go out to his family at this sad time

Ilford strolled on to meet either Elm Park or Romford in the next round of the competition after seeing off South Woodford with a 4-1 victory.