I'm sorry there were several mistakes in the Championship dates in the RH column. Thank you for pointing them out. They should now be correct. Remember to always treat the club booklet as your bible. I try to keep my info accurate but if I make a mistake it is unintentional. If you come knocking on my door I will be out - you will have to contend with the four foot doberman instead!!

QUOTE
It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it
But it's also true that we don't know
What we've been missing until it arrives.
 

Choice of Bowl Crucial to Success – The bowls I use are size 4 and they have the letters XH next to the number 4. Do you know what “XH” stands for? There are two bowl sizes smaller than size 1. Do you know what they are called? What is the largest bowl size?

XH means “extra heavy”
Sizes are: 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Bowls range in size from size 00 (smallest) to size 7, and there will be a size that is correct for your hand.  It is very important that a bowls fits snugly within the palm of your hand using your preferred grip. They can be either medium or heavy in weight, they can be regular or slim in their diameter.  All of these variables combine to make your choice of bowl crucial to your future success.

The lessons will probably go something like this.
Lesson 1 - grip / green / delivery
Lesson 2 - draw
Lesson 3 - draw to different spots
Lesson 4 - yard on
Lesson 5 - short ends
Lesson 6 - building a head
 

QUESTION: There must be a minimum of 2m between the ditch and the mat - but is it between the ditch and  the FRONT EDGE of the mat, or  the ditch and the REAR EDGE of the mat?  

LAW 19   Placing the mat
Before the start of play in each end, the player to play first should place the centre line of the mat lengthwise along the centre line of the rink, with the mat line at least 2 metres from the rear ditch and at least 25 metres from the front ditch.

Mat line means the edge of the mat nearest to the front ditch.  All measurements involving the mat and a jack or a bowl will be taken from the centre of the mat line.
 

SATAN
A few minutes before the church services started, the congregation was sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the back entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate.

Soon the church was empty except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's Ultimate enemy was in his presence.

So Satan walked up to the man and said, 'Do you know who I am?'
The man replied, 'Yep, sure do.'
'Aren't you afraid of me?' Satan asked.
'Nope, sure ain't.' said the man..
'Don't you realise I can kill you with one word?' asked Satan.
'Don't doubt it for a minute,' returned the old man, in an even tone.
'Did you know that I can cause you profound, horrifying AGONY for all eternity?' persisted Satan.
'Yep,' was the calm reply.
'And you're still not afraid?' asked Satan.
'Nope,' said the old man.
More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, 'Why aren't you afraid of me?'
The man calmly replied, 'Been married to your sister for 48 years.'
 

Baby Hanlen Congratulations, Barry, from all your friends at Bowls Taradale. John and Jill are proud grandparents.

Barry writes: Hi all! Just thought I would drop a line and tell you all of the new addition to my family, (which is why I am taking a season off bowls to look after the ever growing brood!) he was born on 26th July at home weighing in at a healthy 9 pounds! I was there to help birth as the second midwife arrived 3 minutes after he was born. Needless to say he was in a hurry to arrive when he decided it was time! His name is Bronson Jarvis Hanlen and even though he likes to keep his ma and da sleep deprived he is an absolute joy! Hope you all have a great season and I will try to pop down from time to time and show off our latest bundle of joy.