LLANDEILO Bowling Club (LBC) held its end of season lawn bowls annual dinner and presentation of trophies at “The Plough” Rhosmaen last Friday night (18th Oct 2024)
The club President, Gareth James, presided over the evening and presented the trophies to this year’s winners.
LBC, in contrast to many other clubs, has seen a significant and pleasing rise in the number of new members this year and this was reflected in the large turnout for the excellent dinner.
The President, on behalf of members, expressed his appreciation to Jamie Davies, Doug Davies and Ena Williams who had captained respectively the mens’, veterans and ladies teams.
The men’s team has had an outstanding lawn bowls season having gained promotion for the next season to the first division. This would be the first time in over 15 years that LBC has competed at this level.
Llandeilo had beaten off players in the premier league in the Llanelli and District mens league to finish runners up for the D J Jones cup and Tommy Jackson, who had for the first time competed in the Harold Williams under 35yrs singles tournament, finished runner up.
Not to be out shone by the men, at a county level Llandeilo ladies Lynda James Deborah Mathews and Yvonne Thomas were runners up in the Carmarthenshire triples with Lynne James joining them to secure runners up in the rinks. Amy Dyer, competing for the first time at a county level, was runner up in the under 25 yrs competition.
The President, referred to the considerable amount of work undertaken by the committee and volunteers without whom the club wouldn’t exist and to the further improvements that had been made to the green.
In house entertainment was provided over dinner by LBC member, Richard Chodecki who kept everyone entertained with jokes until the raffle.
The evening finished on a high note with the presentation of LBC competition prizes.
This year’s winner of the President’s prize, engraved whisky tumblers, went to Alan Roberts who also scooped the 2024 title of club person of the year in recognition of the outstanding contribution and countless hours of work he put into the club for the benefit of members.
Club stalwart, King Jones, again took home the Plough Cup and with a measure on the last end also secured the Spar Cup. Teenager, Amy Dyer, playing her first lawn bowls season won the ladies plate with Denise Jackson runner up. Sue Jones, in a closely fought contest beat Jolene Andrews to secure the Non Winners trophy and Geoff Chapman paired with Mick Webb won the Aussie Pairs. A club competition introduced for the first time this year.
Sara Nicholls, 2024 Welsh Ladies Singles Champion and European gold medallist paired with her long term mentor, Jean Stancer, convincingly won the ladies pairs trophy.
In the club triples competition, 5 points down with two ends to play, John Vanlandewyck, Richard Chodecki and Phil Latham fought back to take the title. John also won a trophy for securing the highest number of points at club night.
The Dai Grove Memorial Cup, this year, with teams randomly selected went to the winning combination of Geoff Chapman, Deborah Mathews and Mary Davies.
More silverware returned home once again with King Jones as overall champion.
