News from the Club Secretary

Information for the start of the 2025 season

Opening Day Arrangements

Opening Day this year is on Sunday 13th April. Lunch will be served in the Bower at 1pm (please gather from 12.30pm). Lunch will cost £10 and it would be appreciated if payment for the lunch could be made in advance at the Coffee Morning the 5th April.  After a photocall the Green will be officially opened at 2.30pm, followed by a “Spider”and then a mixed jumble. 

For those unaware of what happens with the “Spider” it is to raise funds to support blind and visually impaired bowlers. A jack is placed in the middle of the green and  participants take up position around the green with one foot on the green and one foot in the ditch. When the whistle is blown they all, simultaneously, bowl to the jack. The nearest bowl to the jack wins a bottle of spirits donated by the President Irene Scott and also a badge offered by VIBE (Visually Impaired Bowls England). Each participant will pay £1 and the proceeds are sent to VIBE. We have done this for a number of years now.  

Members are reminded that it is traditional on this occasion to wear full club“uniform”. Unfortunately I suspect many of the newer members will not have full uniform in which case club shirt (or plain white shirt) & navy pullover will suffice,grey trousers for men and navy trousers for ladies.

Cleaning/Working Party Days

Obviously much work is necessary to prepare for Opening Day and the ensuing season. 

Internal cleaning of the Bower will be carried out by the Ladies during the preceding week. Volunteers are asked to gather from 10am on Monday the 7th April and each day thereafter. A list of the duties involved will be available for those new members not familiar with the tasks to be carried out;

The Men will be responsible for cleaning their own toilet and locker room in the Bower and for all the outside areas and those who are able to assist will be welcome on a daily basis commencing from Monday the 24th March (after 10am). A list of the duties involved is attached and is also posted on the notice board to the left of the Men’s locker room. The duties listed are self-explanatory, anyone unsure of how to proceed with a particular duty contact Rob Tapper (Green Manager) or Stewart Elliott (Facilities Manager).  It would be appreciated if as many male members as possible come to help out, remember “many hands make light work”.

I am asking for volunteers to come forward to cut the grass verge outside of the club premises. It is essential that it is cut because we don't have enough parking spaces within the club premises. I have been doing it for a number of years now but at the moment I am currently unable to do it. During the outdoor season it needs cutting about every 10 – 14 days, depending on the growth. Rob Tapper has very kindly done the first cut this year but it would be appreciated if he is helped out. Contact Rob (07787557413) if you feel you can assist him.

Leagues

The league season commences on Tuesday the 23rd April, leaving very little time for members to practice outdoors. The club nights will start on Tuesday the 15th April. The league starting dates are as follows:

Stan Bragg League – Monday 5th May or Wednesday 7th May – West End (A)
Eden Valley League – Tuesday 22nd April – Appleby (H)
Ladies Cumbria League – Wednesday 14th May – Aspatria/Silloth (A)
Carliol Thursday League – Thursday 24th April – Subscription “A” (A)
Carliol Over 55's League – Friday 28th April – Magpie (A)

On display on the club notice boards are sheets for each League for members to indicate that they are interested in playing in the league teams. If you wish to participate ensure that your name is down on the league sheet you wish to play in. It is from these sheets that teams will be selected by the Team Captains. 

Club Competitions

Also on display on the club notice boards are the entry sheets for the various club competitions. The deadline for entries is Sunday the 4th of May. In recent years the club competitions have been poorly supported. Please do not feel you are not good enough to participate as playing in competitions is the best way to learn about the game and improve your own game. The club's competition rules are also posted on the notice boards so for those participating for the first time please ensure you have read and digested these rules. It is also important that full club uniform should be worn in club competitions.

No Smoking Zone

Smoking at the club is now only to be allowed in the car park, not on the green, the green surrounds or in the Bower. Following discussion at the Management Committee a vote was taken on whether the matter should be discussed at the AGM last November and the majority were in favour. At the AGM the proposal was put to a vote and agreed by all the members present. Appropriate notices have been put up.

Club Nights

Club nights will begin on Tuesday the 15th April. We have decided until Friday the 16th May that the starting time will be 6pm then revert to 6.30pm until the 19th of August when we will go back to 6pm until the end of the season or even earlier as we did last season. 

Fixture List – 2025

The fixture list for season 2025 has been prepared by Match Secretary Mike Scott and will be available at the Coffee Morning on the 5th of April, and thereafter to pick up by the door out to the green. There is one omission in the fixture list – the C/L match is against Brampton (A) on the 4th of September. Also the mixed E/V league match against Caldbeck on Tuesday 1st of July is an away fixture.  

It is sincerely hoped that all members enjoy a happy and successful bowling season in 2025 and continued good health.