2019 Tournament: Monday 22nd July until Saturday 27th
Put the Date in your diary now, and look out for Entry forms soon
65th Annual Southampton Open Bowls Tournament
2017 President: Mr Bill Bailey – Meon Valley BC
Generously Sponsored by the Southampton District of the Oddfellows
The 65th Annual Southampton Open Bowls Tournament took place at our Head-quarters Atherley BC,
together with four other Host Clubs: Banister Park, Pirrie Park, Fleming Park & Southampton Old Green from Monday 24th July to Saturday 29th July 2017.
Tournament President Bill Bailey, The Oddfellows Grand Master, Brian Hopper, and Atherley President
Jim Farmer were the dignitaries present for the Opening Ceremony at Atherley on Monday morning.
The ceremony included a minute’s silence in memory of our former Tournament Secretary, Peter Kemp. The flags at Atherley were flown at half-mast, and a minute’s silence was also observed at Banister Park and Peter’s own Club Fleming Park.
For the first time since the current team took over the running of the event the weather let us down, particularly on Wednesday and on Finals Saturday. However, our hardy Competitors, local, Jersey and from many other parts of the UK did not let the conditions dampen their good humour, and all the games were played in a very sporting manner with good humour and smiling faces!
In the morning Men’s Singles Semi-Finals Michael Barrett of Eastleigh Rail and Chris Smith of Bromley had a “ding dong” battle which Michael edged 21-18. In the other Semi-Final, a slow start proved very costly for Dave Blogg from Sports Centre as his vastly experienced opponent Michael Cheeseman from Bromley took full advantage to win 21-7.
Due to Janet Ballard qualifying for both the Ladies Singles and Pairs Finals, the Ladies Pairs were first off in the afternoon at 12.00pm, Janet playing with Janet Medley also from Waterside BC. However, the Waterside pair were always chasing their opponents, Chris Batty and Sally Hurst from Meon Valley, and possibly with Janet’s Single Finals in mind they shook hands after 18 Ends with the score 20-11, sparking much celebration amongst the Meon Valley supporters on a historic first Tournament Title for their Club!
With the exception of the Singles Finals all the remaining Finals started at 1.30pm. The Men’s Pairs between Billy Groves & Derek Walker of Atherley and Eastleigh Rail, and Simon Chalke and Alan Forrest of Fleming Park produced the talking point of the afternoon. The Fleming Pair were trailing throughout the match and I’m told contemplated shaking hands at 18 ends at 18-9 down? However, 3 shots on the next two ends narrowed the deficit to 6 shots playing the final end. With his final bowl in his hand and 7 down in the head Derek Walker played a controlled weight shot to try and get amongst the Fleming woods to save, but the line was slightly wide and he caught the outside of the 7th bowl and fell out for the Fleming duo to pinch the match 18-19!
In the Men’s Triples Final, the much-fancied trio of Nathan Durman of Eastleigh Rail and Leo & Paul May, both unattached, took on Martin Thorpe and Pat Lawson of Sports Centre who had 2012 National Singles Champion Tom Bishop skipping. At 10 Ends and 4-9 down it looked like the game was slipping away from the Sports Centre/Bromley trio, but a determined run to the line saw them secure a 13-11 victory.
Jackie Farmer & Anita Knight of Atherley and Yvonne Andrews of Jersey BC took on the St Saviours Triple of Carol Le Goff, Maggie Jeanne and Gina Le Long in the Ladies Triple Final, with the Jersey ladies coping better with the by then awful conditions to run out 26-8 winners.
Atherley did fare better in the Consolation Pairs with the Atherley duo of Joe Leahy & Shawn Nash defeating the Sun Bowls Jersey & Atherley combination of Guy Walton & Dave Edmonds 22-14.
In the Ladies Singles Final the defending Champion, Diana Canavan, struggled with the wet conditions and at 10 Ends trailed 4-15, although she outscored her opponent Janet Ballard in the next 10 Ends the gap proved too much and Janet went on to claim the title with a 11-21 margin.
The Men’s Final was very much nip & tuck in the first 14 Ends with Bromley’s Michael Cheeseman just one shot ahead of Michael Barrett from Eastleigh Railway. However, a run of 2,2,1 & 2 shots in the next 4 Ends saw Michael Cheeseman ease away to claim the Men’s Singles Trophy for the first time!
The bad weather which had dominated the whole afternoon meant the Prize Presentation Ceremony had to take place in the Atherley Bar. As the Grand Master of the Oddfellows Brian Hopper was unable to host the Ceremony this year, and so Past President Dave Hughdie kindly carried out his Ceremonial duties.
He began by thanking our Sponsors, the Oddfellows and our Headquarters, the Atherley Bowling Club, both for the use of their greens and Bar and Catering facilities and for their generous donation, Dave also thanked all this year’s Host Clubs, The Green Keepers, Umpires, Markers and Bowls Zone for their internet coverage of the Finals. He especially thanked all of the Competitors who make it such a great event each year.
Dave then announced the winners & runners up who duly collected their Trophies, Commemorative Awards and Cheques from the Tournament President, Bill Bailey, and the Oddfellows Grand Master Brian Hopper!
Responding on behalf of the Competitors Men’s Singles Champion, Michael Cheeseman echoed Dave’s thanks to everyone involved in making the Tournament the successful event it is.
All the Finalists were then invited to pose with their Trophies for photographs in front of our sponsors banner, before the celebrations at the bar got underway!
Despite the weather problems, especially on Wednesday & Finals Saturday, the 65th Annual Southampton Open Bowls Tournament was undoubtedly a very successful week enjoyed by all who attended, in whatever capacity, and we hope to see everyone back for the next staging of the event, from Monday 23rd July to Saturday 28th July 2018.
