Friends of the English Bowling Association
Home Objectives FAQs Officers / Committee Link to Us News Sponsors EBA Corporate Friends Corporate Individuals.. 2006 2007 How to join Joining Benefits Events 2006 Championships 2007 Championships Matches 2007 2008 Photo Gallery General Photos Commonwealth Games 2002 Contacts Contact Us Your Comments		News from Friends of the EBA September 2007 A total of £22,500 was donated to the EBA to support the National Championships and Competitions. The cheque was presented to EBA President Peter Arnold at Worthing by the Friends Chairman Ian Morrill and their main Fundraiser John Austin. The donations were allocated to: 2007 £ Champion of Champions 2500 Mixed Fours 2500 National Pairs 1600 National Fours 1600 Middleton Cup Entries 2100 Middleton Cup Travel subsistence 3700 Youth visits 4000 Sponsors Marquee 2000 Banners & new County name Boards 2500 2007 Total £22,500 The Youth visits to the National Championships were a great success. All the youngsters from Huntingdonshire, Leicestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire enjoyed their day out. News Check here to see what's happening at Friends of the EBA Friends of the EBA - Game with Somerset County Bowling Association Patrons, 5th September 2007 The fifth and last game of the 2007 season was with Somerset County Bowling Association Patrons who were celebrating their 40th Anniversary. The game was played at Yeovil Bowling Club on 5th September. In line with the other four games played, it was an excellent day. The weather was glorious the green played exceptionally well and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, even the rinks skipped by Vernon Evans and Don Pugh who lost by 11 shots and 10 shots respectively. There was not a lot in the other rinks and the Friends lost overall by 27 shots. The opposing Captain, David Wederell, the Chairman of the Somerset Patrons, had gone to great lengths to field a very strong team in order to engineer the inevitable result. Captain of the day for the 'Friends' was the Match Secretary whose rink, skipped by Mark Martin, lost by just two shots as a result of the opposing skip, Alan Gray, receiving his usual generous helping of luck. The Yeovil Club put on an excellent buffet at lunch time followed up by another excellent three course after match meal. So of the five games played we won three, lost one plus a disputed loss against the EBA President due to 'match fixing'. The Match Secretary is now working on the 2008 programme of matches. Games are currently being arranged in Herefordshire, Dorset, Yorkshire, Suffolk, and Worthing. The runner up in the Club of the Year Competition, when known, will be offered a game and there is one more in the 'pipe line' which may or may not reach fruition. Full details will be circulated in due course and all those who indicate on the membership renewal form, soon to be sent out by the Hon. Secretary, that they wish to be considered for matches, will be sent an availability sheet. John Durston Match Secretary August 2007 Friends of the EBA v EBA Select Team played at Beach House Park Worthing on 23rd August 2007. The fourth 'Friends' game of the 2007 season was played at Beach House Park, Worthing on 23rd August 2007. This is always a much sought after game as everyone wants to play on the 'hallowed turf' and in particular on 'A' green where both last year's and this year's game was played. There was much skulduggery before the game with Peter Arnold, the EBA President poaching players who had been selected for the 'Friends' based on the argument that the Junior Vice, Dennis Cousins, had deserted the Select team to captain the ''Friends' team. This game is always described as a 'fun game', and this one really was, and that the score does not matter. No, we the 'Friends' were not bothered about the score as we won by 5 shots. Peter Arnold would say that we won because he included players who had not played previously but he more than made up for that by including 'star players' who had been knocked out of the later stages of the National Championships the result of which the rink on which the Match Secretary played and skipped by Alan Gray was 'thrashed' by Arthur Hockley's four. The President's team included most of the Office staff present and past and also the Lady Mayor of Worthing. After the game the players, accompanied by their wives and partners, retired to the indoor green at Field Place, Worthing for an after match meal. The food was really excellent, there was much 'banter' and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A draw was made during the proceedings and over £300 raised for the Lady Mayor's charities. John Durston Match Secretary August 2007 The 'Friends' played their third game of the season on Thursday 2nd August 2007 at Banister Park, Eastleigh against the EBA President's team. Ian Morrill, the Friends Chairman, was Captain of the day and the team was graced with the presence of the EBA Chief Executive, Tony Allcock who himself stated that he had decided to play for the 'enemy'. The President, fearful of being beaten, picked a very strong team and this coupled with the fact that he manipulated the Rules of the Sport on his rink, skipped by Alan Chase, in order to beat Tony by two shots resulted in the President's team winning overall by 5 shots. Mind you the thrashing of Alan Gray by his Somerset County compatriot, Mike Martin, by 26 shots to 10 didn't help either. What a way to treat a colleague!!! However, never mind, it was an excellent afternoon played in glorious sunshine (the showers came before and after the game). As the President, Peter Arnold, always says, the score does not really matter (unless you lose), it is the conviviality that is important and there was plenty of that evident during and after the game. Anyway the President's team only really won by 1 as they won on three rinks, the Friends on two and one was drawn. Many thanks to Banister Park who put on an excellent buffet and after match meal for the players and their ladies. The next game is against an EBA Select team on Thursday 23rd August during the second week of the National Championships. There were over 60 applications for this game and the Match secretary apologises for having to disappoint so many. The criteria has been to ensure that all those who applied for games have been selected to play at least once. John Durston Match Secretary June 2007 Friends of the EBA v Worcestershire CBA - 13th June 2007. The second Friends of the EBA game of the 2007 season took place at Worcester