Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog » Bowling Torquay

The Kids Got Bowls!!

Terri — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:45:46 +0000

One rainy evening in October, just as we had started our indoor season and were re-acquainting ourselves with long lost teammates and fast carpets, three likely lads strayed in from the rain. They were all teenagers and they stood and watched us for a few minutes before one youngster asked if anyone could have a go. So, I told them to kick off their shoes, I grabbed some spare bowls and one of our under 25’s who was lounging at the bar, and got them all started on a spare rink.

They played for about an hour and it was pretty obvious that there was one in the group who was very interested as he listened to our under 25 star who explained line, delivery, mat laying, jack casting and some of the things that beginners need to know.

After an hour they all disappeared except for the one 14 year old, who stayed on to watch us all again. He also turned up every night for the next week for a ‘practice’.

Since then this lad has been sponsored for his membership and his rink fees, he’s been bought his shoes and bowls by his Dad. Other members have given him measures, towels, chalk etc., and within a couple of weeks he was completely kitted out with whites and greys, and a bowls bag for all this new equipment, most of which was bought in the bowls shop at TLH Leisure Resort.

This youngster is now a ‘super–sub’ playing when any team needs a player in the evening leagues. He has played in several friendly games and has also played in the John Parrot and Wessex League. He is so keen and so eager to do well, he even sits by the green in the evening if he is not playing, and keeps the scorecards for the teams that are. His parents are delighted he has an interest but perhaps do get concerned when we are sitting in the corner doing his homework whilst he plays bowls.

He is so keen to progress that he has even asked to be involved in the School of Excellence that is to be held at ISCA in February.

I am sure that this young man will develop into a very good bowler – and later, perhaps in a couple of years we will all be reading about him. That is my prediction.

But what I really want to say, is a huge thank you to my club, and the wonderful members who have sponsored and encouraged this young man. In a time when human nature is set for self-preservation I applaud you all for the consideration, encouragement and expertise you have given to this one individual. Torquay United IBC, you should be proud of yourselves.

That’s all folks

Dru Close

The Kids Got Bowls!! is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Ode to Bowls

Terri — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 08:00:52 +0000

I had only been bowling for a couple of weeks when some bright spark suggested that I take part in a friendly game at the club one day. So onto the green I trooped with my new bowls and new white bowling skirt and top. I was quite proud to have been asked to play and very much in awe of the etiquette and other players. It was 1982.

It was a lovely sunny day but very windy, and the green was set out so that when you played a bowl in one direction is seemed turbo charged with the wind behind it and then, when bowling in the opposite direction, the bowls were pulling up as if they had brakes.

Being a beginner and not able to control my bowls very well in these conditions, I mentioned that I was having problems with the wind to my skip and she very kindly put her arm around me and said, ‘Don’t worry, my dear, I have some Bisodol in my handbag’

How do you explain the mistake without howling with laughter, and that is exactly what we did. It was a hands on knees, real belly laugh, which forged a friendship which has lasted to this day.

Some of the things we say to each other are also quite funny and can sometimes have a double meaning. Just imagine you can hear what is being said without seeing the game taking place.

With this in mind Iwill publish this little Ode:

It’s all in the Game

On bowling days on various greens

Peculiar sounds and sometimes screams

To passers by it must sound strange

To hear the remarks that bowlers exchange

‘Where do you want it?’ ‘Tickle it here’

To the unseen listener it must sound really queer.

‘I like it, I like it’ comes a feminine scream

‘You’re a little too heavy but try it again’

‘Come up this way, oh well done my dear’

This bowling lingo to me is quite clear.

Listeners can be excused of the giggle

With a skips ‘Why don’t you try one right up the middle’

‘Don’t touch the kitty’ ‘just tickle the jack’

It just shows what happens when you stand on the mat.

A voice calls to me ‘You’re making it rough,

put a bit on and make sure you’re up’

‘Oh bad luck you missed but your weight was just right,

Oh that’s better, oh no, it’s just a bit tight’

‘Now follow it up but don’t kill the end

you’ll have a great toucher if it only will bend’.

