Ormskirk Bowling Club

Due to the national lockdown the club will unfortunately have to be closed to all members until further notice. Please keep safe everybody and let’s hope we can get back to bowling as soon as possible.

It was announced today that Lancashire will be moved into Tier 4 from midnight. Whilst we will receive further guidance in due course, the decision has been taken to restrict the use of the artificial green to one singles game at a time. We have reopened the booking app and this can be found under the COVID tab on the website (Green Booking Page). Please use this if you wish to use the green. Contact Ian Gill or Martin Roberts if you have any queries.

No pairs games will be allowed under the new guidance unless it is one family group. Also, unfortunately, we will still have to restrict use to Lancashire Members only due to travel restrictions. The Committee will keep the situation under review and any changes will be dependant upon the latest guidance, and Members will be notified.

As mentioned in our previous post, the Club is now open for our Lancashire Members. We are really sorry that we cannot extend this further at the moment but the Government guidance is very clear that people are advised not to travel into or out of Tier 3 areas, including for sport. We have to think about the safety of our members and ensure that we are not breaking any rules. Hopefully we will be able to open to all members soon.

For those that will be able to bowl (when the weather is fit) please can you remember to sign in on the sheet on the clubhouse or use the QR code if you have the app on your phone. All the basic safety procedures must be observed such as sanitising hands regularly and keeping appropriate distances from others.

If anyone has any queries please contact Ian Gill (Safeguarding/Welfare Officer) and he will do his best to assist.

In line with guidance from the BCGBA we are pleased to be able to announce the reopening of the artificial green with effect from 2 December 2020.

However the green is only accessible to members who live in tier 3 areas (ie Lancashire) as you are not permitted to travel from a tier 2 area to a tier 3 area. Similarly you are unable to play club matches in tier 2 areas unless you live there. Members in the tier 3 area can still arrange Winter Ladder matches but please do not send any results to Ian Gill as these will have to be “friendlies”until all members who are on the ladder are able to participate.

Please ensure groups are no larger than 6 and make sure you complete the track and trace forms located by the pavillion whenever you play.

We will keep you informed of any amendments to this policy as soon as we become aware of them.

Stay safe.

We must close the club with regret after today in line with the government guidelines. We will update you further once updates are received in due course.

The Winter Ladder has now commenced and details can be found on our Winter Ladder 2020/21 page. All those who joined should have now received an email. If anyone else would like to join please contact Ian at iangilly66@gmail.com.

Please let me know within the next week or so if you would be interested in playing in a winter ladder 2020/2021. For those not familiar with the term it consists of arranging your own singles matches with other members with a view to moving up the table (ladder) if you win. The top players then play off at the end of the winter to ascertain the winner. This will of course be subject to ongoing Covid regulations and restrictions.

Ormskirk BC entered two Teams each consisting of four members, playing singles in three leagues of eight teams in a home and away format.

“Ormskirk 2” started well and had a strong second half to the competition maintaining 2^nd place with a closely fought finish between three teams.

The Team produced a number of strong performances over the 14 matches helping gain those elusive points and a developing a superior net aggregate.

Team Members:

    Mike Foster            Ian Potter

    Ted Baker                Richard Snape

    Peter Bailey            Pauline Snelson

    Martin Roberts     & stand-bye Nigel Whitehurst

The Club would like to announce the sad news that John Kitson passed away last weekend. John joined the Club in 2014, not long after it was formed, and was a great supporter of bowling locally. He played informally at our Club and in our Winter Ladder, but also played for teams at the Dog & Gun. He was also a longstanding member of Ormskirk Cricket Club where he served for many years in several roles, including Treasurer.

John was a lovely man who always had an encouraging word and a friendly character, and he often popped up to watch the bowling. He will be greatly missed by all his friends and the bowling community at large and the Club extends its sympathies to his family.

In order for the end of season works to take place the Grass Green will be closed from Friday 25th September. The artificial green remains open for winter bowling, although it will be treated soon for moss and may have to be closed for a day or so for that treatment to be undertaken.