For the first time in 37 years, Eastcote 'A' Vets League team has won the 2017 Harrow & District Bowling Association's top Veterans' League Division, having previously won it in 1978 & 1980.

Congratulations to the team's regular members:  Captain Ted Brothers and Graham Aylett, Brian Bamford, Les Bennett, Norman Burwell, Dave Gibbons, Geoff Gould, Ray Jeffs, Jim Langley, John Nott, Mike O'Bryan, Colin Williams & Alan Wright, and to Dave Levy who provided cover for a match during the season.

Some of the champions - from left to right:

 

 

John Nott, Colin Williams, Les Bennett, Dave Gibbons, Norman Burwell, Brian Bamford, Graham Aylett, Ray Jeffs and, kneeling, Mike O'Bryan   

 

 

 

 

Of the 12 games played, nine were won (including the 'double' over Ladygate - sorry, Ladygate!) and three lost, not a bad performance.

Colin Williams writes: "Since being promoted to division 1 in the H&D vets league Eastcote have for the past two seasons contested the wooded spoon. The 2017 season, under new captain Ted Brothers, started looking even bleaker. Jim Langley - a previous stalwart - laid up, Geoff Gould requiring a cataract operation and bowling bouncers, others on grandparent duties or taking holidays in the season or just getting old and past it except for the youthful Graham Aylett and Brian Bamford. The first six games yielded only 11.5 points from 30.

The month of July arrived and results improved: Geoff now with one good eye even bowling the odd good wood, Ted having the luxury of more than nine bowlers to select from, resting himself as he thought he made a better tea boy than a bowler. With 4 games to play in August the published table had us third from bottom still with an outside chance of relegation. Dave Gibbons and Mike O’Bryan threw in the towel and took a holiday. Ted made more tea and appointed Colin Williams as stand-in captain and with the ever present John Nott and Ray Jeffs ably supported by the reliable Les Bennett, "not on Fridays" Norman Burwell, fit again Alan Wright, the results were greatly improved.

The last match was a home fixture against Ladygate. Eastcote bowlers were aware that whoever won that match were likely to be champions. At the half time tea interval Eastcote were three shots ahead so the second half had everything to play for. Our stalwart tea ladies Berry and June were also aware of the situation and they managed to work their magic;  Eastcote finished winning by 26 shots.

The final six games of the season yielded 27.5 points and the Championship. Thanks goes to Dave Levy who made a guest appearance in one of the matches when Ted found his old crocks had better things to do than play bowls."

The final League Match results report showed:

Division 1 Table 2017
Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Shots For	Shots Against	Points	Shots Difference
Eastcote "A"	12	9	0	3	619	555	39.0	64
Harrow "A"	12	6	1	5	621	546	33.5	75
Ruislip "A"	12	6	0	6	613	569	32.5	44
Ladygate	12	7	0	5	565	561	32.0	4
Wealdstone	12	7	0	5	582	588	30.5	-6
Woodcock Pk "A"	12	3	0	9	594	628	23.5	-34
Northwood "A"	12	3	1	8	547	694	19.0	-147
Recent Results
Wealdstone bt Ruislip "A" 56-42 (4-1)
Eastcote "A" bt Ladygate 62 - 36 (4.5-0.5)
Northwood "A" bt Wealdstone 51 - 46 (4-1)
Eastcote "A" bt Wealdstone 55-35 (5-0)
Wealdstone bt Woodcock Park "A" 62 - 56  (3-2)
Eastcote "A" bt Ruislip "A" 56-50 (4-1)
EASTCOTE "A" ARE CHAMPIONS
NORTHWOOD "A" ARE RELEGATED TO DIVISION 2