RBBG & CRANBORNE at Hayling Island July, 2010

GREAT WEEKEND ON HAYLING ISLAND

  True to form, RBBG members assembled on Friday, July 9th, in plenty of time to catch our coach down to Hayling Island. Joining a similar number of Cranborne people, nineteen of us (including Ann Hoffman, who has dual nationality!) arrived at Mill Rythe holiday camp to play in a bowls tournament and to have fun. Objectives achieved!

  We were unable to enter our rooms, till the appointed time of 4 p.m., which meant a lengthy, hot wait - this, though, was the weekend’s only hitch. Once installed (in chalets which were to keep pretty cool, overnight - a real bonus in the conditions) - and after our evening meal - a number of the party took the opportunity to try out the outdoor, all-weather surface. Very different from both grass and indoor carpets, so none of us had fathomed it by the time we called it a day. Then, some of us went off to bed and some of us didn’t!

  After a substantial breakfast, we went into action. A new trophy had been named the Hoffman Cup, in honour of Ann’s husband, John, who had been such a stalwart member of Cranborne and a volunteer helper, for the blind bowling group throughout so many years. Each of the drawn pairs played twice in the three sessions, two in the morning, the third after lunch. There was a good deal of friendly competition on the rinks – Bella started as she meant to go on, by pinging out her opponents’ wood in the very first end – and, around 3.30 p.m., Doreen totted up the points and shots.

  The pairing of Ann and Barry was always the betting man’s pick of the draw and they duly won both their matches, but credit to Connie and Peter who also won twice in that part of the draw, finishing second only on shots scored. In the other half, only Ken and Hans got full points, though they were pushed hard both by Chris and Bob, in the morning, and Terry and Brian, after lunch. It was decided there would be no third place play off, Connie and Peter deserving third place, by virtue of being the only other unbeaten side.

  We were then at leisure for the rest of the day. A convivial early evening which, unusually, included a fair consumption of cider, was followed by a gathering in front of Hans’ chalet. This was the full ‘RBBG in concert’, led by Hans on guitar, Hans and Chris on vocals. Britain’s got talent? RBBG certainly has. And the fun was given a truly unique boost when Bella, after absenting herself for a few moments, returned wearing the spare drawers she always carries in her bowls bag, her dress tucked up inside. She brought the house down – photos were taken - not just by our party, but by passers-by, (some of whom looked very southern European). They will return home with these records of the English at play! - a grand evening, and well done Hans and Chris.

  Sunday started cool, with a little light rain, but by 10 a.m., the final was under way, in baking sunshine - in front of a substantial crowd, the rest of our group and other guests at the camp. In an untidy first end, Ken put a wood a foot from the jack, but no other woods were closer than four to five feet. Inspection showed that the nearest belonged to Hans and Ken. 4-0, and another shot in the next end. Thereafter, Ann and Barry nibbled away at the lead, Barry running the jack, in end four for two shots; after five ends, they were just 5-4 behind. In end six Ann held shot on a long jack - only for Barry to push the jack onto the backhand side, where it found Ken and Hans’ woods. Four shots and a 9-4 lead for Ken and Hans.

  In end seven Hans and Ken looked like taking another two shots, until Barry ran the jack for two shots, with Ann’s back wood. In a cluster of woods around the jack, in end eight, it was Ann who took shot and trail 9-7.

  Ends nine and ten were decisive. Ann had two close woods with Hans’ third wood until Barry took Hans out - to go third wood and roll in his second wood for four shots, taking Ann and Barry into the lead, for the first time, at 11-9. On the tenth end, Ann held shot until Ken put his wood just beside the jack – only for Barry (hitting the jack or a wood, so often!) to push Ken out of shot and Ann back in; it could so easily have been 11-10, instead it was 12-9. With nothing to lose, it was all or nothing for Ken and Hans and, as so often happens, they lost a further three shots trying desperate measures. 15-9 to Ann and Barry, as a final score, did not reflect the nature of the contest which had held the crowd throughout – very tight and great entertainment.

  Presentations were made to the winners, runners up and third place pairs. Ann made a short, but very nice speech, expressing her pleasure that the competition and, indeed, the whole weekend had been such a great success. Souvenir key rings were given to everyone who came for the weekend, after which, Eric voiced everyone’s thanks to Doreen, Aubrey and Barry, for arranging everything. As always, they made a magnificent job of it. (And Aubrey had put some prize money into the competition – very generous, and a new experience for RBBG!)

  We shall draw a veil over the talent competition. Suffice it to say Hans and Chris finished second and were robbed! But they led, with a major contribution from Ev, who arrived on Sunday, a further session of entertainment, in the cool of the evening. As with every other part of the weekend – a great time was had by all.