Southampton Open Bowls Tournament

2024 President: Mr Dave Hughdie – Woolston & District  B.C.

 

2024 Tournament Report

 

The 70th Annual Southampton Open Bowls Tournament, sponsored for their final year by the Southampton Branch of the Order of Oddfellows, took place at Atherley Bowling Club and our four other host Club venues, Banister Park, Pirrie Park, Old Green and Sports Centre BC’s from Monday 22nd July to Saturday 27th July 2024.

It proved to be both a poignant and historic event, the latter due to some unprecedented

situations arising during the week.

With Brian Hopper standing down after 16 years as Tournament Secretary and our long-time Sponsors and good friends the Oddfellows, who have sponsored our Tournament numerous times over a period spanning 30 years, it was always going to be a poignant week.  However, two male competitors qualifying for all three finals, playing with and against each other was unprecedented, given that they would have used 3 substitutes during the week under the existing Tournament Regulation 13. Finals. Brian & I decided after discussing the dilemma that in the best interests of the Tournament, we would invoke Tournament Regulation 21. Change of Regulations and allow both Greg Davis from Sun BC and Luke Bell from Sports Centre BC to compete in all three finals, with the proviso that we could only allow them 15-minute breaks between the games.

The second unprecedented situation was the eleventh-hour withdrawal of Lorraine Slater and Pam Smith (BP) due to health issues from the Ladies Pairs Final at 8.30am on Saturday morning. As they felt they would be unable to find two substitutes at such short notice, Brian and I decided to use Tournament Regulation 21 again to give their Semi-Final opponents, Jackie Farmer and Yvonne Andrews (Atherley & Jersey BC’s) a retrospective walkover to enable them to play in the Ladies Pairs Final, with the agreement of their opponents.

The first Finals contested at 10am were the Men’s and Ladies Triples. In the Men’s Final the Jamie Lawson, Luke Bell and Greg Davis (Sports Centre & Sun BC’s) trio were 10 – 6 up at 10 Ends and the defending Champions, Dave Blogg, Josh Davis and Colin Thresher (Sports Centre & Old Green BC’s) Triple just could not close the gap and conceded at 17 – 10 down with one end remaining. In the Ladies Triples Final, the Ringwood trio of Carol Broomfield, Helen Blackiston & Sharon Varndell, in their debut in our Tournament raced into an early lead 12 – 6 at 10 Ends which proved a bridge too far for Jean Garrod, Angie Weir and Lyn Booth (Mayfield Park BC) to cross and they also conceded at 20 -10 down after 17 Ends.

The Men’s and Ladies Pairs Finals started at 1pm and it was very close throughout in the Men’s Final. Josh Davis & Ken Dow (Old Green BC) dropped a pivotal six on the 10th End which proved costly as Greg Davis and Luke Bell (Sun & Sports Centre BC’s) held on to just pip them 14 – 13 at 18 Ends. The Ladies Pairs Final featured another debut Pair to our Tournament of Tracy Hibberd and Alex Tymon (Priory BC). The Pair had impressed the local bowlers during the previous rounds but during the final, never quite matched their form from earlier rounds and Jackie Farmer and Yvonne Andrews (Atherley & Jersey BC’s) who had lost two previous Pairs Finals capitalised scoring steadily throughout to take the title 12 – 24.

The blue ribband Men’s and Ladies Singles Finals followed at 3.45pm with the two triple final qualifiers and very good friends, Greg Davis (Sun BC) and Luke Bell (Sports Centre BC) battling not just for the prestigious title, but to make Tournament history as the first ever bowler to win all three Men’s Competitions! Luke got off to a good start and was 4 – 6 up at five Ends but then dropped a 3 and a 2 on Ends six and seven to the three-time Champion Greg. Luke fought gamely from then on, but as he commented to me after the game, he struggled to find his outstanding form during the week on Rink A7 and Greg showed all his experience to close out the match at 21 – 15. The Lady’s Final was a debutants affair with Sharon Varndell (Ringwood BC) taking on Alex Tymon (Priory BC). Alex was quick out the blocks establishing a healthy 4 – 13 shot lead but Sharon dug in and chased her hard eventually succumbing 17 – 21.

The Prize Presentation followed at 5.45pm with Barbara Jackson standing in for the Grand Master who unfortunately could not attend due to a family situation. Brian Hopper welcomed all present and then introduced Barbara and the 2024 Tournament President, Dave Hughdie to present the Trophies, Commemorative Awards & Cheques to all the Winners and Finalists. The inaugural winner of the Ladies Presidents Prize was Carol Le Goff (St Saviours BC) with Lee Croad (Ringwood BC) taking the Men’s Prize.

Once all the Prizes had been presented the Men’s Singles Champion Greg Davis made a short speech both as the Champion and as President of Bowls Jersey. Greg highlighted how many of Jersey’s talented young bowlers, including himself had honed their skills playing in a junior tournament the weekend before the actual Tournament and then in our event itself. He expressed how much he has enjoyed our Tournament over the subsequent years and that he hoped the ongoing low entry issues would, with the support of both local and visiting bowlers, be resolved and a new sponsor found so that everyone could continue to enjoy our unique event for many years to come.

Two bouquets of flowers were then presented to Chris Brett and Barbara Jackson, who was also presented with a gift from the Committee to thank her for her many years of liaison with the Tournament as the Oddfellows Regional Secretary.

Tournament President Dave Hughdie then handed back the Green to Atherley President Mario Spring who said he hoped everyone attending had had a most enjoyable week.

President Dave Hughdie then prematurely interrupted Brian Hopper’s closing remarks so that he could pay tribute to Brian’s 34 years of hard work and exceptional service to the Tournament, the last 16 years as our Tournament Secretary. Dave then presented Brian with a splendid Glass Engraved Plaque on behalf of a very grateful Tournament Committee.

Brian responded by wishing Kerry Clements and Steve Saunders all the best as the new Tournament Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively and also asked all present to continue to support the Tournament in future.

In closing this year’s Tournament Report, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and successful week with just a couple of days of inclement weather, especially a very wet Thursday which thankfully we got through without any serious delays. We will be busy at our final Committee Meeting in November discussing and updating Tournament Regulation 13 and also considering a proposal from myself to address the Open Consolation Pairs Competition which disappointingly we have not been able to run the last two years due to not reaching the minimum entry requirement of eight pairs. Steve and myself will continue our work on securing a new Sponsor so that hopefully they will be in place as soon as possible and we look forward to welcoming you all back for the 71st Tournament in 2025.

Kind regards

Kerry Clements

Hon Tournament Secretary