ILMINSTER Bowls Club celebrated an outstanding outdoor 2017 season with a presentation evening attended by Ladies County President Hilary Leamon and Paul Davies, the Men’s President.

Among the achievements were the 10th winning of the Turnbull cup, Premier League winners, Olli Collins’ selection for England under-25s coaching and players selected for the Middleton Cup.

A minute’s silence was held to mark the death of Dot Whelan, the first Lady President of the club, playing member of both the Tennis and Bowls clubs and a tireless worker for the future of the club. She will be sadly missed. 

In the Men’s Somerset County Indoor league Ilminster played Taunton Deane and won by just one shot. 

Details: Home, Adam Smith, Rod Parkin, Barry Sims and Ian Lightfoot 26, Tony Foxwell 21; Des Maull, Ken Parker, Jonny Kingston and Alan Holt 19, Tony Day 18; Away, Steve Peasland, Tony Bickle, Dave Crouch, and Steve Turner 24, Stan Hedger 20; Olli Collins, Dave Pugh, Roger Lench and Levi Hembrow 20, Brian Southwood 29. 

Ilminster remain unbeaten and claim 14 points from the win.

In a mixed friendly, Ilminster beat Crewkerne by 74 shots to 28. 

Details: Brian Welch, Margery Smith, Norma Pugh and June Checketts 29, G Campbell 6; Anthea Hall, Dave Cox, Peter Fisher and Cyril Cox 21, S Hatcliff 13; Julian Smith, Eric Turner, Barbara Ball and Dave Hall 24, R Pratt 9.

SEVERAL Chard Bowling Club members join other clubs for the long mat winter season but also have fixtures of their own and play ‘home’ games at Donyatt.

The first fixture was a four triples match against Donyatt, which was lost 83-50, but the overall score masks a good performance by a relatively inexperienced Chard team.

After a disastrous start, Chard trailed 48-16 after nine ends.
Chard were more competitive in the second half with a 35-34 score in favour of Donyatt. Best triple was Teresa Pinder, Roy Vaux and Doris Finch (16-18) followed by Jean Peacock, Gillian Leighton and Stan Fowler (14-19).

Chard have a permanent short mat hall in its Bond’s Meadow pavilion and more than 50 bowlers make use of this facility each week. 

Each Thursday, eight teams compete in the mixed triples league.

Last year’s champions, Harlequins, from Chard Bowling Club, are undefeated after the first eight matches and again head the table.

Chard also have two teams in the East Devon Afternoon League; the long-established team gained promotion last season and have won one of their first four games.

The second Chard team has won one and drawn one of their first five matches in Division 2.