SUMMER 2011 VIBE NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2011 VIBE NEWSLETTER

A big hello again to all you bowlers, helpers and friends. Hope you all have had an enjoyable start to the outdoor season. Thanks for the contributions you have sent which will be included in this newsletter. Don’t forget this newsletter is for you, so if you have any suggestions or just want to get something off your chest, just drop us a line or send an email. Perhaps we could start a letter section or a question and answer spot. Give us some constructive criticism to help improve things for you. Send us your reports, fixtures or just a funny thing that happened on the green. Doreen Metcalf, see contact details, has agreed to be the new membership secretary. Lots of our members have computers, but still receive the newsletter on tape or paper. If you would prefer to have it by email please, send your email address to Doreen or me. It would make life easier for me, and save a few trees from being chopped down. Eric and Judith Shackleford have kindly agreed to continue sending out the newsletter on tape to those who still want it. That reminds me, I might as well cancel my tape.

Miriam and I have just returned three weeks ago from an interesting and enjoyable trip to South Africa. Barry, the team manager, will tell you all about the bowls in his report. Miriam and I, plus all the other bowlers we spoke to, would like to thank Barry, the England team manager, and Doreen, our tour manager, for doing a great job. They looked after the whole team, which included other disabilities, before, during and after the tournament very well. On the days we were not bowling, we managed to go on a tour round Johannesburg, twice to see the sights of Pretoria and even managed to go to a safari park near Sun City to see the big five, elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and what was the fifth one?

After the tournament finished, 18 of us flew down to Cape Town for a very enjoyable time. The highlight of this part of the trip was to see Yvonne and Keith getting spliced on Camp Bay Beach. Many congratulations to you both! Keith deserved a great holiday after the many hours he spent organising the trip.

This is what I have for you in this newsletter.

1: Tournament reports.

2: Team manager’s report.

3: Miriam’s observations as a helper.

4: Article from Jack Small.

5: Obituaries.

6: Minutes of AGM in Preston.

7: Summary of committee meetings.

8: Nationals in Worthing

9: Fixtures for the rest of 2011.

10: Contact details for committee members.

TOURNAMENT REPORTS

ROUNDWOOD INVITATION SINGLES 2011

The Roundwood Bowls Club in Norwich held a B2 invitation singles competition on the weekend of 18^th to 20^th of March.

Twelve B2 bowlers were invited to take part in this event, organised by Mr.Andy Coe and club member Mr.John Grimmer. All bowlers arrived Friday afternoon and were made very welcome at the Holiday Inn. At teatime 3 stretch limos arrived to take us to the Bowls Club, that was a great surprise and lovely gesture, not something that happens every day!!

On arrival at the club the draw was made for the weekend: 2 groups of 6, giving us 3 games on Saturday and 2 on Sunday, for 2 hours or 21 up. The food was supplied each day.

Friday night was for practice. All games on Saturday and Sunday ran smoothly, with top class bowling.

On Sunday afternoon the final was played between Ron Homer and Geoff Wherry, Ron was the winner. Battling for 3^rd place were Pat Lovell and Paul Hawkes, Pat was the winner.

Many thanks must go to the Roundwood Bowls Club, and the Norfolk County Coaching Association, for supplying all the helpers, markers and umpires. All bowlers had a fantastic weekend!

The club looks forward to us all returning next year, the date is 16^th to 18^th of March 2012.

Scott Vallance

THE WESTON V.I. OPEN TOURNAMENT 2011

The Weston V.I. tournament returned to Weston after a 5 year lapse on the 6^th to 8^th of May at the Clarence Park Bowling Club, with the help and sponsorship of the Lions Club of Weston and Worle.

The winner of the gold medal and the Lion’s Cup was Ron Homer with 83 shots, runner up was Bob Rossiter, winning the silver medal and the Lauriston Hotel Cup. Bronze medallist was Colin Stockford; Nancy Cheeseman won the Best Lady award.

We had 42 entries, the tournament was a great success, and so was the raffle, with Bernadette raising £535.00.

We can now look forward to next year when, subject to confirmation by the Clarence Bowling Club, the tournament will run for 4 days from Thursday 3^rd of May till Sunday 6^th.. The entries are limited to 72 places.