The skip moves out to show you the track

‘Now please I’d like one just round the back’

‘Be sure you’re here, no don’t touch the head’

These are the phrases that so often are said.

What must people think, for this is no crime,

It’s just part of a game that we all find sublime.

That’s all folks.

For more information on bowling at TLH Leisure Resort, click here.

Ode to Bowls is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

TLH and the BDA

Terri — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:14:13 +0000

The Problem

Many bowlers are now realising that, with dwindling membership, clubs will close. It’s a sad fact of life that, as nothing is being done, bowls is becoming an endangered pastime.

With a view to promote this pastime, which to me should be called a SPORT, a phoenix is arising from the ashes of complacency and the phoenix’s name is the Bowls Development Alliance.

Tasked with the job of raising the numbers of bowlers by 12,000, members throughout the Country may see this as a daunting task. Add to the equation the fact that these new members must be over the age of 65 years; it seems an almost impossible task.

But, think about it before you condemn it.

Any increase in membership is a great thing. It will keep the greens open by offering clubs more money in membership fees.

Bowls is probably one of the most ‘generation friendly’ games there is, so grandmothers and grandfathers will be bringing younger generations into the sport, which has been a theme for eons past.

Look at the benefits to the people involved. Bending and walking can only be good therapy for hip and knee transplants and stroke victims.

It is a social sport, and may be the only social interaction that a widow or widower may have during any particular week.

TLH is more than willing to assist the BDA with any recruitment drive there may be, but the problem is how to go about it. Where do we take our barrow to sell our wares? How do we make the sport accessible to a public who knows very little about us?

The sport is televised, but it is on at such obscure hours that working or other diurnal people are not able to watch it. Coloured clothing is being introduced and is having an impact on the younger generation of bowlers but we must break through the ‘beads and tweeds’ attitude of the older generation.

The solution; what TLH and the BDA will be doing.

So where do we start? We will be making introductory presentations to our local Health Care Authorities for a starter. Start at the top and the ripples should reach down to each Surgery in any area.

How about Social Committees in big or blue chip companies? Looking for something to do when the kids are off hand??? How about Leisure Centres – when you stop playing hockey and other fast sports but you are still competitive and want to do something else, why not take up bowls.

Every club in every area can follow this programme, nothing to stop you from doing your own recruitment drives. But don’t put up poster, talking to people face-to-face is so much better. So let’s get going and dig this sport of ours out of the doldrums.

Going to get a sturdy pair of boots – this will be a long, hard hike.

For more information on Bowling at TLH Leisure Resort, click here.

TLH and the BDA is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Bowling Green Closures Threaten Clubs

Terri — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:33:26 +0000

Recently I looked at the British Crown Green Bowling Association Handbook and I was concerned to read that there is a whole page set aside called:

‘Guidelines for Clubs Whose Greens Face Closure’

Reading the notes and the plans that have been laid down by the BCGBA, although I am impressed with the plans to try to reverse the decisions being made to close their greens, I wonder how much more the bowling fraternity in England can take.

And, if this is happening in England then it is happening in Wales, Ireland and Scotland as well.

WHY is this happening? Well to start with it’s all about finance: In this economic climate, Local Authorities are relinquishing the costly running of their bowls greens back to the clubs. It probably costs about £8000 per year to keep a green in good condition. Clubs cannot afford to keep their greens going as the cost of treating and dressing them is a costly business. Then there is the watering of the green. No one needs to be told about the rising water rates throughout the country.

Hard at work!

But mainly, any authority given the opportunity to make millions on housing, a bowls green offers a prime site. Its as simple as that.

John Woodcock Labour and Cooperative MP for Barrow recently proposed a bill before Parliament, that the Government make it quite clear to Local Councils that certain criteria need be met when seeking planning permission to build on bowling greens.

How will this proposed bill be met? Your guess is a good as mine.

