The opening drive took place yesterday at Nutter Lane. There was a good turn out of club members whilst following Covid rules. The drive was opened in the traditional manner with the club Mens Vice Captain and the Ladies Captain bowling the first bowl. Club Members then had short triples matches on four rinks. A good time was had by all. Please note that club captain Ken Spicer was absent due to having a prior engagement at Grays Bowls Club. His excuse being I didnt know the competition was being played over two weekends. Sadly he lost both his games on the day by 1 shot. Bad attitude Ken. Show us the money.
Bowls is back at the Central
NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
The National individual, pairs, and club competitions have now been drawn. For those of you who have entered these competitions you should have been notified of your opponent via email or text. You can view the draw on the Bowls England web site in there competitions portal.
Just to give you a heads up on the national inter club competitions. We have drawn the following clubs
MENS TOP CLUB PRELIMINARY ROUND
Wanstead Central V Woodford
If we win that we are then at home to Old Dagenham
WOMENS TOP CLUB
Wanstead Central V Essex County
MENS TWO FOURS
Wanstead Central A V Prittlewell
Wanstead Central B V Old Dagenham
The Tony Alcock has not been drawn yet
GOOD NEWS BOWLS IS BACK
After 29th March 2021 the Government has announced that organized outdoor sports are permitted as long as certain guide lines are followed. Bowls England have issued guidance to all clubs and it would seem that from 29/03/21 6 rinks of pairs or 3 rinks of triples with a rink between each match can be played. These guidelines may change as restrictions are eased on 12/04/21 and 17/05/21
I believe the OPENING DRIVE is due to take place on 24/04/21. Watch this space for details
County Competitions Entry Date Extended To 31/01/2021
The following statement was issued by the ECBA
So far, we have significantly fewer entries for 2021 than for 2020. A telephone poll taken from the players who entered in 2020, but have not yet entered for 2021, has revealed that many of our members have concerns over the current Covid-19 crisis
A summary of what happened with the 2020 entries below
Singles, 2-wood Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, Senior Fours, Junior Singles and Pairs entry monies were refunded to clubs and passed on to entrants
Secretaries, Benevolent and Unbadged Singles were played
North and South Essex Fours, Double Fours, Shield were not played, but entries are free in 2021
It is anticipated that a similar arrangement will be adopted for this years competitions, should they be cancelled
So far, we have significantly fewer entries for 2021 than for 2020. A telephone poll taken from the players who entered in 2020, but have not yet entered for 2021, has revealed that many of our members have concerns over the current Covid-19 crisis
A summary of what happened with the 2020 entries below
Singles, 2-wood Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, Senior Fours, Junior Singles and Pairs entry monies were refunded to clubs and passed on to entrants
Secretaries, Benevolent and Unbadged Singles were played
North and South Essex Fours, Double Fours, Shield were not played, but entries are free in 2021
It is anticipated that a similar arrangement will be adopted for this years competitions, should they be cancelled
With this is mind, we have extended the closing date for this year’s competitions until 31st January 2021 to allow the efficacy of the vaccination program to be more established which will give more players an opportunity to enter.
Anyone who has not entered and wishes to do so should enter by 31/01/2021. A how to do this is on a previous post in December
County Competitions Reminder
Just a quick reminder to you all that the closing date for entries to Essex County Competitions 2021 is 31 December 2020. You have to enter via the competitions portal on the ECB web site. Details on how to enter are on a previous article. It is fairly easy to do.
Xmas Message from our Leader
Hello folks, I haven’t written for a long time as there has not been much to say. I hope you are all keeping well and safe and looking forward to Christmas, however different it may be, and hoping for better things in the New Year.Quite a few members have been busy at the Club lately ( at a social distance of course) improving it for 2021 – see attached photos. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t mention names, you know who you are, and I personally am very grateful for the time you have spent sprucing the place up. I think you’ll all agree they’ve done a great job.
As we now enter Tier 3, hopefully we have reached a peak so that next year we can start getting back to some kind of normality. Hopefully we will be able to hold all the usual Club comps but if not I have a few ideas for different competitions so we will still have a competitive club.Well that’s about it for now so once again thank you for all your support this year and I hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year. See you in 2021Ken (and Brenda)
Mens County Competitions
Please be advised that the closing dates for the men’s Essex County competitions is 31/12/2020 so you still have time to enter. The way you enter has however changed. You now have to do it via the competitions portal.
This can be accessed via the ECBA website home page (www.ecba.co.uk) as follows <Competitions>, <ECBA Competitions Portal>
or directly at http://www.essexcomps.co.uk
You need to register (with your email address) – just once, as all registration details will be stored for subsequent years.
You’ll receive an email, confirming your registration, which you should check and alter if any incorrect details
Once registered you can select the competitions which you’d like to enter (as last year above)
Add each competition to the basket (a handbook will be added too, as it’s mandatory to buy one)
Once you’ve finished ’shopping’, you need to make a payment by card.
You’ll get a confirmation email showing which competitions you’ve entered and how much you paid – check that too
Then… you’re done, until after the draw is made (sometime early next year)
You’ll receive an email for each competition you’ve entered giving your opponent details, who’s the challenger and the date for play, or closing date
This sounds quite daunting but having done it myself it is quite easy. Its just like shopping on line.
Once the game is played, the winner will enter the result into the portal (no need to ring the result through) and both players in the next round will receive an email (and so on, until they’re defeated)
CLOSE SEASON WORK
A big thankyou to all the members who have given up there time to work on various projects at the club since the season closed. I know that work has taken place on the green, garden, the netting, various sheds and containers and other projects.
Opening Day Drive
Captain Ken and Vice-Captain Jean bowl the first woods of the 2016 outdoor season.