I will send out entry forms early November. If you book a room at the Lauriston Hotel 3 months in advance you will get 10% discount, and a further 10% off if you are a member of the RNIB.

Clive Robinson, VIBE committee member and admin-

istrator of the Weston tournament

BRIDGWATER V.I. club held their 7^th annual invitation tournament on Sunday 19^th June 2011. Ten teams from the south west took part. Our tournament is points for shots and is quite successful ie wood nearest the jack is worth 4points/ second wood 3points /third 2 points and fourth 1 point. Bridgwater does not enter a team but its members help any team that cannot make up a triple.

Thanks to the main Bridgwater club members for their help on the day as markers/callers. Winners of the Turner cup were St Austell – Geoff Wherry/Steve Cook and John Cock, with runners up Forge receiving the Arthur Morgan shield Martin Kaye/Les Faulkner and Paul Davis.

TEAM MANAGER’S REPORT

Disabled World Championships 2011

At Wingate Park Country Club South Africa

Played on 03^rd May to 13^th May

B1 Men

Eric Gallacher won 4 and lost 2, Eric’s wins was against Canada, England, South Africa, Scotland, The 2 games he lost was against Israel, South Africa game was 21 – 18, Eric only missed out on Bronze medal by shot difference of 5

George Phillips won 1 and lost 5, George’s win was against Canada, and he had some good games in his losses

B1 Ladies

Margaret Cusker won 1 and lost 6 her 1 win came against Australia, did not bowl well at all

B1 Mixed Pair

Margaret Cusker & Eric Gallacher won 1 and lost 5, the 1 win was against England, not a good championship at all

George Phillips & Lisa Royle of Ireland, did not win a game but did not bowl as bad as it sounds

B2 Men

Paul Hawks won 2 & drew 1 & lost 2, won against Australia, Canada & drew against Hong Kong, missed out by 1 point to get in the play offs

Geoff Wherry won 2 & lost 3, won against Hong Kong & Australia, he had some very close games in his losses

B2 Ladies

Lyn Bourne won3 & lost 2, won against Hong Kong, Scotland, Canada, Missed out on a play off by 7 shots.

Sheila Brennan won 2 lost 2, won against Australia, Canada, managed to get in a play off for bronze medal against Australia and won easy 21-3 .Well done Bronze Medal!

B2 Mixed Pairs

Lyn Bourne & Paul Hawks won 2 & drew 1 & lost 2 ,won against Australia and Canada. Drew against South Africa, could have got in a play- off place with 1 of their defeats being by 1 shot.

Sheila Brennan & Geoff Wherry won 2 & lost 2, won against Australia, Canada, got in a play- off for Bronze Medal, but lost to South Africa 17 – 14.

B3 Men

Keith Brenton won 2 & lost 6, won against Canada, England, I would think Keith would be very disappointed with his form

Steve Simmons won 2 & lost 6, won against Scotland, Australia, I am sure Steve would have hoped for better, even though he changed to bowling with his right hand

B3 Ladies

Myrtle Robinson won 4 & lost 3, won against Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa, and Myrtle only missed out on the Bronze medal by shot difference of 6

B3 Mixed Pairs

Myrtle Robinson & Keith Brenton won 3 & drew 1 & lost 3. Won against Israel, Australia, Scotland, drew against Israel & Canada, finished in 4th place

B4 Men

Terry Mathews won 3 & lost 2, won against Australia, Scotland, South Africa, Terry only lost out on the silver Medal by number of ends won after finishing level on points and shots, but he still did win the Bronze.

B4 Ladies

Ann Council did not manage to win a game but played well, just did not have any luck

B4 Mixed pairs

Ann Council & Terry Mathews won 4 & lost 2, won against Canada, Australia, Australia, South Africa, They missed out on Silver medal by shot difference, but won Bronze

B6 Mixed Pairs

Richard Watling & Lawry Turner won 1 & lost 7. Won against Korea, they had some close games in the ones they lost.

