Victoria Bowls Club celebrated their 123rd year with the opening of their green on a beautiful sunny April afternoon recently.

 

As with tradition, President Will Harrison, ceremonially began the new season bowling the very first wood of the summer.

 

The first battle on the green saw the Presidents team play the Captains team, led by captain elect Dave Carpenter.

 

The match began with the Captains taking an early lead and by the midway point they led 55-42. But the Presidents fought back and with fifteen ends played the Captains advantage had shrunk to a mere one shot.

 

Then the game took a mighty swing in favour of President Harrison’s team, as they pulled away to record an excellent 100-90 victory. 

 

On rink one Newman, Fenwick, Williams and Pocock won 16-13 for the Captain with Dave Williams playing a key role in the win. 

 

Rink two saw Fairhurst D, McHugh, Milliner and Fairhurst K win 20-10 for the Presidents with Keegan very prominent in the win. 

 

Rink three featured the Captain and President and it was Will’s Presidents that triumphed, Will was aided by debutants Barlow and Rossiter with the later bowling very well in the 23-12 win. 

 

Rink four saw a tight match in which the Presidents team  came out on top 17-12 for the Gazzard, Jones, Payne, and another debutant Keith Bartley, Martin Payne coming on strong at the crucial part of the match. 

 

Rink five featured the Captains best team performance with Smart, Rain, debutant Crawford and Carmine winning 22-10. 

 

The final rink saw the game of the day with Holland, Burgess, Kelly and Puddy T, edging a close match 18-17 with Les Kelly in excellent form. 

 

Victoria ladies held their Open Day, with the weather not being quite as warm as expected, however, the rain stayed off, on Monday, April 15.

 

Amanda Culpeck, Ladies Captain, bowls the first bowl of the summer season with a full team of Victoria ladies.

 

Guests included Sandra Every, Somerset Ladies President, Joanne Philpott, Vice Principal Weston College, who sponsor the section and guests from Clarence, Ashcombe, and St Andrews ladies.

 

Victoria’s numbers have increased this year due to quite a few new lady members being welcomed from disbanded Wessex and are looking forward to playing in all their Leagues and fixtures this coming season.