Let’s hear your comments – get in touch through Facebook on our new page Bowling at TLH or our Twitter profile @tlhhotels

Bowling Green Closures Threaten Clubs is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Umpires – what a great weekend!!!

Terri — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:21:41 +0000

Gary & Terri - Umpires Weekend

Conversation about uniform was banned, we joked with other players about the rules, we laughed and jibbed each other when measuring and generally had a great time. Where was this, I hear you ask………

At TLH Leisure Resort. . . . .

Last weekend we invited umpires from all over the country to come and stay for a special 2 night weekend with 3 sessions of bowling thrown in. It was a weekend designed specially for umpires and what a great 2 nights it was. With the entertainment themed around the 60’s, an era that we all remember far too well, a good time was had by one and all.

The food in the Derwent Hotel was scrumptious . Good honest home cooking and plenty of choices, with a table d’hote menu, hot buffet and salad bar, there was something to please everyone, and not a complaint in the house.

Of course it’s the company that makes a great weekend, not just the bowling, and I would like to thank all those who came on this special weekend for the laughter and fun they brought with them. Fortunately I have remained friends with most of them, despite the bowling, and made some great new chums as well. I’d call that a success.

We ran a small ‘in house’ competition and I am pleased to say that Peter Lillford won the men’s prize and Sally won the ladies prize. We also have a new honorary member of the Wrong Bias Club in Tina Poyner, who was awarded a fun certificate for her mistake.

Fred, Vicki & June - Umpires weekend

Rowe

Everyone is saying that they want to come next year and it looks to me as if it will be an annual event, so here we go with the details for 2012:

A Weekend Specially for Umpires:

Friday 16^th to Sunday 18^th March 2012 from only £92 – based at the Derwent hotel this will be another great weekend, as the entertainment will be themed around Motown, another era we will remember well.

If you would like more information please call me on 01803 400108 or to book call Reservations on 01803 400500.

Umpires – what a great weekend!!! is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Bowls England Dinner and Presentation – February 25 2011

Terri — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:55:07 +0000

It is with pleasure that I attended the Men’s annual presentation for Bowls England.

What a lovely evening with everyone shedding the grey and white uniform and dressing up in their evening attire. And I don’t mean pyjamas or nighties, it means our glad rags that possibly only come out once or twice a year.

We all met for pre dinner drinks in the Rowley Suite of the Walker Stadium, Leicester. The Rowley suite is named after George Arthur Rowley, (21 April 1926 – 19 December 2002), an English footballer nicknamed ‘The Gunner’ because of his explosive left-foot shot. He holds the record for the greatest number of career goals in English football league history, and indeed English football as a whole, scoring 434 from 619 league games.

History lesson over – now I can tell you about the evening.

It is so nice to meet up socially with people that you have worked closely with over the previous season and who have become chums via Facebook and other media channels. You barely recognise them minus their bowling gear off, and with their posh suits and frocks on. It was non-stop chatter all evening.

The meal was great, I liked it anyway – belly pork, slow roasted so it was good and crispy, served with mash and black pudding with cabbage on the side.Yummy, you’d either love it or hate it. I liked it. Followed by golden syrup tart with ice cream – lush – and then coffee.

The presentations went wonderfully well, with the evening culminating in a speech from John Bell, who writes a column in Bowls International Magazine – he is a really funny guy and his description of going out to the Commonwealth Games with the team, the flight, the bugs and the accommodation, was hilarious.

At the end of the presentations a special gift was given to all who were involved with our Commonwealth Games team. It was nice to see that they were thanked for taking on board a young team and supporting them far from home in conditions that were, some say, a little fraught. Well done.

But if you think that was the end of it you are mistaken. I love to chat and of course did the rounds of the tables where I knew my mates would be. I was waylayed several times by people wanting to talk about TLH Leisure Resort or to tell me how much they had enjoyed staying with us. It is so good to get this sort of feedback and I am proud to be involved with TLH who are definitely market leaders in the Bowls world.