B6 Ladies

Irene Cheer won 1 & lost 3. Won against New Zealand, Irene struggled with not taking her wheelchair, in the end we had to borrow one

B6 Men

Richard Watling won 2 & lost 6. Won against Scotland, New Zealand In this event I think it was far too much, as they were playing 2 games a day

Lawrie Turner won 2 & lost 6. Won against New Zealand, as above for too much 2 games a day

B7/8 Pairs

David Fisher & Gordon Welbourne won 4 & lost 2 .Won against Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Korea Vets, in a play-off for Bronze medal against Scotland they lost 29 - 8 .

B7/8 Men

Gordon Welbourne won1 & lost 5. Won against Korea Vets .Gordon just did not seem to be able to find the greens.

David Fisher won 3 & lost 3. Won against Israel, South Africa, Korea Vets, and in the 3 games he lost, he only dropped 4 points. With a little bit of luck he could have won the group.

Ron Rowden won 1 & lost 3. Won against Israel.

Team Trophy

South Africa won on 50.25 points, with Scotland 2^nd on 19.33 points. We finished in equal 5th place on 9.50 points

Comments

Not an ideal place for disabled and blind to bowl as it was down hill to go to all greens, but they did put golf buggies on which helped, and as always most of our bowlers had come out not having played on grass till the event as it was our indoor season; well that’s enough of excuses, but I think everybody enjoyed it.

Well done Barry. One of the helpers in South Africa, Dave Nichols, told me he had found a good use for his England red fleece. He is going to be available to wear it during December at a very reasonable price!

MIRIAM’S OBSERVATIONS AS A HELPER

Helping at the Word Bowls for Disabled in Pretoria 2011

Being married to Eric Gallacher means having bowls into my life big time, I knew nothing about the sport till I met him! I am used now to helping him and other B1s on the green in the UK, but I had never helped at an international event before. Once we knew we were going to the World Bowls in South Africa we spent many hours fundraising.

Bowls is obviously a very popular sport in S.A, there are bowls club a plenty and the one the Championships were held at, Wingate Country Park, had great facilities and landscaping and 5 greens. Unfortunately there was quite a steep slope between the greens, they were on 3 levels, it meant that a lot of the amputees and wheelchair users had to be ferried up and down with golf buggies. The greens were in excellent condition, we saw one spectacular rainstorm flooding the greens, but they dried out very quickly. The rest of the time the weather was very sunny, I had to invest in a sunhat so as not to fry while standing for 3 ½ hours per match on the green. That was probably the hardest part, being non stop on my feet for 7 hrs a day. We all made long days, getting up at 5 am to get on the bus at 7, ready on the green at 9, and only return to the hotel at 7 pm, sometimes later, as we had both lunch and dinner at the bowls club; most people were in bed by 9.30 pm. The hotel was miles away from shops, you could not pop out and get some juice or toiletries.

I enjoyed watching the disabled bowlers, I had never seen wheelchair bowlers and amputees play before, and also enjoyed the high quality of play in the visually impaired bowls, but was taken aback at what some players do to win, a few dirty tricks were noted! One South African player had to complain to the umpire because every time she was on the mat, her opponent was shouting loudly to her team mate at the other end of the green, and players were seen to practise in their lunch break on the rink they were to play on later. When it came to seats on the coach to and from the hotel unfair and infantile behaviour was displayed by people who should have known better…

Looking back I am glad I went and have experienced this international event for myself, but it was blooming hard work!

ARTICLE ABOUT RUTH AND JACK SMALL

Ruth Small, Commonwealth Games, Manchester, 2002.

Ruth has always been a keen sportswoman playing rounders, netball and cricket, representing her schools and then tennis.It was when playing tennis she found the tennis balls were coming to her too quickly for her sight to pick up. She decided she would have to give up the game.

In 1991 she was registered blind, and some two years later took up bowls. She always wanted to improve her game and needed more competition in order to do this. She played for some years with the Crawley club, all of thirty miles away and played with them for some years in competitions in the south and south-east of England. Having joined the ENAVHB she won her first B1 National at Yarmouth in 1999 and in total won the Ladies B1 Nationals nine times.

