Having provided two Rinks teams in competition, at Cliffe, in July, we now played in our first VI triples tournament, organised by the North West Surrey Visually Impaired Bowling Group, (NWS). It is a long journey to Woking and both cars set out early, in case of M25 travel problems, but we were all registered in good time for our first match, which was against the NWS’s B team, writes Brian M.

  Chris made a flying start with two woods very close to the jack and RBBG took three shots. NWS came back with two, in the second end, but that was their last success. When Chris faltered a little late in the match, Terry’s game picked up and with Hans also in the groove we ran out 16-2 winners, over the seven ends possible in the allotted hour.

  Within fifteen minutes, the team were back on the green, Norman playing instead of Chris, who is having a little trouble with his knees and shoulder. Again, the trio supported each other to notch a second win, over NWS A, by 10-2 and we all went into lunch on a high.

  Wycombe, with two current England international bowlers, proved to be a stiffer test and moved into a 6-0 lead after three ends.. Then in a very tight head Hans’ last wood pushed out Wycombe’s shot wood to take two for RBBG. We were on the move. In the next, Chris held shot until Wycombe’s number two joined him. Our marker found it impossible to call and summoned the match referee, who himself could not separate them, until on a third re-measure, he gave it to Wycombe. We would, of course, have accepted it had he ruled in our favour, but it was a mighty tough decision to go against you! Instead of 6-3 down it was 7-2 and when Hans knocked Terry up, in the next end, but agonisingly short of shot, we were 8-2 down. Time for only one more end – we took shot but Wycombe were oh so narrowly in for second, cutting a big RBBG score to one shot. A great contest, magnificently tight ends and we were a lot closer than 8-3 might suggest.

  Metro were our next opponents and they ran the jack in end two to take a 4-1 lead, but RBBG responded with four shots in the third to lead 5-4. When the jack was moved in the next, it was a straight shoot-out between Hans and Metro’s international skip - and it was Hans who took a shot. Four shots to RBBG in the next meant that Terry’s promotion of a Metro wood which allowed them to take two in the last was not enough to stop another RBBG win, by 10-6.

  As we moved to the final game, in the round robin format, there were three teams with three wins, and the winner of the RBBG v Chesham match was likely to be the overall winner, And with Hans carrying the jack to some of our woods in the first end, it was 5-0 to us. End two proved significant. With all three RBBG bowlers in form we held six shots as Wycombe’s skip played the last wood. It was a cracker – he cut the head to a single shot, saving five, and when Wycombe took three, all on a measure. In the next, they were back in it, albeit 6-3 down.

  The fourth end was also significant. The worst head of the match, but all RBBG woods were much too strong and Chesham took four shots, none close and a couple two yards or more from the jack. Just one wood at the right length, like Wycombe’s skip in end two, was needed to keep the count down. At least Hans got that kind of shot in, at the next, to lose just one shot, rather than three or four, but we were 8-6 down with time only left for one end. It went to Chesham, by two shots (one of them a promotion by Terry!) and they were home. They, too, had a top player, national champion in her VI class.

  So Chesham took the cup, presented by Anne Kidner, whose family had so generously been the main sponsors of the event. Metro just pipped us for second, but it was a great effort by our bowlers. So close, just a lack of experience and, indeed, one inspired shot by Chesham’s skip in that second end, the difference. It gives us something to aim at, the next time! We learned a great deal on the day.

  At least we left with a few of the amazing raffle prizes, and the memory of a tough but successful day. It was splendidly organised, by NWS, with the help of Knaphill Bowls Club. The round robin format was a good test and, in every aspect, it showed that NWS had done this before. The markers were very capable, as well as cheery; indeed, everyone from the word go was friendly and helpful. A bar was available, and the kitchen was, also, providing lots of tea and coffee, as well as a very good lunch and a fine tea, after the matches finished, and before the trophies were presented. Absolute full marks to those staffing the kitchen as well.

  The occasion was given extra poignancy, in that the prime mover and organiser, since the event started six years ago, was the NWS chairman, Philip Martin. Sadly he died, just a few weeks ago, but his widow, Sheila, decided that the tournament must go ahead and stepped into his role. To all of them our thanks, and we are sure that Sheila will take some comfort that it was a day of which her husband would have been proud, and thoroughly enjoyed by us all.

  We met some lovely people from NWS and we shall continue to liaise, with Doreen, for the visit, to us in Rochester, on the 31st. We are looking forward to another great day.