In the meantime my mobile was going off like mad, vibrating during the speeches. On looking at it, after the celebrations, I could see that I had two missed calls: one from a chum at the Dolphin in Dorset who had just qualified for the National EIBA Top Club and one from Nottingham IBC, where another great friend had qualified with her team.

Well done all of you. The National Top Club finalists are now published and drawn as:
Swale v Torquay United
Watford v Dolphin
Cumbria v City of Ely
Nottingham v North Wilts.
All very good teams with a fair few Internationals sprinkled over them. Oh well, bring ‘em on. Let’s go for it Torquay United. Last year we were the bridesmaid, this year we’ll be the bride.

That’s all for now folks!

Bowls England Dinner and Presentation – February 25 2011 is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

The Romance of the Riviera

Terri — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:26:54 +0000

Travelling home from TLH Leisure Resort in Torquay, to Teignmouth I was struck by the beauty of this area. In the summer we are known as the English Riviera, but in the winter this area has another attractive lure.

It was 10pm on a very clear full moonlit night, and I had just finished bowling in a league at Torquay United, the weather was freezing cold with no wind and the air was crisp and clean. On the coast road I looked out to sea, and was surprised by a sea mist, which shrouded the horizon. There were several well-lit coasters just off the shore, which looked ethereal in the stillness. The sea was calm and the sky star studded with this bright moon. Nothing was really moving apart from me on the road home.

When I got to Labrador Bay I stopped in the car park to look over Lyme Bay. Looking right toward Torbay the cliffs along the coast had that distinct clear, sharp look about them, and Babbacombe downs with their promenade lights was clearly visible in the moonlight.

Looking left toward Teignmouth there was a mist running out to sea from the estuary, and the rest of the coastline towards Exmouth was lit by the habitation of thousands of people, warm in their homes. The air was so clear that I could see as far as the Axminster mast – 30 miles away (I measured it on the map) and the Portland Bill lighthouse flicking away almost opposite me.

I wondered how many people in the area were looking out into that beautiful darkness and seeing this for the rare and lovely thing that it is.

Anyway, enough of this sentimental twaddle – Torbay is a great place to be summer or winter, so come on down and live the adventure.

That’s all folks
They are coming to take me away ha ha he he

The Romance of the Riviera is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Murder, Mystery & Mayhem on the English Riviera

Fancy Dress Parade at the Toorak Christmas Short Mat Festival

Terri — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:00:50 +0000

The winners - PRATS!

If you all think that PRATS is a rude word…………….. I can tell you, you’d be wrong. It actually means :
Potential
Red
Arrows
Trainee
Students

……and the effort and design of the aeroplanes that this group made and wore in the fancy dress was truly brilliant. No wonder they won first prize. As they paraded onto the indoor bowling arena they even did a bit of formation flying, which again was well rehearsed. Well done you guys. Here they are in formation just after landing.

Other entries were topical and amusing. We had ‘Elf and Safety, Head Masters and Mistresses and Oh What a Pantomime. In all there were 10 entries in the fancy dress and Sarah and I were delighted that everyone entered into the spirit of the occasion.

This year we were delighted to welcome Chris Hopkins, the Chairman of the ESMBA, to assist in the adjudication of the fancy dress. Chris stayed with us for a couple of nights and we look forward to the possibility of working closely with the ESMBA in the future.

It has been a pleasure, during the year, to work with bowlers and group organisers who seem never to tire. It is with these people in mind that I wish you all the very best for a happy Christmas and a great bowling New Year.

That’s all folks
Terri
(Under the mistletoe with fingers crossed and lips puckered)

Some of our other competitors - well done all!

Fancy Dress Parade at the Toorak Christmas Short Mat Festival is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Couple ‘Bowled’ Over by Diamond Wedding Celebration

Vicky — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:14:52 +0000

Reg & Audrey raise a glass

It’s not every day we get to celebrate a Diamond Anniversary at the Derwent Hotel, but this week we’ve been honoured to do just that. 60 years ago Reg and Audrey Gay from Trowbridge tied the knot and have been happily married ever since!