Kerry Clements
Honorary Assistant Secretary
2017 President: Mr Bill Bailey – Meon Valley BC
Generously Sponsored by the Southampton District of the Oddfellows
The 65th Annual Southampton Open Bowls Tournament took place at our Head-quarters Atherley BC,
together with four other Host Clubs: Banister Park, Pirrie Park, Fleming Park & Southampton Old Green from Monday 24th July to Saturday 29th July 2017.
Tournament President Bill Bailey, The Oddfellows Grand Master, Brian Hopper, and Atherley President
Jim Farmer were the dignitaries present for the Opening Ceremony at Atherley on Monday morning.
The ceremony included a minute’s silence in memory of our former Tournament Secretary, Peter Kemp. The flags at Atherley were flown at half-mast, and a minute’s silence was also observed at Banister Park and Peter’s own Club Fleming Park.
For the first time since the current team took over the running of the event the weather let us down, particularly on Wednesday and on Finals Saturday. However, our hardy Competitors, local, Jersey and from many other parts of the UK did not let the conditions dampen their good humour, and all the games were played in a very sporting manner with good humour and smiling faces!
In the morning Men’s Singles Semi-Finals Michael Barrett of Eastleigh Rail and Chris Smith of Bromley had a “ding dong” battle which Michael edged 21-18. In the other Semi-Final, a slow start proved very costly for Dave Blogg from Sports Centre as his vastly experienced opponent Michael Cheeseman from Bromley took full advantage to win 21-7.
Due to Janet Ballard qualifying for both the Ladies Singles and Pairs Finals, the Ladies Pairs were first off in the afternoon at 12.00pm, Janet playing with Janet Medley also from Waterside BC. However, the Waterside pair were always chasing their opponents, Chris Batty and Sally Hurst from Meon Valley, and possibly with Janet’s Single Finals in mind they shook hands after 18 Ends with the score 20-11, sparking much celebration amongst the Meon Valley supporters on a historic first Tournament Title for their Club!
With the exception of the Singles Finals all the remaining Finals started at 1.30pm. The Men’s Pairs between Billy Groves & Derek Walker of Atherley and Eastleigh Rail, and Simon Chalke and Alan Forrest of Fleming Park produced the talking point of the afternoon. The Fleming Pair were trailing throughout the match and I’m told contemplated shaking hands at 18 ends at 18-9 down? However, 3 shots on the next two ends narrowed the deficit to 6 shots playing the final end. With his final bowl in his hand and 7 down in the head Derek Walker played a controlled weight shot to try and get amongst the Fleming woods to save, but the line was slightly wide and he caught the outside of the 7th bowl and fell out for the Fleming duo to pinch the match 18-19!
In the Men’s Triples Final, the much-fancied trio of Nathan Durman of Eastleigh Rail and Leo & Paul May, both unattached, took on Martin Thorpe and Pat Lawson of Sports Centre who had 2012 National Singles Champion Tom Bishop skipping. At 10 Ends and 4-9 down it looked like the game was slipping away from the Sports Centre/Bromley trio, but a determined run to the line saw them secure a 13-11 victory.
Jackie Farmer & Anita Knight of Atherley and Yvonne Andrews of Jersey BC took on the St Saviours Triple of Carol Le Goff, Maggie Jeanne and Gina Le Long in the Ladies Triple Final, with the Jersey ladies coping better with the by then awful conditions to run out 26-8 winners.
Atherley did fare better in the Consolation Pairs with the Atherley duo of Joe Leahy & Shawn Nash defeating the Sun Bowls Jersey & Atherley combination of Guy Walton & Dave Edmonds 22-14.
In the Ladies Singles Final the defending Champion, Diana Canavan, struggled with the wet conditions and at 10 Ends trailed 4-15, although she outscored her opponent Janet Ballard in the next 10 Ends the gap proved too much and Janet went on to claim the title with a 11-21 margin.
The Men’s Final was very much nip & tuck in the first 14 Ends with Bromley’s Michael Cheeseman just one shot ahead of Michael Barrett from Eastleigh Railway. However, a run of 2,2,1 & 2 shots in the next 4 Ends saw Michael Cheeseman ease away to claim the Men’s Singles Trophy for the first time!
The bad weather which had dominated the whole afternoon meant the Prize Presentation Ceremony had to take place in the Atherley Bar. As the Grand Master of the Oddfellows Brian Hopper was unable to host the Ceremony this year, and so Past President Dave Hughdie kindly carried out his Ceremonial duties.
He began by thanking our Sponsors, the Oddfellows and our Headquarters, the Atherley Bowling Club, both for the use of their greens and Bar and Catering facilities and for their generous donation, Dave also thanked all this year’s Host Clubs, The Green Keepers, Umpires, Markers and Bowls Zone for their internet coverage of the Finals. He especially thanked all of the Competitors who make it such a great event each year.
Dave then announced the winners & runners up who duly collected their Trophies, Commemorative Awards and Cheques from the Tournament President, Bill Bailey, and the Oddfellows Grand Master Brian Hopper!
Responding on behalf of the Competitors Men’s Singles Champion, Michael Cheeseman echoed Dave’s thanks to everyone involved in making the Tournament the successful event it is.
All the Finalists were then invited to pose with their Trophies for photographs in front of our sponsors banner, before the celebrations at the bar got underway!
Despite the weather problems, especially on Wednesday & Finals Saturday, the 65th Annual Southampton Open Bowls Tournament was undoubtedly a very successful week enjoyed by all who attended, in whatever capacity, and we hope to see everyone back for the next staging of the event, from Monday 23rd July to Saturday 28th July 2018.
Kerry Clements
Honorary Assistant Secretary