BC on Wednesday 13th June 2007 with Worcestershire CBA. It was captained by traitor, John Weston, Worcestershire's 2003 President and current Match Secretary. The weather was 'iffy' to say the least and the calibre of the players was such that they refused to play in the rain. We had to come off twice during the heavier spells and the game was restricted to 18 ends. Nevertheless from the banter on the green it was obvious that it was a very enjoyable afternoon albeit rather damp. As usual the 'Friends' were victorious, this time by 13 shots, the highest winning rink on the 'Friends' side comprised Roy Sutton, Robert Turner, David Clarke and Don Pugh. A loaded rink if ever there was one. The highest winning rink for Worcestershire was skipped by T. Hall who was playing against a rink skipped by Adie Lloyd. Adie was a bit miffed at having to come off at 18 ends as he was coming back fast. The Worcestershire rink skipped by Vernon Evans were crowing as they thought they were home and dry as the winning rink on their side only to lose a six on the last end. Worcester B.C. entertained us to a superb buffet lunch and after match meal which helped to overcome the disappointment of the inclement weather. Played 2, won 2, three to go. The EBA President's team at Banister Park, Eastleigh on 2nd August will be the next scalp. John Durston Match Secretary May 2007 The first game of the season for the 'Friends' was played against Nottinghamshire EBA at the Notts HQ. It was a very enjoyable game played in good weather conditions. The green was a bit 'pushy' but overall played well. The President of Notts, Mike Boon, captained their team and the Friends was captained, ironically, by the Senior Vice President of Notts, Chris Bromley, who was labelled a Traitor. Never the less the Traitors team was victorious by 20 shots thanks, in particular, to the highest winning rink of Graham Clark, Robert Turner, Pat Geary and Les Parnell who beat their opponents skipped by Chris, yes it really was, Chris Smith by 33 shots to 9. It was perhaps, fortuitous that they had such an easy ride as the Friends rink skipped by Vernon Evans accompanied by John McCarthy, Ernest Mills and Philip Cole was trounced by John Martin's rink by 40 shots to 14. After the game the teams and the accompanying ladies, tucked into a delicious four course meal. Many thanks to Notts EBA and in particular Chris Smith who made the arrangements, for this very enjoyable occasion. Our next scalp, Worcestershire CBA at Worcester Bowling Club on Wednesday 13th June. John Durston Match Secretary January 2007 A message from Tony Allcock MBE A new organisation has been formed within the bowling fraternity, the Friends of the English Bowling Association. With the opportunities for commercial sponsorship becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, the concept of inviting those who had over the years derived pleasure from their sport, to contribute to improving both its existence and status seemed an excellent idea. This has now been formalised and in August 2006, the Friends of the English Bowling Association was officially established. Whilst the FEBA is not a bowling association, in order to show appreciation of Members' contributions and to foster further interest, it was agreed that each year a few matches would be played against selected clubs/teams. The EBA is grateful for this generous show of support and congratulates all who in the early months ensured that the idea was carried forward and brought to fruition.   December 2006 The status of Friends of the EBA It should be emphasised that 'Friends of the EBA' is not a part of, or controlled by, the EBA, but an independent society of bowlers and like minded people who, for years, have derived great pleasure from the sport and wish to put something back into the game and to contribute to improving both its existence and status. One principal aim is to sponsor major National Championships that would otherwise struggle to exist without any form of sponsorship. It is our intention in 2007 to again sponsor the EBA Champion of Champions and Mixed Fours Championships, but also to sponsor the Middleton Cup, together with covering the cost of youth trips to Worthing during National Championships fortnight.     Hospitality Marquee I am sure that those of you who visited Worthing last summer made good use of the FEBA hospitality marquee to meet old friends and like minded bowlers. It is proposed that this will continue to be a regular fixture in 2007 and future years, and we hope that you will all make good use of it when you visit the Nationals. Matches Although we are not an Association playing a multitude of matches, we propose to arrange up to six matches every season, and we would very much like to know if you would like to play in any of these matches. We would hope to give all those who would wish to play at least one game during the season. A match programme is being put together by John Durston (e-mail: johndurston@newbridge-fine-wines.fsnet.co.uk) and we will be sending out nomination sheets to those interested when the details have been finalised Hospitality Marquee October 2006 First Meeting The first full meeting of the "Friends" was held on the 31st August 2006 at Worthing, and the following were elected: Chairman Ian Morrill Vice Chairman David Mitchell-Gears Hon. Secretary Roger Carter Hon. Membership Secretary/Treasurer John Austin Match Secretary John Durston Elected member Tony Allcock MBE Elected Member Howard Pryse Elected Member Kath Lloyd Elected Member Mike Poole The Temporary Committee agreed to make a start by supporting two competitions in 2007: The Champion of Champions and Mixed Fours, at £2,500 each. The cost of the production of Sponsor Banners was also met. In his report to the meeting, the temporary Chairman suggested the additional sponsorship of the The Middleton Cup for two years at £5,800 per year, and of youth trips to the Worthing Finals at £4,000. A further suggestion that has been made is to provide or restore the score boards to help spectators. Membership as at the end of 2006 Friends of the EBA membership is as follows: Personal members - 200 County Members - 22 Corporate members - 7 Membership Income to date is £49,000 Subscriptions Subscriptions for 2007 become due on 1st January 2007, as before at £100 per ordinary member. If you have a colleague that would like to become one of the "Friends" could you ask them to contact: John Austin, Membership Secretary 30, High Street, Croughton, Brackley, Northants NN13 5LT Telephone: 01869 810610   Top