CHANGE TO STEWARD SESSIONS
In line with the Club Announcement all steward sessions will now be outdoors until further notice. Demand has been high so an extra session has been added on Mondays. The steward session start times are now:
MONDAY 10am, TILL 11:30 and MONDAY 12.00, TILL 02.00 & FRIDAY 10am. Till 12.00pm
Must be Booked with Les Barrett Email Address: les@fastmail.fm or phone 0780 122 7367
only 18 members allowed per session on three rinks
It is very, very important that all players maintain the mandatory Covid social distancing rules. In short if you can touch another player you are far too close. Unfortunately failure to abide by the social distancing rules could lead to sessions being discontinued so PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! Thank you.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT
STOP PRESS 14th OCTOBER 2020
DUE TO THE LATEST COVID ANNOUNCEMENT THE INDOOR RINKS ARE CLOSED
WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. OUTDOOR RINKS REMAIN OPEN.
MORE NEWS TO FOLLOW SOON
ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR THE INDOOR SEASON!
For those of you who were wondering how the recently announced Covid restrictions would affect the start of the Indoor Season.........................fear not!
We now have the go-ahead from the English Indoor Bowling Association, who clarified the position with Government, and the plans outlined in our briefing note dated 19th September 2020 are still valid. See the Indoor Arrangements page on this website for details.
From Monday 28th September you will be able to book the new indoor green on Fastcourts for solo-practice, singles or pairs play commencing on Monday 5th October. The outdoor green will also still be available to book. Steward Sessions and the Crowhurst Challenge League will be played outdoors only to begin with but will move indoors from week commencing Monday 26th October. Steward Sessions should still be pre-booked with Les Barrett and Simon Kimberley will be in touch shortly with those members registered for the Crowhurst Challenge League.
Clearly this indoor season will be a little different but we wish you safe and happy bowling during the winter ahead.
DID YOU REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR SUBS???
INDOOR LEAGUE UPDATE
Plenty of you are entering the indoor leagues this year and we are pleased to say that all of the leagues will run as planned. More details will be supplied soon to those who register.
If you want to play in the Ladies Pairs League on Tuesday afternoon, the Men's Pairs League on Wednesday evening, the Mixed Triples League on Thursday afternoon or the Crowhurst Challenge League on Friday afternoon be sure to register with Les Barrett as soon as possible.
You can register with Les by phone or text on 07801 227367 or e-mail les@fastmail.fm
PUSHERS & MATS BACK IN USE FROM 2nd AUGUST
As part of the further easing of Covid-19 restrictions we are pleased to announce that the use of pushers and mats will be permitted from Sunday 2nd August.
To help ensure everyone's safety there are a few key rules that we need to observe, as follows:-
1. Only one lead and one skip on each rink should handle the mats no matter who wins the end.
2. Only one person on each rink should handle the pushers. This does not have to be the same person who handles the mats.
.......................................................AND REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT ...................................................................
3. PLEASE USE THE SANITISER AND WIPES TO SANITISE THE PUSHER HANDLES AND MATS AT THE END OF YOUR GAME.
ENJOY YOUR BOWLING AND STAY SAFE
COVID CUP TRIAL 25th JULY 2020--- A SUCCESS
Fifty bowlers took part in the Covid Cup drawn pairs trial on Saturday 25th July and you could tell they were chomping at the bit to get back into action. The event, captained by Roy Webster, was aimed at testing our ability to hold a large scale bowls event safely whilst adhering to Covid 19 distancing and hygiene protocol.
The day passed with flying colours and not only that - everyone seemed to have a good time! At one point the weather looked as though it was going to put a dampener on proceedings but in the end both morning and afternoon sessions were completed without hiccup.
Overall winners were Mary Webster and Mike Kilby, second were Mike Stanley and Chris Reid and third were Jean Clements and Ken Ludlow.
The successful outcome of the trial now means we can proceed with the Covid Cup which will be held over 9 Sundays commencing Sunday 2nd August. For full details please see the Covid Cup page on this website.
BBA SQUADS BACK IN ACTION
Although the official men's BBA leagues are now out of action for the rest of the 2020 season that doesn't mean to say that our BBA squads are taking it easy. The Erdington Court BBA teams have started a 5 week Tuesday night practice session managed by Allen Onion and Antony Gould where each week players are drawn into different pairs. Battle then commences for two hours to find the winners and losers. Covid distancing and hygiene rules apply but needless to say that there is still plenty of banter and the competitive spirit is truly evident. The sessions will run until mid-August by which time the nights will be drawing in but at least both the A and B squads will have had plenty of practice to keep them in fine fettle until next season. The photographs below show a few of the competitors in action - see if you can recognise a few faces.