She also won a Silver with Mike Worden in the World Bowls in Girvan in 2003 during which they beat Australia 69-0 which included a “Hot-shot. She represented England in home internationals winning two Golds and a Silver outdoors, and two Golds and a Bronze indoors. In South Africa in 2003 she was runner-up in the B1 Singles and Pairs

Ruth was selected, following trials at Leamington Spa and Gloucester in October 2001, to become a member of the England Lawn Bowls squad for the Commonwealth Games. Each player was required by Sport England to sign a contract for the training period leading up to and for the Games themselves. This covered many items including the support of fellow team members, no late nights before important matches and no excessive consumption of alcohol. Ruth and Jack had to attend a fitness centre two or three times a week for exercises developed for them by a Sports scientist at Loughborough University. They were also required to practice bowls on a daily basis. It is true to say that from selection until the play for the Gold Medal bowls took over their lives.

There was a support team of Sports Scientist, Dietician, and Sports Psychologist who had meetings with players and coaches throughout the training programme and at the Games. For example the Sports Psychologist, after lengthy discussion, gave a list of “buzzwords” for players and coaches to use during Games to support each other at times of stress and the Sports Scientist emphasised the importance of drinking lots of liquid during the course of a game to avoid dehydration.

Two winter Test Series were played in South Africa and coaching was also undertaken in Portugal.

The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games was a fantastic experience.

There were ten blind lady competitors in total from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Kenya, South Africa, Canada, England, Scotland and Zimbabwe and these were divided into two groups of five. Ruth finished top of Group A and Group B was won by Zimbabwe.

In the play off for the Gold Medal Ruth beat Connie Sibanda of Zimbabwe 15-0. Daniel, Connie’s coach was the best practitioner of front coaching we have ever met. Ruth and Jack were thrilled with their win and feel that in winning the Gold Medal all their hard work had paid off.

Thank you, Jack. I hope you can persuade Ruth to come back out of retirement.

OBITUARIES

When I was in South Africa I heard the sad news that Beryl Bradley had passed away. When I returned home I phoned Janet Lister from Dewsbury club for some information about Beryl. The last time I had the pleasure of talking to Beryl was when we sat next to each other for our dinner on the last evening of the Scarborough tournament in February.

Janet told me Beryl had her 80^th birthday a few years ago and has not been well for a considerable time. Seemingly she had a fall in Malton and dislocated the hip which had been replaced two years ago. She became quite ill so was transferred to the Scarborough hospital. Her daughter was with her there when she died in her sleep. Her cremation was a celebration of her life. Her ashes were then taken to Mirfield Parish church to be buried with her husband. She played many times for the Pennine and Dewsbury clubs and took part in many tournaments including our nationals. Beryl will be sorely missed and our sympathy goes to her daughter, who had been looking after her, and the rest of her family.

Very sadly and unexpectedly Philip Martin passed away on the 20th June.

He was a member of the North West Surrey VIBG and has

played in ENAVHB on several occasions and is well known by many of its members.

During the past 6 / 7 years he has been Secretary / Chairman of the NWSVIBG and has played a large part in organising our triples day matches at Knaphill.

Philip was a very competitive bowler and found his continuous loss of sight very frustrating.

His sudden death has hit all at NWSVIBG very hard and he will be missed for his organising skills and his dedication to the club. Our heartfelt condolences to Philip’s wife and son.

MINUTES OF AGM IN PRESTON

VIBE 2011 AGM

The VIBE AGM for 2011 was held at the council building in Preston on the 2^nd of April 2011. Steve Simmons opened the meeting at 2 o’clock and thanked everybody for coming. He then, as usual, passed the chair over to our president George Simmons to chair the rest of the meeting.

George started by having a minute silence for all the friends lost in the last year.

ROLL CALL

Steve Simmons, Maureen Ryan, Bernadette and Clive Robinson, Doreen Metcalf, Miriam Gallacher, Jim Bithell, Jean and Neil Fow, Bernard Gladwin, Hazel Quale, Barry Walsh, Henry Edwards, Yvonne McKegney, George Simmons, Gail Hepworth, Keith Brenton and Eric Gallacher.

APOLOGIES

Doris Bryant, Steve Hubbard, Mike Philips, Colin and Juliet Moore, Maureen Gorringe, Carol Hamblin, Mick Bates, Alan Coward, John Moxham, Michael Rowden, Richard Stancombe, Scott Vallance and John Palmer.

