On Saturday, August 18, Merrow entertained Woking Park. Due to a misunderstanding, we ended up playing three rinks of triples instead of four.

The skips look on.

A cloudy afternoon soon had the sun breaking through, warming things up.

Merrow started well, but started to run into problems as Woking got to know the green. However, we also got into our stride and were soon back on track.

Woking’s Yvonne gets near the jack.

We broke for tea after ten ends. Everyone enjoyed Sally’s cakes and a refreshing cup of tea.

After tea, Merrow stepped up the pressure, eventually winning on all three rinks, with a final score of 57-45. Top rink by one point was Debbie, Mike, and Colin with a score of 21-15. Well done to all players, a fine win.

On Sunday, August 19, Merrow bowlers travelled to Elstead to play a friendly of three triples.

The Elstead green had had some substantial improvements since our last visit, being very lush and well covered. The match was soon going Merrow’s way, with the final outcome being outstanding wins on all three rinks. The final score was 70-29 to Merrow, with our best rink being Mike, Rodney, and David E winning by 25-9.

Well done to the Merrow bowlers for a truly outstanding performance.

On Saturday, August 25, Merrow bowlers travelled the short distance to local rivals Burpham to play a friendly of five triples.

The match begins.

The afternoon started cool, but the sun soon came out to warm us up. After playing our trial ends, the teams went into battle. Looking around the scoreboards, your correspondent could see that Burpham were forging ahead.

We stopped for tea and biscuits at the halfway mark, which provided a most welcome break. Unfortunately for Merrow, the break did nothing to improve our score.

Merrow’s David Ewins delivers a bowl.

At the conclusion, Burpham came out on top by a significant margin, winning by 115-60. However, it was not all doom and gloom. Merrow had two rinks that broke the mould. Sue, Ken, and Bob lost on the final end by just two points, having come very close to a win. Meanwhile, Richard, Brian R, and Colin managed a draw, certainly our best rink.

The afternoon ended with all sitting down to sandwiches (thanks to Nina), drinks, and a chat. We thank Mike, Anne, and John for their sterling efforts on the catering front.

Our next match against Burpham will be in February 2019, when we play host at Wey Valley.

Burpham Bowling Club report by Ian Mackrell

The rather unseasonable weather failed to dampen the Burpham Ladies triples team. Maureen Thomas, Nina Challens and Carolyn Hart ran out convincing winners in the West Surrey League finals, against Horsell, at Knaphill, by 20 shots to 11 on Saturday August 18.

The ladies triples winners: Carolyn Hart, Maureen Thomas and Nina Challens.

The team returned to Burpham where an all-day event, the Squibb Salver, was under way, to a thundering round of applause.

Four groups of seven players played each other in the group in a two wood, singles, competition.

Squibb Salver winner Geoff Sheldon, left, with club captain Alan Mogg.

The winners of each group played in the semi-finals, with Geoff Sheldon overcoming Keith Sutton in a tense eight end final. Well done Geoff – and don’t even think about giving wife Wendy the silver salver to clean!

The Squibb Salver has been held annually for a number of years. The complex organisation required to ensure continuous play throughout the seven-hour competition is a skill few would even attempt.

Club president and club competitions secretary, Barry Macbeth, well assisted by wife Linda, have organised so many complex all-day competitions with resounding  success. They could, perhaps even should, write a handbook.

The event was watched by over 20 non-playing spectators. They joined the players, and we all just managed to squeeze into the clubhouse for a most enjoyable meal.

Earlier in the week, the Burpham men’s triples teams most surprisingly beat Godalming in the Guildford, Woking & District League.

A welcome meal after our home win against Godalming Bowling Club.

The following day, Wednesday August 15, a tight friendly home match against Holloway continued the Burpham run of success. Burpham won by 83-75 shots.

Derek Keen can’t believe his luck to be on the jack.

On Tuesday, August 21, we visited Merrow for the mens Guildford, Woking & District league match – and on what proved to be both a very heavy, and uneven green, let’s say Merrow found the jack more often than we did.

Barbara Hopkinson, a study in concentration, about to deliver her bowl.

At home, on Wednesday August 22, we hosted both a series of internal competitions, and, for a friendly match, our neighbours East Horsley.

For much of the afternoon it was close, with Burpham finally coming out winners by seven shots.

Derek Keen hosting tea at half time in the home match against East Horsley.

The tea break, served outside, halfway through the match, gave everyone a chance to socialises, also with the home club competitors in the internal competitions.

All players were delighted that in excess of 15 spectators watched the proceedings through.

Once play had finished, we all enjoyed a wonderful meal in the clubhouse, accompanied by the odd drink of course.