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Vics win Harold Jones Cup

West Kirby Victoria beat Hoylake Central by 7 shots last night to win the Harold Jones Cup Final at Magazine Bowling Club. In a match played in gale force winds at times, West Kirby’s victory was well deserved, having to overcome a handicap of 66 shots and posting 8 winners to Central’s 4. The Vics got off to a flyer with two excellent early single figure winners in James Fitzpatrick 21-04 and Neil Sherbrooke 21-06. Paul Gartland replied with a fine 21-14 victory for Central but Dave Gilmore immediately responded with a 21-14 victory for West Kirby. The middle matches saw Peter Dodd 21-17 and Rick Keeley 21-19 produce fine winning displays for Central but once again the Vics responded with 21-10 and 21-15 wins for Rob Fitzpatrick and Ian Sherbrooke respectively. Thanks to the handicapping system, Hoylake Central still held a 25 shot lead going into the back four with hopes of producing a shock win but the Vics superior fire power proved to be too much in the end despite Trevor Rodgers pulling off the “win of the night”, a brilliant 21-07 victory over Anthony Thompson. John Lloyd raced to an excellent 21-05 win and Lee Brocklebank came off with a fine 21-10 win leaving Matt Gilmore as last man for the Vics and still having to pull back a ten shot lead for Hoylake Central. Not for the first time, Matt came up trumps for the Vics, with an impressive 21-04 match winning performance. West Kirby Captain, Malcolm paid tribute to his team after receiving the cup from Association President, Keith Etches.

           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           

Matt Gilmore wins Charity Handicap at Upton (Vics have 3 semi finalists)

 I have pinched this report from the excellent Wirral Bowls Forum administrator, Tom Bentley. I hope he isn’t after any copyright fees as I might have to miss a few games this year because of the high cost of fuel.

Spectators were treated to some high class bowling from a strong field at Upton last Saturday, when West Kirby Vic’s Matt Gilmore repeated his 1999 success with a win over clubmate and 2002 winner, Jamie Fitzpatrick, 21 - 10.
In the quarter finals Gilmore beat Queens Royal’s Craig Saville 21 -12, and followed up with a semi-final victory, again 21 - 12, against West Kirby Vic’s skipper, John Lloyd, who was involved in a tight game with Lever’s Dougie Briscoe in the quarters, before winning 21 - 19.
Jamie Fitzpatrick had beaten Chris Barton (Quarry Vikings) and David McDermott (Heswall RBL). McDermott survived a great comeback in the quarters by Tixall’s, Ian Hazlehurst, just weighing in 21 - 19.

Referee was John Crowther.
President Ted Sullivan presented the prizes along with Chairman Ken ‘Programmes’ Griffiths, General Secretary Roy Cooke, and Competition Secretary Peter ‘£2 Please!’ Dodd. Thank you gentlemen for the work you do for us.

Results:
Last 8: 

D Briscoe (5) 19  J Lloyd (1) 21,  M.Gilmore (scr) 21 Cr. Saville (1) 12,                                                                                               C.Barton (scr) 14 J.Fitzpatrick (scr) 21, D.McDermott (scr) 21 I.Hazlehurst (scr) 19

Semi Finals:
J Lloyd 12, M Gilmore 21
J Fitzpatrick 21, D McDermott 12
Final:
M Gilmore 21, J Fitzpatrick 10

Vics start title defence in style with 12 winners.

The Vics Birkenhead evening league team started the season off in style with a massive 148 shot victory over a gallant Albany team last night. Despite continuous criticism of the Vics green at Ashton Park by some members of the team, with 12 winners and such a huge victory, one wonders what might happen when the green returns to it’s former pristine condition. Certainly Ian Sherbrooke and Anthony Thompson should have no complaints with both posting formidable 21-01 winning cards. The Vics had 4 other single figure winners in Matt Gilmore 21-06,  Rob Fitzpatrick and Neil Sherbrooke both 21-08  and Curtis Tornerup 21-09. John Lloyd had a 21-10 win and two 21-11 victories were recorded by Jack Beecham and Karl Sherbrooke. Obviously Malcolm Johnson 21-13 and Rob Franklin 21-15 must still think the green is not suitable for high class bowling as their scores tend to indicate. Tougher tests will no doubt face the Vics as the season progresses but a 148 shot win will do for now.

Rob Fitzpatrick wins at Norbreck Castle Hotel

Despite reports crediting Rob Fitzpatrick with winning a tournament at Pontins a fortnight ago, I can confirm that he actually won the competition set up by Steve Rigby at the Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool. This was a four day competition set up for bowlers from clubs all over the country to get some enjoyable and exciting pre season tournament play. Congratulations to Robby for seeing off some top class opposition hoping to make some easy early cash before the long Individual season begins.