READ AND CONFIRM MINUTES OF 2010 AGM MINUTES

They had been circulated and put in the newsletter. Steve Simmons proposed and Doreen Metcalf seconded that they had been read. All agreed.

READ AND CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE SGM IN AUGUST

These were also circulated in the newsletter. Keith Brenton proposed and Gail Hepworth seconded that they had been read. All agreed that they were also correct.

George explained that the Charities Commission will be informed about this AGM and the SGM in Leamington Spa, and from now on our association will officially be called VIBE Visually Impaired Bowls England. The Charities Commission have already told us we will be able to keep our charity number.

SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT

Our association has not had a secretary for the last year. The duties have been shared by the committee members. Doreen Metcalf proposed and Barry Walsh seconded that the work done by Gail and Eric, who did the newsletters, should be adopted and all agreed.

TREASURER’S REPORTS AND ADOPTION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

George explained that we had not received Pat Lovell’s annual report. The last report from Pat in February only gave us the balance in the general and team accounts. This was in the last newsletter and circulated with the AGM material. The new committee, along with the new treasurer Steve Simmons, will have to get all the books and treasurer’s work back from Pat. Hopefully then an annual report can be sent out to the members. Bernard Gladwin stated that as soon as we get the books back the accounts then must be audited.

FUNDRAISING

Miriam Gallacher suggested that the new committee should try and get all the clubs to do more fundraising for VIBE as our funds are dwindling. In the last few years very little money has been raised for our association, so Keith has been asked to fundraise outside London and Eric has agreed to do London. Keith has applied to stations such as Preston, Bristol and Birmingham. Eric explained that he has applied to the London underground people for collections in June and July. Keith also explained that Bowls England were helping us do some fund raising by giving us pin badges and bags with VIBE written on them to sell.

READ AND CONFIRM VOTING RESULTS

The 4 officers and president were elected unopposed and they were: George Simmons president, Keith Brenton chairman, Gail Hepworth vice-chair, Steve Simmons treasurer and Eric Gallacher secretary.

The voting for the other 4 EC places was: Doreen Metcalf 120, Terry Mathews 91, Clive Robinson 80, Paul Hawkes 71 and Richard Stancombe 55. This means Richard will have to drop out and can try again next year.

THERE WERE NO MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

To elect an auditor

Steve explained that we don’t need a proper auditor; we just need someone to make sure that the accounts are up to date and clear for our members. He will get an independent scrutineer for this.

NO HONARY MEMBERS THIS YEAR

TELLER

Doreen proposed and Barry seconded that we keep Alan Whetherly as our teller and all agreed. The committee in the morning had agreed to give him a voucher for £25 for all the work he had done for us.

VENUE FOR 2012 VIBE AGM

George explained that we had discussed this at the morning committee meeting and they thought Peterborough would be a good venue for next year. After a discussion Jim seconded this proposal and all agreed. Easter falls on the first weekend of April, so we might have the AGM on the 14^th of April unless this is the same date as the Bristol tournament.

AOB

Henry Edwards asked what was happening about the outdoor triples this year. Eric explained that the result of the questionnaire which he sent out showed that the majority of bowlers wanted a mid week 3 day Round Robin tournament. Eric will soon be sending out entry forms for the triples to take place at Leamington Spa starting on the Tuesday the 23^rd of August.

George thanked everybody for coming and the meeting closed at 2-50.

SUMMARY OF VIBE COMMITTEE MEETINGS FEB-JUNE 2011

Meeting in Scarborough Febr 2011

The main subject for discussion was the nominations for the election of VIBE committee members. George Simmons was the only candidate for president, Keith Brenton the only candidate for chairman, Eric Gallacher the only candidate for secretary, Steve Simmons the only candidate for treasurer. Gail Hepworth still had a year to go as vice chair. The election papers had to be sent out to vote for 4 committee members, the candidates were: Paul Hawkes, Richard Stancombe, Doreen Metcalf, Clive Robinson and Terry Matthews.

The new constitution for VIBE is still not ready, Keith is going to contact Tony Allcock about it again.

ENAVHB’s bank accounts on the 23^rd of February: General £12,348.96 and TEAM £10,233.84

The AGM is going to be held in Preston on the 2^nd of April.

