Ormskirk Bowling Club

Ormskirk Bowling Club would like to wish you all the best for the New Year. It has a been a tremendous 2021 for the Club with a substantial growth in members, many of whom are new to bowling, particularly through the Bowls’ Big Weekend Event and the series of taster sessions we held.

This website has also seen growth with over 28,500 views to the site (the highest ever by some distance) and over 4,700 visitors in 2021.

Looking forward to this coming year we hope to see further growth in membership and are already entering two new teams into the leagues, one into the Ormskirk League on a Tuesday evening and another into the Aughton Senior Citizens League on a Wednesday afternoon.

If you have not yet had a go at bowling but would like to give it try, just let us know by clicking here and we will be in touch.

Finally, as we bow out from 2021, the Winter Bowling Ladder continues to be a big success and the top 8 currently stands as below with Alan Bellis on top following a final flurry of games on New Year’s Eve.

Here’s to wishing all our Members, and bowlers everywhere, a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Keep safe and enjoy the Christmas break and let’s look forward to a brighter 2022 and lots more bowling!

Members may be concerned about the new Covid strain and increasing prevalence of the virus, along with the latest restrictions announced by the Government. The Club is awaiting further guidance off the British Crown Green Bowling Association, but there is no indication at the moment that outdoor sport and recreation will be stopped.

We will be reviewing our risk assessment in the light of any updated guidance. Generally we are a fairly safe sport given its outdoor nature. However, in the meantime, the Club would ask that we all take sensible precautions to reduce any risks, to keep both oneself and others safe. These are:

• If you have any symptoms whatsoever, such as a persistent cough, loss of taste/smell etc please do not attend the Club until you have ben tested and been found to be clear.
• Avoid physical contact such as shaking hands, hugging and kissing etc (we know what a passionate bunch bowlers are!)
• Sanitise your hands regularly before, during and after matches
• Keep socially distanced
• Just one person at a time in the main clubhouse/pavilion. If for any reason two or three people have go inside please wear a mask
• Get vaccinated and have your boosters to keep yourself and others safe

Let’s hope that we all stay healthy and free from getting seriously ill from this virus.

Following the recent requests to members to see who fancied playing for teams the Club’s Committee has met and decided that three new teams should be entered into the leagues, subject to confirmation from members that we can raise a team and get a captain. These are to be on a Tuesday evening (Ormskirk League), Wednesday afternoon (Aughton Vets League – over 55s) and Wednesday evening (Aughton League). All teams will be entered in the lowest Division and are designed for our newer or less experienced bowlers with perhaps one or two more experienced bowlers thrown in to show them the ropes.

Set out below are the people who expressed an interest in playing in these teams. If you were a bit uncertain and did not respond on the form saying that you wished to join a new team, but you are now interested, (or if you said you wanted to play and have changed your mind) then please contact the club at ormskirkbowlingclub2013@gmail.com as we still need a few more players, particularly on a Wed afternoon and evening. If you just wish to have a general chat about playing then contact Ian Gill on 07500 918 081. If you said you wished to play on a different night then there is still scope to perhaps join one of our existing teams and the captains’ details are all available on this site.

It was a little bit chilly this morning, but some brave (foolhardy?) bowlers carried on playing regardless! The green went from lightning fast to extremely slow. Thanks to James Read for the cinematography.

Did you know we have a YouTube channel? When you visit don’t forget to like and subscribe so that you will get notified if we post any new videos. On there you can find some videos of the construction of the greens and the laying of the carpet on the artificial green.

The strong winds on Friday night amazingly blew the large away shelter by the grass green completely over and into the fence behind it. The smaller shelter had also moved off its base. This morning a group of members manged to get it upright and put back into position. Steve Denning has now screwed down that shelter and the smaller one alongside the grass green. Thanks to all those that came down to help.

Please note that cars should be parked on the gravel drive areas and not on the grass in front of the bowling club during the winter season as the grass is starting to get churned up.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Correction to previous post, please leave any surplus wood by our bowls club double gate.

Please note due to the above event bowlers are required to park just past the pavillion on this day so that the bonfire can be built. Also please vacate the green by 3pm.

If anyone has any wood they do not need please leave on the pile by the cricket club’s double gate.

I am sure the cricket club would appreciate any support our members would like to provide by attending this event.

We are looking at numbers for teams next year and will probably want to start a beginners team. If you haven’t already filled out the form previously circulated on a previous post please can you do so in the next couple of days, as we have to make decisions fairly soon.

Just to clarify if you want to carry on in the team/s you are already playing in then no form is required, but if you want to join a beginners team or join extra teams please fill in the form on the link below.

Link is at https://forms.office.com/r/MydmPZk4Gu