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5 June 2022

Resolven Bowls Club celebrated it’s 90th Birthday in style with an Open Tournament attended by local players joined by current and former International bowlers including most of the current Commonwealth Games ladies and men’s teams.

The photograph shows competitors who took part in the ‘THE NINETY’ Tournament

Mike Herbert was the tournament convener {kneeling} assisted by Andrew Hopkins to his left.

An innovative tournament format with in-game substitutes was a 2 bowl triples (3 players bowling 2 bowls each against 3 opponents) playing 2 Sets of 6 ends each, with up to 7 points awarded for various parts of each game. Also a time limit of 70 minutes per game was imposed.

Many very well known International and local bowlers were invited to enter a team. People interested in watching TV bowls will recognise some names in the table below. The names highlighted in colour were the seeded players/teams.

Before the tournament began, the Umpire checked that the bowls used were stamped to the required date and, on the right, Tournament convener Mike Herbert, wearing the specially designed ‘THE NINETY’ shirt, is in discussion with Andrew Hopkins, RBC Treasurer/Vice Chair and Hugh Lewis, RBC President.

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Two days before the tournament date, preparation was ahead of schedule with a marquee erected as protection for spectators etc. Another larger marquee had been erected nearer the entry gate as a changing area for those taking part.

At 6.15 a.m. the morning before the tournament it was seen that the two marquees erected were badly damaged by North Easterly winds, as seen in the following photographs.

Resolven Bowls Club members/volunteers, with the help of the Groundsman, Roy Gillespie had a massive task to clean up, make safe and prepare for the tournament starting at 8.30 a.m. the following morning.

All damaged structures were removed and the decision was made to assemble what remained of the structures the morning of the tournament.

Work started at 6.45a.m. on the day and with great organisation and effort from everyone involved, the first Sectional play for ‘THE NINETY’ did start on time.

Partly salvaged marquee for spectators.

For the first 36 of the bowlers, it was a very early start on the green, some of whom had travelled from an extremely wet and partially flooded Prestiegne in Radnorshire. Fortunately Resolven only had light rain early in the day and during the evening Final.

Mike Herbert kicked off the tournament at 8.30 a.m.

The whole event would not have been possible without the sponsors which included PEN-Y-CYMOEDD Wind Farm, David Kingdom at ‘FULL BIAS’, AERO Bowls, Resolven Community Council and Short Brothers Homes.

Between the first and second sessions, Hugh Lewis welcomed everyone and thanked the Sponsors.

Due to travelling difficulties some were not able to attend the tournament, so two ‘youngsters’ who had previously represented Resolven BC at the Welsh National Championships were roped in to Chris Wright’s team. Kyle Qureshi moved out of the locality and hadn’t played for approximately seven years and James Bradley hadn’t bowled for a few years due to work commitments. They both said that they enjoyed being back on the green again.

In this session Resolven Ladies BC’s Ceri Holmes, whose team included Hannah Williams and Sara Nichols were drawn against local bowlers Tony Gregg, Martin Addis (in the photo’) and Lionel Stock.

During the day a raffle was run to support a very popular Llanelli bowler, Dylan Williams’ and his fundraising efforts for MND (Motor Neurone Disease) with prizes such as a set of AERO bowls, bowls bags etc. etc. gratefully received from sponsors and members of the Resolven clubs. Delicious cakes made by the Resolven Ladies BC members and sold added to the total which resulted in a donation of £800.

Hannah Williams played skip and drawn against her partner Robert Chisholm who brought along their son as a spectator.

On the right behind Hannah is tournament convener Mike Herbert speaking to Resolven BC’s Chairman, Aylwin Jones.

Young Billy Flynn, who has many bowling successes already, measuring from the jack to a bowl.

He has been invited to play in the Welsh Bowls academy fixtures U18 test series in Scotland in August.

The best runners-up teams in the sectional play had an added incentive to play well for ‘The Plate’. The winners were Roger Jones, Andrew Hopkins, Stephen Allen & Mike Herbert(Non Bowler) who had prize money of £200. The Finalists for ‘The Plate’ received £100 – Martin Addis, Tony Gregg, Lionel Stock & Hugh Lewis(Non Bowler). All but one of the above named bowlers are members of Resolven BC.

The Semi-Finalists for the main tournament were Robert Weale, David Weale, Ian Slade & Dale Gorman from Presteigne BC who received £250 and Ben Thomas, Barrie Evans & Chris Jones from Pontrhydyfen BC who also received £250.

Losing Finalists – Harlequins BC’s Triples Jarrad Breen, Ross Owen and Jack Davies who received £500

This was Resolven Bowls Club’s inaugural tournament and the winning Trophy for ‘THE NINETY’ is in memory of Mr John Hopkins which was presented to the winners by Club President, Hugh Lewis.

After receiving £1000 Prize Money the Winners of ‘THE NINETY’ seen here with their Trophies, Ysie White from Tenby BC, Anwen Butten and Hari Butten from Lampeter BC.

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Photographs by Natasha Williams,

Hugh Lewis & William Bowcutt

Presentation – Hugh Lewis

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