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The Three Musketeers?
Well they may not be great swordsmen but they are pretty good with fencing. We all owe a debt of thanks to (l to r) Bill Ensor, new member Jim Moore and Simon Kimberley who along with Peter Yates re-painted the fencing around the outdoor green over a recent weekend (11th July).
Not sure if you have noticed but there is a heck of a lot of fencing and the lads worked really hard to get it finished so that play could restart again on Monday.
Jim and his wife Mary only joined recently so it didn't take long for him to start getting involved.
Thanks gentlemen and well done!
YES ITS HERE.............AND ITS GREEN!
Our lovely new indoor green has been fitted and electric scoreboards have been installed so we are ready for the first indoor wood to be bowled. Quite when that will be is a little up in the air at the moment but rest assured the situation is being closely monitored by Executive Committee Chair Rob Robinson and Bowls Committee Chair Antony Gould and after taking advice from the English Indoor Bowling Association they will keep us posted on progress.
In the meantime plenty of members are getting back into the swing of things on the outdoor green. Players are reporting that they feel safe under the new arrangements which commenced with singles on Monday 15th June. Pairs games are available from Monday 6th July so feel free to book a game using the new Fastcourts online booking system (see the “Book a Rink” page on this website for further details) and be sure to follow the Covid-19 safety rules. Only members who have booked a rink can currently visit the club as there are no steward casual sessions until further notice.
Further improvement projects are underway to enhance club facilities so even though we live in uncertain times your club is not resting on its laurels. We look forward to seeing you whenever you can return. Please stay safe.
He first won a cricket batting cup in 1939 and a further 9 times after WWII. He was MCC cricketer of the year in 1978 for his contribution to administration of the game. His services to club cricket included being Captain, Committee Member and Groundsman (!) for 35 years.
In Bowls, Keith first won the Club’s Singles Championship in 1938. He held over 31 Club titles in total. He also won numerous Birmingham, Warwickshire and Midlands titles. Together with brother Russell and 2 other Club members, he won the English Bowling Association’s National 4s Championships in 1978.
Keith and Russell represented England in the British Isles Championships in 1979 and Keith also had 6 international trials.
He was Club Secretary for many years and a Birmingham delegate to Warwickshire for 48 years.
He was made a life member of Warwickshire County Bowls Association for his services
FIRST WINNER
First winner of the new Jarrod Morgan Boxing Day Morning trophy is Dave Wright of Minworth who only joined from another Club a week before...
Shows what the offer of mulled wine and mince pies can do!
Junior winner was Oliver Bathurst (see below), and Sandra Newey won the novices/non bowlers trophy.
Thanks to the Robinson family for organising, to Jarrod Morgan Financial Planning of Lichfield for the new trophy and to CHS Healthcare for the pens ysed during the event!
Thanks also to everyone who came along and supported.
SANTA COMES TO THE END OF THE ROAD
SPONSORS SUPPORT ERDINGTON COURT
Erdington Court is one of a handful of Clubs in the Midlands with a full size indoor arena - making bowls an all round the year affair, with a membership close to 250.
The Club has a close working relationship with local sponsors. This week saw the start of the 3 week 'Road to Santa' sponsored by Star Cars of the Yenton.- and featuring over 30 both men and women players and 8 -10 hours of competitive bowls.
Boxing Day also sees the annual morning outdoor fun fixture sponsored by Jarrod Morgan Financial Planning of Lichfield.
Those close links with sponsors also incorporate a series of talks and visits. this week saw Annalisa Fear of Sutton Coldfield based CHS Healthcare answering questions about the free services they offer to source home care and care homes for loved ones.
Marketing Officer Ray Woods said,
"The success of our Club is built on offering good quality facilities to play bowls at all levels in a friendly atmosphere the whole year round - and the support of our local sponsors underpins everything we do, including access to specialist and trusted services for members. We want to see local businesses thriving."
In January, the Club begins 3 months of Club Championships for members.
Erdington Court welcomes new members of all abilities and offers free coaching courses. The Club can be contacted on 07967 686230.
You can also view their web site at www.erdingtoncourtbowlsclub.org.uk and follow them om Facebook at Erdington Court Bowls Club and on Twitter@bowlsflat.
Pictures: Players ready for Round 1 of the Star Cars Road to Santa. Rob Robinson Club Chair with right, Annalisa Fear of CHS Healthcare assisted by young player Imogen Francis of Erdington.
THE 3 CAPTAINS - AND A NEW SPONSOR!