 

Afternoon League teams off to promising start

The Vics afternoon teams all got off to a promising start this week and despite the “C” team losing by 32 shots at Magazine, four away winners gives new Captain, Dave McMurray, lots of hope of not only winning the aggregate point next week but also having a decent season. John Birch started off the season in great style with a superb 21-05 win and will be determined to win a second “player of the season” award. Ray Farrell (21-12), Ian Hamilton (21-19) and Paul Bonner (21-20) were the other winners on the day. The “B” team had an excellent 25 shot win away from home at the difficult Capenhurst “B” green and Skipper, Ian Wilson, never short of confidence at the best of times, is certain promotion will be a close run thing again. John Davies, taking advantage of the long corners, raced to a 21-08 win and the other winning cards came from Ken Palin (21-11), Ernie Peers (21-11), Malcolm Johnson (21-13) and a couple of 21-16 wins for Ted Lawrence and Ian Wilson. The “A” team Captain, Keith Etches, showed his team how to do it with a fine 21-07 victory which was matched by Ken Palin in a 6 winners to 4 home victory over Manor Road “A”. Keith Stewart (21-09), Andrew Stratton (21-10), Rob Franklin (21-13) and Bill Atkinson (21-15) all posted winning cards but alas, Peter Dodd must have been listening to too many people telling him how bad our green was, when struggling to even score 9 points against old rival, George Stead. George bowled really well and the green was not anywhere near as bad as feared, which means I will just have to bowl a lot better than I did yesterday.

Season starts today

The 2011 season gets underway today with the Ashton Park green officially opened to members. Unfortunately the green has still not recovered from last season’s punishment and there are still a number of bare patches to be seen. Luckily we only have one League match scheduled at the green this week, with Afternoon “A” team entertaining Manor Road “A” on Thursday afternoon starting at 1-30pm. Both the Afternoon “B” and “C” teams start their fixtures on Wednesday afternoon with away matches at Capenhurst “B” and Magazine. The Birkenhead Evening League team start their campaign to retain their Division One Title with a home fixture against Albany next Monday 11th April. The Wallasey League will be attempting to win their 11th consecutive Division One championship with a home fixture against Manor Road “B” on Thursday 14th April.

We have 8 players entered into the Wirral & District Charity Handicap starting tonight at various greens on the Wirral and we wish them every success in this popular early season Individual competition.

B.C.G.B.A. World Club Championship 2011

The Vics have qualified to represent the Merseyside C.G.B.A. in the World Club Championship taking place in March and April at the Irlam Steel Recreation Club, 524-526 Liverpool Road, Irlam, M44 6AJ. The Vics will play their Qualifying session matches on Sunday March 20th starting at 11-00am. Two teams from each Qualifying session will go forward to the Finals Day on Sunday April 17th.The full draw can be seen below. If you can get along and support the Vics you will be rewarded by watching some high class matches between the country’s best teams.

Sunday March 20th

No.1 green

Chadsmoor Progressive ( Staffordshire) v Lockwood Cons, (Yorkshire)

Meersbrook (South Yorkshire) v St.Georges (Shropshire)

No 2 Green

Garswood Hall (Lancashire) v Lloyds Hotel (Cheshire)

King Alfred (Cumbria) v West Kirby Victoria (Merseyside)

Sunday March 27th

No.1 green

St. Josephs ( North Lancashire & Fylde) v Thongsbridge, (Yorkshire)

Holme (Cumbria) v Springbank (Greater Manchester)

No 2 Green

Pudsey (Yorkshire) v Bollington (Cheshire)

Ford (Shropshire) v Gresford Colliery (Wales)

 Sunday April 3rd

No.1 green

King George V  ( Warwick & Worcester) v Tonge (Greater Manchester)

West Derby Recs (Merseyside) v Birches Head Hotel (Pottery & District)

No 2 Green

Moseley Cricket Club (Warwick & Worcester) v Llay Welfare (Wales)

Old Whittington (British Parks) v Middleport Park (Potteries & District)

Sunday April 10th

No.1 green

Denbigh Lower Park (Wales) v Haunchwood (North Midlands)

Swadlincote Catholics (Derbyshire) v Bradfield (South Yorkshire)

No 2 Green

Littleover (Derbyshire) v Bellingham (Lancashire)

Willenhall Nordley (Staffordshire) v Fishwick Ramblers (North Lancs & Fylde)

Sunday April 17th Finals Day (Last Eight)

Green Opening Delayed by One Week

The Ashton Park Lower Green will now open on Monday April 4th and not Monday March 28th as earlier reported. The green is still in a really bad state and Wirral Borough Council say a lot more work has to be done between now and April 4th before the green is fit to use.

Afternoon League “Starred Players”

The following players have been “Starred” for the Afternoon League Teams for 2011

Afternoon “A” Team:

W.Atkinson, J.Beecham, P.Dodd, K.Etches, R.Franklin, K.Stewart, A.Stratton, A.Ryding (R.Jones, K.Palin)

Bob Jones & Ken Palin are eligible for “B” team League Matches but not Cup Matches

Afternoon “B” Team:

J.Brandon, J.Davies, M.Johnson, E.Lawrence, R.Peake, E.Peers, E.Williams, I.Wilson (E.Clayburn, H.Rutter)

Edward Clayburn & Harold Rutter are eligible for “C” team League Matches but not Cup Matches