Treherbert Bowls Club Review of 2017 Season
Introduction
We started 2017 with some new ideas of how we could continue the improvement in our club. Funding applications were in progress. The main plan for this year was to open a Winter Bowls+ Project in the clubhouse beginning in October through to March. We also wanted to improve seating, storage and equipment.
Report back
In February, I attended a special meeting of the Rhondda Borough Bowling Association which resulted in us having to become a member of the Welsh Bowling Association and to achieve this we had to become a member of the Mid-Glamorgan County Association, all this, so that we could continue to play in the RBBA Monday afternoon league. This increased our costs by approximately £150.00 per season, added to the £30.00 we already paid the RBBA to enter the Monday afternoon league. It’s not surprising that bowls is going down-hill when the ruling bodies are discouraging rather than encouraging clubs to grow at a pace they can afford.
The sport
The new season opened in April and got underway positively with a very enthusiastic membership. The Monday league has a full programme of fixtures (you will remember it was shortened last year). We didn’t do as well as we would have liked in relation to the results and will probably be relegated. In team members we were strong and completed all our fixtures without us having to cancel games.
Before the season started. I had a meeting with Meriel Gough, (Community Coordinator, Rhondda Valleys) and a representative from Social Services to discuss introducing people from the community with issues such as loneliness, into our club activities. This we welcomed and had our first referral in April, David, a gentleman of 85 years. David attended every adult session until he was hospitalised in July (after a fall). After a long period of recuperation, David returned to the club in time for our Winter Bowls+ Programme. We had further referrals from Meriel throughout the Summer Season and into our Winter Programme and will continue to welcome referrals indefinitely.
The schools programme between Penpych and Penyrenglyn Primary Schools went ahead again this year. The Annual Challenge match was won by Penpych. The cups were presented by Ivor John Morris, (Junior League organiser and Head Coach RBBA) and Daniel Williams, (Communities First).
We partnered Communities First by providing sessions for people with physical or mental barriers.
We hosted The Rhondda Borough Bowling Association’s W.D.Jones Cup Final in which Gelli Park overcame Penygraig. As Vice Chairman of the RBBA, I had the pleasure of presenting the cup to the winning team.
The Summer season was very successful, particularly with increased adult membership. The club is continuing to improve every year and we look forward to next year with confidence
Winter Bowls +
With the introduction of this new initiative, our bowls season now covers the full year, with the exception of a few weeks to reorganise the clubhouse for the different activities. With the first half of our Winter Season now completed, I am pleased to report, it has proven to be a great success. The Short Mat bowls and the Kurling have proved to be equally popular with our members and visitors and we look forward to the rest of the Winter Season.
Who helps us
This year has been successful because of the following; Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund, Communities First, Sport Wales Communities Chest, Wales and West Housing and Rhondda Rotary Christmas Draw, also those who have helped us in previous years. THANK YOU ALL.
People who make it happen
All these activities need organising and we could not have achieved this success without the support and help of many people.
Thank you to the First Aid team, which now includes Alun Howells and Kay Leyshon who achieved their First Aid qualification this season. Our Coaching team grew this year with Keith Bond, Brenda Davies, Chris Stewart and Rose Beswick achieving their Assistant Coaching qualification. Thank you all. A special thanks to Ivor John Morris and Gary Culverhouse for assisting on School Challenge match day. Thank you to all the other volunteers who help in so many ways. Thanks to Meriel Gough for allowing us to assist her community work which she does so well. Julie Price {RCT SPORT} for opening our WINTER BOWLS+. Thanks Julie. Last but not least, Chris, who spends a lot of time assisting me with the computer work after the green is closed, processing photographs, doing the diary etc.etc. as well as everything else that she does. Thank you Chris.
Thank you all, once again for your help and support in making Treherbert Bowls Club a pleasure to be involved with.
Members we remember
These members passed away this year.
Kay Leyshon.
Peter John Richard Mathias (Dickie).
Ken Godwin.
Finally
I would like to thank everyone who came to Treherbert Bowls Club this season, I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and we’ll see you in 2018.
