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On Sunday 27th August, Henley held it's annual Mixed Triples competition played just between members. With 24 players, we had 8 teams and so we played a round-robin competition of 7 games each of 5 ends a game. Each game took about 45 minutes each so it was a full day of bowling interspersed with appropriate lunch and tea breaks.
Each team player had been identified as a Skip, No 2 or a Lead. The Skips were drawn and identified as team numbers. As we had two ladies as Skips, the remaining four ladies were drawn and allocated to a team. The other twelve men then drew their team numbers.
From the draw, two teams stood out as the strongest, Gill Robins with Peter Watkins and Brian Duddy and Norman Daniells with Martin Cranstoun and Glynis Holland. These were the only teams to have a 100% success rate after 3 matches by the lunch break. Peter Borsberry's team with Hylton Jenkins and Maurice Robins and Dave Wilson's team with Ian Gibson and Roy Holland both managed 2 wins by lunch break. Unfortunately Maurice Robins had to drop out because of a back complaint so Peter Borsberry’s team finished their remaining matches as ‘’cock ups’’ after lunch. Games played as "cock ups" have the team with 3 players playing with 3 bowls each whilst the team with only 2 players play with 4 bowls each. Whoever wins an end, it is always the triple who bowl first.
Norman's team lost their first match after lunch whilst Gill's team won theirs. Dave Wilson’s team and Simon Hatcher's team with Jo Wilson and David Dickie managed 2 wins each after lunch. A slight rain fall interrupted proceedings but players were soon back on the green in sunshine. Most teams were fairly evenly matched over the final games.
By chance the two leading teams played their final match against each other. Gill's team already had a maximum of 12 points so Norman’s team, with only 10 points, had to win convincingly - the stage was set. Norman started strongly with a 4 on the first end and although Gill scored a 3 on the next end, her team then dropped 7 over the final ends. Thus Norman's team gained 2 points to be level with Gill's team on 12 points. A worrying time ensued as the shots difference was calculated. It was a close affair with Norman's team coming out the victors with a shot difference of +17 whilst Gill's team had a shot difference of +15.
There were great celebrations and commiserations to the winners, runners-up and everyone who had taken part. It was most pleasing to see our new bowlers Colin Fall, David Dickie and Ian Gibson taking part. A most enjoyable time was had by all, although many of us were exhausted after playing 35 ends!!!
Chair Sally wrapped up the day congratulating everyone for taking part and playing so sportingly.
The winners and runners up will be presented with their respective trophies, the Reg Smith Trophy and the Lewendon Bowl, at the Club's annual dinner held at the Henley Golf Club towards the end of October.
Members can see more photos from the day in the Members' Gallery.