Ormskirk Bowling Club

I am sure you are all aware of the new rules which come into effect from Monday. Please note that now we are allowed up to 30 people at the club the current booking system will cease from Monday and you can come and play within the above guidelines provided you complete the sign in sheet located at the main pavilion.

Please familiarise yourselves with the BCGBA guidelines for stage 3 return on their website.

The pavilion can be used from 17 May and I will e-mail all members with the code for entry.

Please stay safe, follow the guidelines and enjoy your bowls.

The club is taking part in the Bowls Big Weekend that is being held on the bank holiday weekend at the end of May. We have now registered on the national website and places can be booked via that website at https://www.bowlsengland.com/bowls-big-weekend-2021/. Sessions are being held on the evening of Saturday 29th May, a special family session on the morning of Monday 31st and a general open afternoon on Monday. Come along, bring all your friends and have a go for yourself.

A big thank you to Margaret Copeland and Peter Grimes for their big spring clean of our Pavilion, which will reopen on Monday after restrictions are relaxed. It looks really fab now. It was ready for it after not really being used for over a year. We would ask that all Members remember Covid advice when using our facilities when they open and keep things as neat and tidy as when your found them.

The Westhead League started on Friday and saw two of our teams in action. In the First Division Ormskirk had a flying start on the magic carpet with 6 winners compared to Burscough Cricket’s 2. Steve ‘Homer’ James and Ian ‘Maynedog’ Mayne had particularly strong starts winning to 3 and 4 respectively. Captain Horse fell at the first, losing to 5 against an on fire Bill Taylor. The team at least temporarily, sits at the top of the league

In the Second Division Ormskirk Castle were away on a very heavy Rainford North End green and suffered a 6-2 defeat, with Richard Snape romping home to a 21-8 win and Joey Copeland sneaking a deserved but narrow 21-20 win. Marilyn Lea played her first game for the team but struggled on the heavy green, losing to 9.

In the space of a week our Maghull League team has played three games and has had a decent start. The first game saw a 8-2 defeat at Formby Village, but Marilyn Lea in her debut for the team notched up an impressive 21-1 win, with the only other winner being Ted Baker.

The second match saw the team back on the carpet and a comfortable 7-3 win, with Nick Slater being the best winner with a 21-12 victory. Finally on Friday the team recorded the best win so far, 8-2, on the carpet, with Ted Baker being the best winner (21-5) despite his opponent already having played one match (and winning) against Peter Grimes.

The team now tops the table by virtue of having played one game more than most teams. Results and tables can be found via our bowlsnet portal – http://www.bowlsnet.uk/OrmskirkBC

The Club’s Bowlsnet Portal is now fully up and running. You can find it at http://bowlsnet.uk/OrmskirkBC. It contains all the fixtures for the coming season for the Ormskirk, Westhead and Aughton Leagues in one handy place, as well as fixtures for those leagues not on the bowlsnet system (Maghull, Southport Ladies and Aughton Seniors). There are also links to the Maghull and Southport Ladies League websites. As the Leagues start playing the up-to-date league tables and averages can also be found there, as well as details from previous years.

This portal also contains details of the winners of all our Club competitions, and other honours and achievements, so check it out and see what it has to offer.

Needing something to do now lockdown is ending? Fancy getting some gentle exercise and some social contact with real people? Well we have just the thing for you…..

Ormskirk Bowling Club is offering a fantastic half price membership offer for the coming year. For just £17.50 you can enjoy all year round bowling on our artificial green and on the grass green up to late Sept. With our two greens you get superb facilities in a lovely relaxing setting. If you sign up other new members (who join again next year) you will continue to get a discount next year and the person who signs up the most new members will get FREE membership next year.

For anyone new to bowling we can supply equipment and taster sessions. Don’t waste any time, visit our website and get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

Members have been working hard to solid tine and scarify the grass green under the direction of Eric, our green keeper. This follows the vertidraining and addition of sand by Mallinsons.

The grass green can be booked and played on from Saturday, although it won’t be mowed again until early next week and you may find it a little slow until then. The Club has invested in a scarifier and will be investing further in the green, as it is recognised that it is still somewhere off where we want it to be in terms of quality.

It was great to see our members returning to bowling today and making use of our new online booking system. Bookings can be made via the link on this website – the Booking page is under the ‘Covid’ tab on this website. Please check all our guidance under the Covid tab and keep safe. Bookings should be made for a one hour slot, but you can stay longer if there are less than three pairs in the following hour.

The greens will reopen on 29/03/2021 but the grass green will not be open until next weekend due to renovation works.

Booking of the greens is available via the Covid-19 tab on the club’s website note that this is a new version and not the previous system.. Please follow the guidance on the BCGBA website bcgba.org.uk . Please also note the general guidance and risk assessment on the Covid-19 tab of our website.

Please ensure that you have renewed your membership before you book a green and be aware of our offers including reduced membership for next year if you introduce new members.

We hope that this will be the start of a new chapter of our club and that we will continue to grow and enjoy the game we love.

Happy bowling.

The committee.