Heather, Tommy, Daphne win breakfast trips

THERE was a fair turnout for Wanderers Bowling Club’s monthly breakfast trips, in spite of many members playing in the annual Bluff men’s tournament.

First placed winners were Heather Beselaar, Tommy Simpkins and Daphne Reinhardt who edged out runners-up Archie Fisher, Jeff Bolt and Eric Swanson.

Sessions were won by Nicola Bauristhene, Debbie Nortje and Eve (the first) and Chris Klopper, Clive Symons and Russell Shepherd (the second). The sportsman’s prize – or sportswoman’s prize in this case – was taken by the women’s threesome comprising Honey Kitchenbrand, Lorinne Hawkins and Regina of Stella Park. Two money boards were drawn, the R40 winners being Nicola Bauristhene and Mike Flack with R20 going to Chris Klopper and Jeff Bolt. Greg McGuinness won the roast pork raffle, Arnie Harper scooped the Klipdrift hamper while Phillipa Armstrong took the Clover hamper. Thanks are due to those generous sponsors.

Next Wednesday is the running of the roadrunner pairs and on Saturday, the first round of the mixed trips is scheduled to kick off. Next Friday, 14 March on both TVs, with sound, the club will feature the ODI T20 between South Africa and Australia starting at 6pm through to 9.30pm. After the game, the ‘memory stick’ will play music for your dancing and listening pleasure.

Last Friday’s R600 snowball was won by Troy Simpkins and the various meat winners were: Lamb pack Des Demmer; chicken pack Ian Demmer; rump steak Cave James; lamp chops Troy Simpkins; pork ribs Dan Paruk; chicken Chris Fourie.

The R1,000 bowls raffle also took place and the prizes were shared with Ronnie Hook getting R200, and Mike Flack and Pat McGlynn taking home R400 each.

Snippet:

Canting the bowls bias – an acquired skill. Bowls are designed to bend towards the small bias as they slow down owing to the way they are cut, and when put down directly on their running surface (the smooth space between the rings of dimples), they will do this with unerring reliability. However, it is possible to change the way a bowl would normally behave by making slight changes to the grip and delivery. In other words, one could make a bowl bend more than normal, or, perhaps more popularly, one could make it run straighter for a longer period, thus enabling the skilled practitioner to get inside of, or go on the outside of, obstacles which would ordinarily be in the direct line of fire of the bowls “normal” behaviour.

It simply entails putting the bowl down on the inner rings or dimples (to make it bend quicker), or on the outer rings or dimples to make it run straighter (referred to as “holding it up”), and any bowl so delivered would start its run with a considerable wobble as it fights and strains to get itself onto its proper running surface. A slight adjustment to the grip is all it takes to create this effect, but of course the grass or “line” would have to be appropriately adjusted as well. Only a small percentage of bowlers will ever achieve mentionable success at this, because it does take a considerable amount of practise to perfect. But it is there for the taking to anyone who is willing to get out on the practice green with a qualified coach who should be able to show you the fine adjustments needed to acquire this skill. Holding a bowl up is a very effective manner of getting results in a head with the drive – where the extra speed of the bowl keeps it struggling on the outer rings or dimples for a longer period because of that very extra speed.

Remember that subs are due and can be paid in the upstairs office.