South Park Bowls Club

Today four of our players were asked to participate in a competition at Darlington Indoor bowls centre. Richard Copeland, Keith Burton, Barry Hopkins Jnr and Barry Hopkins Snr were entered as a rink in a competition for ex-servicemen, due to one team not making an appearance. The format was that each team plays four matches of six ends, with the prize going on overall shots at the end. Our lads had a cracking first game, winning 19-0 after 6 ends.

As Baz Snr asked the organiser which rink the second game was on, he was told that there were no more games, and that they had been kicked out of the tournament because they were too good! After being good enough to stay and make up the numbers this was quite rude, but we know when we are not wanted! 

Apparently there was a complaint from one of the other players, obviously fearing that we may come away with all the trophies. Instead of trying to stop us by playing better bowls (as if they could) they decided it would be easier to kick us out.

I don’t think the club will ever live this down!

The EBA Competition District Stages were drawn last night and has pulled out many tricky ties.The games that stand out are the 1st round of the singles and the junior singles. Barry Hopkins Jnr has drawn superstar Andrew Kirtland at home in the singles and plays last years Runner-up Richard Woodward in the juniors. Keith Burton has drawn Craig Northam, if he can dispose of him it would be a guaranteed South Park bowler going through to the County stages for the 2nd year. Full draw for our members.

EBA Singles

Round 1

T. Bousfield (RA) Vs W. Morland

B. Hopkins Vs P. Northam (RA)

B. Hopkins Jnr Vs A. Kirtland (RA)

S. Morland Vs Bye

Round 2

S. Morland Vs C. Black (RA) or J. Hills (RA)

EBA Pairs

Round 1

B. Hopkins/W. Morland Vs G. Peacock/S. Clarke (Hundens)

D. Carter/J. Embleton(B. Castle) Vs S. Morland/R. Woodward

P. Frazer/T. Meickeljohn (Hundens) Vs B. Hopkins Jnr/K. Burton

EBA Triples

Round 1

B. Hopkins Vs Bye

S. Morland Vs Bye

Round 2

A. Kirtland (RA) or A. Cooper (Hundens) Vs B. Hopkins/B. Hopkins Jnr/K. Burton

J. Embleton (B. Castle) or A. Dobie (B. Castle) Vs S. Morland/R. Woodward/S. Brodie

EBA Fours

Round 1

G. Peacock (Hundens) Vs B. Hopkins/B. Hopkins Jnr/K. Burton/M. Snelling

W.Morland/S. Morland/G. Jones/S. Brodie Vs J. Hills (RA)

EBA Two Bowl Singles

Round 1

A. Stephenson (RA) Vs S. Morland

W. Morland Vs S. Clarke (Hundens)

B. Hopkins Jnr Vs Bye

B. Hopkins Vs Bye

Round 2

B. Hopkins Jnr Vs S. Morland or A. Stephenson (RA)

B. Hopkins Vs V. Rewcastle (RA)

EBA Junior Singles

Round 1

R. Woodward Vs B. Hopkins Jnr

K. Burton Vs C. Northam (RA)

Tomorrow night the Durham County EBA Competitions will be drawn.

We hope these will be kind to us with plenty of home fixtures avoiding the dreaded Darlington RA Rugby Pitch.

County nomination will also be accepted or rejected, fingers crossed for our young members who we want to progress this year to new high levels.

Today was the day of the grudge match between our two indoor teams. It was a game of high quality - from one of the teams at least. The South Park team of Sandra Hopkins and County U21 bowlers Keith Burton and Barry Hopkins Jnr raced to a 23-5 slaughtering of the Mechtool team, with a much less impressive line up of Scott Morland, Simon Brodie and Barry Hopkins Snr. Today was an important game as it was a 4-pointer, due to not being able to rearrange the game cancelled earlier in the season.

Keith is one of many young stars.  He has already made a name for himself indoor and now after his first season outdoor looks set to make his County debut and when given the opportunity we have no doubt he will take it.

Richard approached Barry Hopkins to play last season and has been a fantastic addition to our team already.  He has shown a great interest and already has a great deal of ability to bowl. 

Ally is one of our new female bowlers who joined midway through last season.  It is brilliant to have her bubbly personality at our club and despite damaging her woods last year i’m sure she will get used to winning matches 1 bowl short.

Ken is a fantastic addition to our squad.  He has been a loyal member of Cummins BC for many years and after a short absence from teh game he has decided to join us.  We look forward to having him and his experience in the team.

Michael has accepted the offer to bowl for us in the works league this year.  Although his main ability is snooker I am sure it won’t take long for him to pick up the game of bowls.  We look forward to him making his debut this season.

Barry Hopkins and Keith Burton were selected fore the Indoor County Under 21 team last weekend.

Unfortunately the team overall were defeated by 2 shots but both of our young stars again performed at a high level and did the club proud.