Frank Hayes and Ted Rhodes in far-from-conservative shirts.
Blackpool Group of Lodges
South Fylde and Blackpool bowlers even score
Last year’s champion bowlers North Fylde Group were toppled from their pedestal as South Fylde and Blackpool Groups took revenge for the previous trouncing they had received at the hands of their rivals in 2010. In the words of Lord Wellington and tournament organiser Regional Charity Officer Ted Rhodes, “It was a close run thing” at nine points to seven, but South Fylde and Blackpool were the undisputed winners at close of play.
Frank Hayes and Ted Rhodes in far-from-conservative shirts.
The winners proved to be genial hosts for this return fixture which was played at Kirkham Conservative Club. The bowlers and spectators were blessed with fine weather and the occasional glimpse of Spitfires, a Lancaster bomber and the Red Arrows from nearby Blackpool Air Show. Not that these distractions affected the earnest action on the bowling-green as first the single competitions, then the doubles matches took place. Wives and sweethearts cheered on their respective teams from the sidelines. Some of the aforementioned wives, being experienced bowlers themselves, joined non-playing veteran bowlers in the serious business of marking score cards and occasionally making a foray onto the hallowed green with a tape measure for visually-too-close-to-call lies of the ball to the jack.
How far is the jack going? Rival vice chairmen Ian Ward and Duncan
Smith in action.
Also on the sidelines and sometimes on the field of play too, was an array of group chairmen and their deputies. David Randerson and Ian Ward (South Fylde), Ian Robertson and Secretary John Turpin (Blackpool) and Harry Cox and Duncan Smith (North Fylde) were joined by APrGM Terry Hudson to watch their teams in action. At the end of an afternoon’s entertaining and very enjoyable day of play, when the referee had called in the score cards and made his final adjudication, players and supporters adjourned to the clubhouse for a sumptuous banquet provided by the home side.
The line-up for the doubles matches.
Ted Rhodes in his address said that as both the inaugural match held last year at Cleveleys and the reciprocal match had proved such a success the decision had been taken to make the fixture an annual one. To that end the host groups were putting up the Peter S Walker trophy, which had previously been played for only by South Fylde and Blackpool, to the tournament. He promised that the trophy would be suitably engraved to reflect last year’s win by North Fylde! Ted went on to thank Kirkham Conservative Club for allowing the use of their splendid facilities to the bowlers and Dr Khine Lynn of Lodge of Fidelity No 1256 for sponsoring the day’s events. He also thanked all who had played a part in the day. He said that the day’s raffle had raised £147 which would be presented to the West Lancashire bowling charity fund.
John Turpin and David Randerson receive the Peter S Walker trophy from
Terry Hudson.
Terry Hudson presented the trophy to victors David Randerson and John Turpin with the caveat that each group would hold the trophy for six months. David in his response said how gratifying it was that the three groups were working so well together. He also said he hoped that the trophy would remain in the host groups’ hands when the tournament took place next year...
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