News

Firstly, a big thank you to all who have supported this new initiative this year. With the schedule of games finishing at the end of March we only have 2 months left and a new name at the top of the leaderboard – well done Liz, but can you stay there until the end of the season?!

1          Liz Bridge              +84

2          Helen Goldsmith   +73

3          Mark Williams       +67

4          Ray Mitchell           +60

5          Steve Martin          +51

(The full leaderboard is up in the Club corridor)

For those who are not sure, have not played yet or indeed are recently joined and new to the Club, please find the remaining schedule as follows:

The mix of days and times was an attempt to allow as many to play as possible. You can come to however many or few games you like. Once here, teams are drawn at random on the day. The only members eligible are those in their first year of indoor bowls, so the ethos is based on learning and enjoying it.

CoVID Update

Thanks to all members for continuing to adhere to the current rules within the Club. We will continue to monitor all updates from the government and react accordingly if necessary.

Bowls England Awards

A reminder for those who have not already done so, please vote for Richard Spriggs for the Unsung Hero award here - https://www.bowlsengland.com/vote-now-for-your-unsung-hero-story-of-the-year/

Club Facebook Page

For those of you who are on Facebook, please ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ our Club page in order to grow our reach across the community. Just search Essex County Bowling Club.

Potters Bowls Shop Roadshow

Mark Royal is bringing the Shop back to the Club on Thursday 10^th February (11:30am – 7:00pm). He stocks bowls, clothing and every accessory you can imagine!

This competition is open to all lady bowlers at the Club, using all 6 rinks (no league games are scheduled) for a maximum of 36 entrants.

Tuesday 15^th February

10:00 start – must sign in by 09:45

Cost - £4.00 per person

The format is 3 wood triples, two sets of 9 ends, in the event of a tie an extra end will be played.

You can enter as a team or if you would rather put just your name down I will do my best to put you into teams space permitting. Priority will be given to people who have signed up and paid by 7^th February, however there will be a reserve list.

Sign up sheet is on the clipboard in the corridor with the friendlies.

Any questions please see Lynne Daughtrey or myself Margaret Shillitto but please be aware that I am having knee surgery on 20^th January so may not be able to answer the phone.

Many thanks and good luck,

Margaret

Club Friendlies

We are in urgent need of more names for various upcoming friendly matches – if you are not aware, these games are available to play in for absolutely any member of the Club, including those with limited experience, in fact they are a great way to gain it!

Sun 9^th Jan 14:30 v Thames Sports

Wed 12^th Jan 14:15 v Falcon (AWAY)

Sun 16^th Jan 14:30 v Chelmsford & District

Wed 19^th Jan 14:00 v Essex Vice Presidents (with after match meal)

Names for this coming Sunday are required URGENTLY in order to avoid cancellation – please reply to this e-mail if you can play.

Keep your eyes on the noticeboards for a full friendly programme for the remainder of the season.

Club Competitions

As these are now in full swing a quick reminder that the designated competition sessions are as follows:

Wed 18:30

Thur 18:30

Sun 10:00

However, there are plenty of spaces throughout the week in the diary – you are able to book in any slot designed at ‘Open Play’.

If you have not had contact as yet from your opponent, please get in touch with them and arrange the game promptly, even if they are the challenger.

Fri 24^th Dec – 8am to 2pm early closure

Sat 25^th Dec – CLOSED

Sun 26^th Dec – CLOSED

Mon 27^th Dec – 9:30am to 10:30pm late opening

Tue 28^th Dec – 9:30am to 10:30pm late opening

Wed 29^th Dec – Open as Usual 8am to 10:30pm

Thur 30^th Dec – Open as Usual 8am to 10:30pm

Fri 31^st Dec – 8am to 2pm early closure

Sat 1^st Jan – CLOSED

Sun 2^nd Jan – 9:30am to 6pm late opening

3rd onwards open as usual.

We hope everyone has a great Christmas!

First and foremost, a big thank you to members for your continued diligence as the season goes on – thanks to you all we have avoided serious complications to this point and we are all able to carry on enjoying our bowling.

However, as you no doubt are aware, things are now worsening around the country and as such we have to be extra careful whilst at the Club.

We are introducing new temporary rules (from 20^th December) as follows:

-        Facemasks must be worn at ALL times within the Club, except when eating at the restaurant. To clarify, masks must remain on even whilst seated around the Club.

Though not mandatory, we still encourage wearing a mask whilst playing.

-        To ease congestion on the rinks, for all internal play (roll ups, leagues, competitions) threes and skips are now to remain at the same end throughout the game – ie ‘threes up’ but threes and skips leave the head together. This will ensure there are never more than 4 bowlers at each end of a rink.

Thanks for your ongoing co-operation, just remember these rules are in place to keep everyone safe.

ECBC CoVID sub-Committee

National, County and District competitions are all now open for entry for the 2022 season as follows:

National

To enter National Competitions please visit

https://bowlsenglandcomps.com/account/login

You will have to create an account if you do not already have one.

The closing date for entries is 1^st March 2022.

County

To enter County Competitions please visit

https://www.essexcomps.co.uk

The process is exactly as above, entries are only allowed online.

The closing date for entries is 31^st January 2022.

Southend & District

To enter Southend & District Competitions please find the entry form on our website here

https://www.essexcountybowlsclub.com/competitions/club-competitions/outdoorcompetitions

Fill in the form and send off to S&D Treasurer as detailed on the form.

The closing date for entries is 6^th January 2022.

If anyone is unsure on what these competitions are, who can play in them etc, then please just ask Ed in the Club Office who is happy to explain all!

Club Christmas Opening Hours

Thur 23^rd Dec – Open as Usual 8am to 10:30pm (inc Mark Royal Roadshow)

Fri 24^th Dec – 8am to 2pm early closure

Sat 25^th Dec – CLOSED

Sun 26^th Dec – CLOSED

Mon 27^th Dec – Open as Usual 8am to 10:30pm

Tue 28^th Dec – Open as Usual 8am to 10:30pm

Wed 29^th Dec – Open as Usual 8am to 10:30pm

Thur 30^th Dec – Open as Usual 8am to 10:30pm

Fri 31^st Dec – 8am to 2pm early closure

Sat 1^st Jan – CLOSED

Sun 2^nd Jan – Open as Usual 8am to 6pm

New Year’s Eve Party – Message from Tina Spriggs

It is with deep regret that I have to tell you that the New Year's Eve Party will not be going ahead.

With the current situation worsening it is not worth it and we are not prepared to take that risk for one night.

I know this will be a great disappointment to everyone. After such a long time we were all looking forward to getting together but I hope you agree it's just not worth it.

Once again I am so sorry. I can assure you that when things improve we will have one big party to celebrate being together safely.

Mark Royal Bowls Shop Roadshow

A reminder that Mark is bringing the Potters Bowls Shop back to the Club on Thursday 23^rd December (11:30am-7pm) – please pop along to get your last minute Christmas presents!

A quick reminder, please can all members continue to wear facemasks around the Club. If we all continue to do so then the Club can remain open safely, hopefully for the whole of the Indoor season.