Ormskirk Bowling Club

The Club’s Winter Bowling Ladder is now up and running, with several games already played. David Sumner started the month in top spot, but has now been knocked off, first by Peter Grimes who beat Graham Lucy and then Chris Horsfall jumped to the top spot after managing a tight 21-20 win against Steve James. Results over this weekend should ensure there are further changes to be made. The Latest Ladder and full results can be found under the ‘Winter’ tab on this site. Members can still join if they wish, but you will now have to start at the bottom!

A new team with a new captain and now new League Champions. Well done to our Seniors team, captained by Nick ‘Slaternater’ Slater, who romped home to win the Aughton Seniors League (3rd Division) title. They won a magnificent 13 games out of the 14 played, and it has been a great effort by all the team members. Just to cap it off Frank Dixon took the 3rd Division ‘Player of the Year’. Here’s looking forward to a great 2022 as well.

Thanks to all those that have entered our Winter Ladder, the Ladder has now been published on the Winter Ladder 2021/22 page of this website. Names were ordered alphabetically in terms of first names then surnames and assigned numbers from 1-34. A random number generator then scrambled these and created the Ladder. It is a tale of two Daves – well done to Dave Sumner who has come out on top and commiserations to Dave Gordon who is bottom!

All the rules are on the website, so off you all go and happy bowling. Anyone still wanting to join can still do so on the form https://forms.office.com/r/bSszeerwT0 and you will now be added to the bottom. This is a Members only competition.

Click Here to enter – https://forms.office.com/r/wNv0wPJL8x

The Club is planning to trial a Winter Pairs League, which will be run in a similar flexible way to the Winter Ladder but in a league format.  We understand that we now have many new and existing members who like to come along and play together as couples, or that people may prefer playing in pairs.  If there is a significant interest we may run 2 divisions (one for experienced, and one for less experienced/new bowlers).  The idea will be that pairs will play each other twice over the winter with games being arranged at times to suit (similar to the Winter Ladder), rather than being at a fixed time.

Members who are interested but do not yet have a partner can register and we will endeavour to get the individuals in touch with each other to form pairs.  A nominal charge per pair to enter has yet to be confirmed, but would be no greater than “50p each per game”. All monies to be awarded as prizes to the winning pairs.

You must be a Full or Winter Member of Ormskirk Bowling Club to enter – Membership details can be found on our website under ‘Join’.  

To express an interest in joining the Winter Pairs League please click on the link –  https://forms.office.com/r/wNv0wPJL8x and complete the form by 5 October. We will then be back in touch.

Don’t forget that you still have time to enter the Winter Bowling ladder – the entry form is on the website under Winter or on the previous post.

Complete form at https://forms.office.com/r/MydmPZk4Gu

The Club is considering what teams it will field in the various leagues next season and we want to hear from all our Members (or from people who may want to join), who may want to either play extra nights/days or who have just started and would like to join a team. Currently we have teams playing on a Monday evening (Maghull League), Tuesday evening (Ormskirk League), Wednesday afternoon (Aughton Senior Citizens – 55+), Wednesday evening (Aughton League), Thursday afternoon (Southport Ladies League) and Friday evening (Westhead League).

We know that there has been an influx of new players this season and that many of you may want to play more regularly. In the past we have started up ‘beginners teams’ and entered them in the bottom division of the leagues where standards and the competition are not too high, usually anchoring the team with one or two more experienced players. Don’t worry if you have just started playing, we will help you with what to do etc when you play for a team, and you will probably find that you are not as bad as you think you are. There may also be opportunities to join existing teams where extra numbers are required, and this may also depend upon what numbers will be required in the leagues next year for teams. This is not just for beginners though, you may be a seasoned pro already playing on one or two nights who would like to play extra nights or from another club and fancy playing an extra night at our club. Either way we would like to hear from you. We would also like to hear from Members who may be prepared to Captain a beginners team and have the satisfaction of growing them from a bottom of the table side to league champions

In order to gauge interest a form can be found at https://forms.office.com/r/MydmPZk4Gu. Please click on the link and complete the form to indicate any preferences and we will come back to you as soon as possible.

If you have any queries before completing this form then please contact Ian Gill on 07500 918 081.

Thanks to all the members who turned up to help this morning with all the work on the green, surrounds and the pavilion. It was warm and sticky, so it was hard going, but it was fantastic to see some of our newer members turning out to help alongside our ‘old hands’. A great deal was achieved, with the grass green scarified and raked, and Eric was magnificent in all he achieved despite mechanical setbacks. The hedges have all been cut back and the pavilion fully tidied. A fantastic effort from all.

Last night saw a thrilling Westhead League Cup Final match between Ormskirk BC and Brownmoor Brooke. Captain Horse had thought long and hard about his line up and there was much chatter on the team’s WhatsApp Group in the lead up to the game. Whilst confidence was high after the team had despatched the Eagle & Child in the semi final, it was always going to be a difficult match against the league champions.

This proved to be the case, and although the team fought hard it wasn’t quite enough against a very experienced and strong Brownmoor Brooke side. In the end though the team only fell 12 chalks short and everyone can be proud of their efforts, not just in the final but in all the previous games and in a great third place finish in the top division of the Westhead League, which is arguably the strongest in the local area. In particular one of the finest achievements was Ian Mayne topping the league averages, with Steve James not far behind at number 7 and Mike Fagan at number 9. All round it was a fantastic season for the team.

Congratulations to our Monday night team who stormed Division 2 of the Maghull Bowling League. Under the astute captaincy of Mike Fagan, who took on the role this year, the team won 9 of their 12 matches and cruised to top spot. Marilyn Lea topped the averages, not just for the team but the whole Division, in her first season for the club, and young ‘Professional Yorkshireman’ Aaron Backhouse wasn’t far behind in fourth spot. Altogether a great season for the team and a much deserved top spot.

There are two events coming up in the next couple of days where your support would be valued.

Firstly on Saturday (25th) we are doing some works to the green and surrounds at 10.30am and if as many members could come down as possible that would be appreciated. Come in old clothes and bring some secateurs and gardening gloves. Some tidying of the Pavilion is needed as well so you may fancy doing that if you you cannot manage heavier work. As many Members as possible would be welcomed for as much or as little time as you can give.

Secondly, tomorrow evening (Friday sees the Westhead League Cup Final. This is being played at Scarisbrick NSC (Bullens Lane, Scarisbrick) and our team will be taking on Brownmoor Brooke, having won their semi final last week. Roll off is at 6.45pm and spectators are welcome, so come along and cheer the team on.

The ever popular Ormskirk Bowling Club Winter Ladder will be starting soon and now is the time to enter. Click on the Link below and fill in the form to enter. Entries should be in by 1st October, any not in by then run the risk of just being placed at the bottom. The Ladder will be generated at random from the entries made. The Ladder rules, and after 1st October the actual Ladder itself, are available under the Winter tab on the Club’s website. You must be a Club Member to enter, with entry being free.

Entry Form – click on this link to enter