The period in question commenced with the Finals of the Spanish National Championships and there was considerable success for the Club. This has already been covered on the Spanish Nationals Page.

The first Competition of the domestic Calendar was the Summer Championships and concluded with the Federation’s Provincial Championships in which the Club enjoyed considerable success. In addition to the Winners listed below there were some other notable performances :-

Terry Barrett reached two Semi-Finals and lost in the Pairs Final with John Cornwell and in the Triples Final with Craig Lewis and Andy Salmon.

Andy Salmon lost in the Gents Singles and Triples Finals.

In the Semi-Finals of the Fours Tournament, Michael & Mary Detheridge / Paul & Jan Brown defeated Terry & Maureen Barrett / John & Carole Cornwell before losing in the Final.

The Club was also involved in “two firsts” for the Province :-

In October, along with 6 Members of Benavista Bowls Club, we sent 15 Bowlers to play in a Test Match at Ayamonte against Isla Canela and East Algarve. On a heavy Grass surface which was alien to everyone, we had a nightmare opening game of 3 and, whilst we held our own in the remaining two, the damage had been done and we lost the Test Match by 27 shots. It is hoped this will become an Annual event with the Match being staged in Malaga Province in 2010.

In November, the Club travelled to Mojacar to compete in the National Kings Cup Final. Unfortunately our depleted Team fell well short of the standard displayed by our opponents from Greenlands ( Alicante ) and Indalo ( Almeria ). It was the host Club ( Indalo ) who duly won the National Trophy but we hope to have set a precedent for years to come where the Kings Cup Winners from the three Provinces compete annually.

The Club has set out in a positive manner in defence of its League Title and League Cup Crown. In the Tigers League, despite losing one “home encounter”, the Club has a commanding lead and it overcame a stern challenge in the 1st Round of League Cup when defeating its closest challengers in the League from Benalmadena.

We have, inevitably, lost several Members during the year. Some have moved by choice but we were sad to lose Bruce Gunn whose untimely death stunned us all and he will be sadly missed by everyone. On the positive side we have recruited a number of new Members, many of whom are new to the Sport, which should ensure the Coaches / Instructors at the Club ( Denis Tolfree, Alan Turner and Murray Johns ) are kept occupied on a regular basis.

Having celebrated its 25th Anniversary on 24 October ( documented elsewhere on the site ) the Club moved into new Ownership. Martin Randerson and Jamie Ali Shah are now at the helm and, under their stewardship, the Club is assured of a positive and successful future both on and off the Green.

Text and Pictures : Murray Johns