Clive Sheridan (Secretary/Treasurer)
We started 2017 with some new ideas of how we could continue the improvement in our club. Funding applications were in progress. The main plan for this year was to open a Winter Bowls+ Project in the clubhouse beginning in October through to March. We also wanted to improve seating, storage and equipment.
Report back
In February, I attended a special meeting of the Rhondda Borough Bowling Association which resulted in us having to become a member of the Welsh Bowling Association and to achieve this we had to become a member of the Mid-Glamorgan County Association, all this, so that we could continue to play in the RBBA Monday afternoon league. This increased our costs by approximately £150.00 per season, added to the £30.00 we already paid the RBBA to enter the Monday afternoon league. It’s not surprising that bowls is going down-hill when the ruling bodies are discouraging rather than encouraging clubs to grow at a pace they can afford.
The sport
The new season opened in April and got underway positively with a very enthusiastic membership. The Monday league has a full programme of fixtures (you will remember it was shortened last year). We didn’t do as well as we would have liked in relation to the results and will probably be relegated. In team members we were strong and completed all our fixtures without us having to cancel games.
Before the season started. I had a meeting with Meriel Gough, (Community Coordinator, Rhondda Valleys) and a representative from Social Services to discuss introducing people from the community with issues such as loneliness, into our club activities. This we welcomed and had our first referral in April, David, a gentleman of 85 years. David attended every adult session until he was hospitalised in July (after a fall). After a long period of recuperation, David returned to the club in time for our Winter Bowls+ Programme. We had further referrals from Meriel throughout the Summer Season and into our Winter Programme and will continue to welcome referrals indefinitely.
The schools programme between Penpych and Penyrenglyn Primary Schools went ahead again this year. The Annual Challenge match was won by Penpych. The cups were presented by Ivor John Morris, (Junior League organiser and Head Coach RBBA) and Daniel Williams, (Communities First).
We partnered Communities First by providing sessions for people with physical or mental barriers.
We hosted The Rhondda Borough Bowling Association’s W.D.Jones Cup Final in which Gelli Park overcame Penygraig. As Vice Chairman of the RBBA, I had the pleasure of presenting the cup to the winning team.
The Summer season was very successful, particularly with increased adult membership. The club is continuing to improve every year and we look forward to next year with confidence
Winter Bowls +
With the introduction of this new initiative, our bowls season now covers the full year, with the exception of a few weeks to reorganise the clubhouse for the different activities. With the first half of our Winter Season now completed, I am pleased to report, it has proven to be a great success. The Short Mat bowls and the Kurling have proved to be equally popular with our members and visitors and we look forward to the rest of the Winter Season.
Who helps us
This year has been successful because of the following; Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund, Communities First, Sport Wales Communities Chest, Wales and West Housing and Rhondda Rotary Christmas Draw, also those who have helped us in previous years. THANK YOU ALL.
People who make it happen
All these activities need organising and we could not have achieved this success without the support and help of many people.
Thank you to the First Aid team, which now includes Alun Howells and Kay Leyshon who achieved their First Aid qualification this season. Our Coaching team grew this year with Keith Bond, Brenda Davies, Chris Stewart and Rose Beswick achieving their Assistant Coaching qualification. Thank you all. A special thanks to Ivor John Morris and Gary Culverhouse for assisting on School Challenge match day. Thank you to all the other volunteers who help in so many ways. Thanks to Meriel Gough for allowing us to assist her community work which she does so well. Julie Price {RCT SPORT} for opening our WINTER BOWLS+. Thanks Julie. Last but not least, Chris, who spends a lot of time assisting me with the computer work after the green is closed, processing photographs, doing the diary etc.etc. as well as everything else that she does. Thank you Chris.
Thank you all, once again for your help and support in making Treherbert Bowls Club a pleasure to be involved with.
Members we remember
These members passed away this year.
Kay Leyshon.
Peter John Richard Mathias (Dickie).
Ken Godwin.
Finally
I would like to thank everyone who came to Treherbert Bowls Club this season, I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and we’ll see you in 2018.
Clive Sheridan (Secretary/Treasurer)