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One of Erdington Court's star players Mark Ireland is a member of the Warwickshire Bears team that this week end took national honours at the Bowls England Championships in Leamington.
Warwickshire won the prestigious Balcomb Trophy at Victoria Park, to win the inter-county double rink crown, supported by the Friends of English Bowling, for the first time since 2014. This is a two fours competition with rounds being played all through the Summer.
They defeated Essex, the 2017 winners, in a high quality final of the event that went down to the very last bowl of the match.
Essex took an early lead across the two rinks before a run of 16 shots without reply by the Millership rink put Warwickshire ahead. The Squire rink then scored 13 shots without reply, but Essex fought back, followed by singles from Warwickshire on the last four ends played -which gave them the title.
In an emotional statement on social media, the Court's Mark Ireland from Hodge Hill said,
" Absolutely over the moon to have won the National Balcomb trophy with Warwickshire today. Thank you to the management team of Martyn Murley (Rugby) and Rob Robinson (Erdington Court) for having the confidence in me, to all my County colleagues for the support you have shown through the season, all the supporters for following the Bears throughout the campaign - none more so than president Geoffrey Moran whom has been with us every step of the way, and last but not least my wonderful wife Christine Marie Bissell with all that you have been through recently and letting me out to play xx. Come on the Bears!"
Erdington Court Bowls Club can be contacted on 07967 686230. The Club welcomes players of all abilities and offers free coaching. Applications for indoor membership are now being accepted.
Picture: Warwickshire Bears with Mark extreme left back row.
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MATCH REPORTS - JUNE 2019
MEN'S 'BBA' 'A' TEAM
'A' team is top of the BBA league having won the first 7 games and are well on the way to a fourth title in a row
Club
won first round match of National Top Club comp against Solihull
Municipal 4-1 and now face Avenue Coventry at Home on Tuesday
Club
beat Sherwood Park on both rinks yesterday in Bowls England National
2-4s .Winning by an impressive 57 shots to 20 Now have to play a team
from Northampton at home in the next round.
Just got back from
Solihull Municipal after playing Senior Fours against Paul Jones.
Winning 25-13 team was Allen Onion Phil Bond myself and Richard Brittan.
Now play Colin Jacox from Avenue Coventry on a neutral green ( Welford
).
Peter Yates
Blue team have had their matches called off for the past 2 Mondays and these will be re-arranged later in the season.
Meanwhile the Yellow team (Lorna Bournes, Ann Mason,Pat Court and Lorely Edwards)won away at Solihull 19--8, but the Yellows unbeaten run came to an end this week when they lost by a single shot away at Sherwood Park.
Pat Court, Denise Szostek, Chris Reid and Lorely Edwards after an uncertain start fought back to close a considerable deficit, but eventually lost 15--16.
John Reid
Once again this was well attended. One notable absentee was Keith Robinson our life trustee, who sadly we understand is quite unwell.
Sponsors Neil and Heather Hillman kindly took time out of their busy schedule to attend. Neil Ballinger gave an emotional thank you for the help given to his wife Cindy when she suffered a serious fall at the Club.
Competitions Secretary Peter Yates presented an upbeat report on the club competitions and the state of the Club generally. Entrant numbers for competitions were 25% up with ladies and novices showing good increases. He said that the majority of our members take part in leagues, competitions and or week end matches. Thanks to Peter for all his work and to Pat Court and supporting cast for the fabulous meal.
The next President of the Birmingham District Women's Bowling Association comes from Sutton Coldfield and has been an active member of the local community. She is the current Captain at Erdington Court Bowls Club.
Pat Court lives in Wylde Green and was a former Team Manager for Birmingham City Council Social Services covering Perry Barr- and also a Committee Member of Age Concern Kingstanding. On retirement. Pat became the Chairperson of the Sutton Coldfield National Osteoporosis Society for 12 years. She has been a member of Erdington Court Bowls Club for 17 years.
Pat is a keen gardener and proud dog owner. She was previously in the choir at Hollyfields Towns Women's Guild, but now concentrates on her work at the Bowls Club.
She has played an active role in the life of the Club, organising tours of other clubs within the UK - and captaining both mixed and ladies teams in competitive matches. She has played in the national bowls pairs competition and at County level.
Pat told us
" I had a taster session at the Club when I was working and then applied for formal coaching when I retired. I am happy to play in any team position, but often get chosen to play skip when others seem reluctant!"
A spokesperson for the Club said,
"This is a great honour for Erdington Court. Pat has played a major part in the growing strength of our ladies teams and is always very supportive of both men and women new members. Playing in competitive matches can seem a daunting experience, but Pat goes out of her way to put newer members at their ease."
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