Communication Officer's Introduction

Obviously, the most significant event of this year was the pandemic, which has affected virtually everyone and everything. From a bowling perspective, the country-wide lockdown wiped out all inter-club competitions for the whole season, as well as intra-club competitions and social bowling until June. It was a shame that this happened during the sunniest Spring on record.

The club was keen to start bowling as soon as possible, once lockdown restrictions were eased. Plans, processes and precautions were put in place to allow social bowling from 15 June 2020, and 39 playing members signed up to play bowls again on our green.

This review continues with accounts and messages from other EBC Committee members.

Mark G.

Competition Secretary's Report

Eastcote Bowling Club had much to celebrate in a year with a difference.

After two months of inactivity at the start of what would have been the season, England Bowls gave the go-ahead to bowl but with a number of conditions in place. With guidance from the London Borough of Hillingdon, we pulled together a Risk Assessment which was approved and by mid-June the first players were on the green for friendly roll ups.

There were very stringent conditions in place to begin with but as time commenced, it was a relief to be allowed to use pushers as kicking 16 woods from a short jack to near the ditch was tough on the legs and shoes!

For many years, it has been a part of bowls etiquette to position the jack with your hand but in 2020 it was outlawed. We have all become very proficient with our foot so it might be difficult to adjust when normal conditions prevail!

Leads having their own jack took some mastering as it was often left at the wrong end of the rink. Leaving mats on the green limited tactical play and long jacks have virtually vanished from bowlers' repertoires.

Huge thanks to Mark G. for researching and configuring the Fastcourts online booking system. Without that in place we wouldn’t have been able to play and we wonder if team sheets will ever reappear on the notice board again!

There’s no getting away from the fact that the social side of the game was sadly missing. Even to the point of arriving on the green ready to play apart from changing your shoes. Although the essential faff of cleaning and sanitising equipment at both the start and end added some social recourse to the proceedings but what wouldn’t we have given to be able to stay after a game for a drink, some nosh and a natter.

Those who signed up to bowl had a very enjoyable short season and we should all congratulate ourselves in making it a success. The weather more than played its part as it was sunshine nearly every day.

Congratulations to all the winners, but we were all winners just by being on the green in a very difficult season.

The (co-habiting) Pairs League – Eastcote’s main event – was very well supported with 13 couples taking part. The competition started week commencing 14th July and was completed by the first weekend in September. It was fitting that the semi-finals were contested by four mixed couples. The winners were:

• 1st place = John J. and Claire C.
• 2nd place = Paul H. and Gill M.
• 3rd place = Steve L. and Jane H.
• 4th place = Rod C. and Pam W.

The one day competitions were also well supported and brought another competitive element to this difficult season. Competitions played and winners were as follows:

Two 3-2-1 Competitions:

• Graham A. and Linda C.
• Colin D. and Jan Mf.

Wimbledon Sets!

• Paul H. and Gill M.

Two 3 Woods Yardstick Competitions:

• Graham A. and David L.
• Colin W. and Colin D.

The two Colins – final competition winners

Phyllis and Tommy – with their consolation prizes

The four games organised by Colin W. against both Bessingby and Harrow in September were again well supported and very enjoyable.

Wednesday 30th September saw the last day of the bowling season with six hardy souls taking to the green for one last game. On completion of the game, the playing equipment was returned to the shed. On Saturday, 10th October, the benches and other outdoor equipment as deemed necessary will also be stored away for the Winter (weather permitting).

As soon as the season closed, the heavens opened. This is at Ruislip.

There are a number of people we should give HUGE thanks to for making the above happen.

• Colin W., Graham A. and Jane H. for having the foresight to put an initial plan together to be able to play in 2020 and pulling together the Risk Assessment required by the London Borough of Hillingdon.
• Whilst he did not sign up to bowl, John A. for all the preparatory paperwork and liaison with Hillingdon Council that had to be completed before we opened the gate to the green.
• Mark G. for researching and configuring the online Fastcourts booking system.
• Mike O. and Paul H. for keeping the green and surrounding greenery looking splendid.
• Geoff S. for cutting the grass at the end of the Clubhouse.
• I would like to give my personal thanks to my gorgeous wingmen who guided and supported me during my first season as Competitions Secretary – David L., Colin W. and Paul H. What a blast!
• Last but by no means least, all those members who wished to play, as without you this 2020 “bubble” season would not have happened.

Cheers everyone and here’s looking forward to 2021!

Lisa L.

A Note from the President

Firstly, congratulations to Lisa for navigating her way round her first year as Competition Secretary - what a year to take over!! A job well done and a superb, well written report.

Personally, my thanks go out to everyone who played a part in getting a bowls season up and running - albeit a very odd one! I am glad to hear that so many people felt able to participate and enjoy a short season with some success. For all those who entered the competitions and for those that were successful - well done.

I am sorry that I felt unable to bowl this year and therefore have not seen anyone, but I look forward to seeing you all on the bowling green in 2021.

Mark H.

Club Secretary's Comments

Some of us may not have noticed, but the 2020 Bowling Season has finished!

Some members did choose to operate within the restrictions imposed by the virus and enjoyed the limited offering the Club was able to provide. Lisa’s Competition Secretary’s Report on the season’s activities demonstrates that where there’s a will, there’s a way – a good omen for next year! Congratulations to all involved.

Obviously there’s a lot of uncertainty about what the Club will be able to do in 2021. The Committee will be meeting soon (online, of course) to do some preliminary thinking about the “art of the possible”, but it’s guaranteed that whatever we decide will have to be revised in the light of events! I hope we can at least give you a ‘heads up’ soon on ‘what’s occurring’.

One of the topics we will discuss is the Fastcourts booking system – we hope to seek more detailed comments from those that used it this year, but if any member has some immediate comments, please let Mark G. or myself know.

We do not yet know what programmes the Club and our local Bowling Associations will be able to offer for 2021, but we aim to keep you updated as things evolve.

All the best – stay safe.

John A.