Preston, April, am

Re the Outdoor Triples questionnaire: the majority voted for a midweek round robin.

Alan Lyne and Chris Barker can rejoin the association from the 1^st of January 2012.

Preston, April, pm

The new committee members are: Clive Robinson, who will be stock secretary (ties, badges, glasses, etc), Doreen Metcalf who will be membership secretary, Paul Hawkes and Terry Matthews. George Simmons is now in charge of sight certificates and Steve Simmons treasurer.

Gail Hepworth and Keith Brenton were elected IBD delegates.

London, June 2011

The bank account will soon be changed from ENAVHB to VIBE, new mandates were signed by the committee members who are signatories.

The fundraising for VIBE has started in London, collections will be done through the year at underground and train stations.

Only 6 entries received so far for the Outdoor Triples tournament in Leamington, Eric expects more entries to arrive before the end of June.

Re the Nationals at Worthing: coffee/tea/sandwiches will be sold at lunchtime. For Friday evening a roast meal and entertainment for £10 a head have been organised. Entries received so far: 56.

The IBBA committee passed a motion about B4s having a limit of 6 over 24. This motion will be put to the VIBE members, if agreed IT will enter the new constitution. The voting papers will be sent out after the forum at the Nationals.

New VIBE badges are ready, every club will be sent 20 to sell for £1.50 each.

THE NATIONALS AT WORTHING

The nationals this year are going to be held in Worthing. Bowls England are allowing us to use their facilities this year and next year in July, prior to England holding the IBBA World Bowls there in 2013. The tournament is held from the 10^th to the 15^th of July at Beach House Park, Brighton Road, Worthing, BN11 2EJ. We trust that each bowler will have an up to date sight certificate. Here are the fixtures for the Sunday pairs 10-07-2011.

9.30-11.30: Cheeseman/Hawkes V Dewitt/Bell; Homer/Rice V Lovell/Vallance; Wherry/Harrison V Kaye/Bourne; Falkner/Davis V Robertson/Shackleford; Edwards/Kimpton V Flanders/flanders; Brenton/Turnbull V Wright/Pulfer; Newcombe/Bryant V Robinson/Hubbard; Ryan/Tewkesbury V Stancombe/Mathews; McHugh/Bassett V Bauckham/Kimpton;

Bourne/Mathews V Brennan/Mowat; Mears/Mears V Palmer/Holroyd;

12.00-2.00:

Cusker/Philips V Gerhadt/Cook; Cheeseman/Hawkes V Wherry/Harrison; Homer/Rice V Dewitt/Bell; Lovell/Vallance V Kaye/Bourne;

Falkner/Davis V Edwards/Kimpton; Robertson/Shackleford V Flanders/Flanders; Brenton/Turnbull V Newcombe/Bryant; Wright/Pulfer V Robinson/Hubbard; Bourne/Mathews V Palmer/Holroyd; Mears/Mears V Brennan/Mowat; Rossiter/Hepworth V McHugh/Bassett; Stancombe/Mathews V Bauckham/Kimpton;

2.30-4.30: Cheeseman/Hawkes V Kaye/Bourne; Wherry/Harrison V Homer/Rice; Lovell/Vallance V Dewitt/Bell; Falkner/Davis V Flanders/Flanders; Robertson/Shackleford V Edwards/Kimpton;

Brenton/Turnbull V Robinson/Hubbard; Wright/Pulfer V Newcombe/Bryant; Bourne/Mathews V Mears/Mears; Palmer/Holroyd V Brennan/Mowat; Rossiter/Hepworth V Bauckham/Kimpton; Ryan/Tewkesbury V McHugh/Bassett.

FIXTURES FOR 2011

10-15 July, nationals at Worthing

17-22 July, Hastings tournament

6^th August, Metro singles Ravens Court Park

9-11 August, UK V.I.B. outdoor triples in Wales

23-25 August England outdoor triples Leamington Spa

4-9 September,Lowestoft tournament

11-13 November, Gateshead triples

15-17 November, UK V.I.B. indoor singles in Belfast.

DETAILS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Keith Brenton chairman, 0191 477 7755 07968 254 441

keithernestbrenton@hotmail.com