They decided to celebrate with friends and family whilst on their annual bowls tour to the Derwent Hotel. Reg said, ‘We usually come away in November and our actual anniversary was in July so it made sense to celebrate now when we have all our good bowling friends with us anyway.’ They also invited close members of their family to enjoy the week with them.

When asked what is the secret of such a long and happy marriage, Reg replied, ‘We’ve never had a row, just differences of opinion!’ Audrey added that their shared love of gardening and bowling has helped keep them together over the years.

The couple were keen to add that they thought the Derwent was a great place for a celebration with friends and family. They have been thrilled with the champagne, fruit basket, balloons and card. ‘The Derwent team have made us feel really special, Audrey said. Jason Garside, General Manager, added, ‘this is the 14^th year Reg and Audrey have stayed with us and we feel privileged to have been able to share such an important date with them this time. We hope to see them again for many years to come.’

Couple ‘Bowled’ Over by Diamond Wedding Celebration is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Terri Kennard reports on all things bowling at TLH Leisure Resort.

Terri — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:45:41 +0000

Great News from Hampshire – Hot off the Press

Portsdown SMBC, headed by Richard Allen, run the Portsdown Charity 5’s competition every November. It’s a great event with many clubs taking part. The format is that 5 people create a team and they play a pairs and a triples discipline with cumulative scores after the games. It’s such a great format, based on real bowling teamwork, that TLH adopted it for its 4321 competition in February. The Charity 5’s is also a big fund raising event, and this year their chosen charity was The PBC Foundation. PBC, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis is a slow, chronic liver disease, which is not brought on by alcohol abuse. Anyone can develop this condition, and it can become very serious.

The final was very closely fought with Laven against Portsdown SMB. After the pairs were completed it was 5 shots each, and after the triples the score was even again, so an extra end had to be played. The winner of that extra end was Portsdown SMBC, so they are the 2010 champions. Well done guys and gals, you must be proud of yourselves.

The event raised a fantastic £1035.59 (where did the 59p come from?) and the 2 night mid week break voucher supplied by TLH raised a super £96 which is included in that total fund. That’s brilliant. Topping this sum up with £500 won during the Worthing Open Charity Event, Portsdown were able to donate £1535.59p to the Foundation. Roger Flake won the holiday voucher from TLH and I very much look forward to welcoming him to TLH in the future.

NEW FOR 2011 Turkey and Tinsel Short Mat Treat

I am often asked about non-competitive short mat bowling. As most of our bowling at TLH is competitive I am pleased to announce the arrival of our new Short Mat Break. The title says it all: It’s a real Christmas treat.

Dates: Friday 2nd – Monday 5th December 2011 - 3 nights from only £142�
Based at our Derwent Hotel the break consists of :

A flexible timetable to suit you
Non competitive bowling
Bowl as much or as little as you want to
Bowl against other guests at the hotel or local sides.
Festive dress optional on one day of your stay
Full Turkey and tinsel programme of events at TLH
Full festive entertainment, with dancing and cabarets.
Play on mats laid on the bowling arena
No rink fees It’s just a great way to have fun at Christmas with your friends, do that last little bit of Christmas shopping in the town, or just relax and enjoy yourselves around the resort. Call Sarah on 01803 400116 for more information. To book call Reservations on 01803 400500.

Getting ready for Christmas

I want to say how much I am looking forward to seeing you all over the Christmas Tournament period. It is always nice to meet the friends that we make over the years and to welcome you back to TLH. I also look forward to meeting the new faces that will be making their debut at TLH this year.

I know just how much coming away on a bowling break means to you and please be assured that TLH does its very best to make sure that you have the very best of time.

Signing off now

Terri
Jingle bells.

Terri Kennard reports on all things bowling at TLH Leisure Resort. is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog