28.11.19

The 10 Pin Bowling Group is having a problem, a nice problem,  in that the members have made so much improvement in their play that it is becoming harder and harder to better their scores.

We had it all today – 5 strikes in a row, yes 5 and even the bowler of that score didn’t get the highest series of the day.  So I really don’t know where to begin but I guess it had better be with the record number of bowlers, 18 in total and our lucky mascot Polly, made 19.  We had one new member Jill T who, having not bowled for around a half-century has a natural technique that in time when tweaked, will prove to be formidable.

Then there was Tim.  Tim has determinedly improved over the time he has belonged to the group and today achieved his highest score of 158.  Tim & Tony don’t actively rival each other but keeping the scores I can see they often seem very closely matched that is until today when Tony excelled firstly in bowling 5 strikes in a row, secondly in beating his personal best by 36 points with a high score of 182 and lastly he bowled his highest series with 377.  Although achieving that he still did not have the highest series of the day, which went to Kim with 383.  It was with Tim & June that Kim’s team also got the highest overall team score of 964 – not a record but the highest of the day.  You can imagine the noise erupting for these achievements

Achievement is not always about high scores but also about personal improvement and I think this accolade goes to Bill. After starting with a low score managed to treble it in the second game, and then double that in the third.  One particular bowl stands out when he had his second ball to bowl with 3 pins to the right of the lane and 1 to the left.  His ball crept down the right side of the lane almost dipping into the gutter but had a last minute change of mind, turned left hit the three pins standing together and slid one across to the far side to topple the other – spare of the year!  He was delighted and all those around cheered and applauded.  Marlene too got her highest score so far with 76; I would like to thank Suzie who helped and encouraged both Bill and Marlene to achieve these scores.

13^th December (Xmas Lunch)

With prizes to play for (highest scorer, highest series of the day and bowler with the most strikes) 13 players took to the lanes.   Still personal bests were being broken:  Don bowled his highest score and series with 133/328; Bill also had his highest score of 67 and doubled his personal best series ending with 178; Vic too got his highest score to date of 117 and lastly Tony raised his series score reaching 402 (sorry Tim he has knocked you out of fourth place).

‘King Pin’ of the day was Tony who managed to win ALL of the prizes but gallantly only claimed one so we reallocated the other prizes.  Tony bowled an amazing 9 strikes, 6 of which were in the last game (fortunately not consecutively otherwise he would be unbeatable).  The other prizes were awarded as follows: special prize to Tony for bowling 5 strikes in a row last month (he was well pleased with his Jammy Dodgers!), Bill for being the ‘most improved’ bowler and Peter B for scoring the 3^rd highest scorer (I was second but having provided the prizes didn’t want to take them home again!)

The year ends with highest scorers: Diane 184, Tony 182, Kim 176 and Suzie 175 and highest series: Diane 478, Kim 405, Tony 402 and Peter B 393.

Others joined us for our lunch in Izumi where the fun and laughter continued.

There is everything to play for in 2020 and we resume as normal on Thursday 9^th January and as usual please arrive at 13.45 for a 14.00 start.  If you want to join us give Lynne, the group leader, a ring and she will provide full details.

Diane Caulkett