06/04/08 - The 2007/2008 National Championships
The National Championships at Kettering have just concluded and we are pleased to report that silverware will be returning to Devon. The National Triples Competition which was played on Sunday 6th April, was won by Phil Atkins, Michael Ivings (Exeter Nomads) and Gareth Hill (Ivybridge). The team competed in the final and at one stage were 6 - 2 down, but they managed to win the remaining ends of the match and finally beat their opponents 7 - 6. The trio will now play for England in the British Isles Championships later in the year. Congratulation Guys.
Michael Ivings also competed in the National Under 18's Championships held at the Caroline Chisholm School on Sunday 16th March. Michael was finally knocked out of the event in the Semi-Finals.
Well done to all those who qualified for and competed at the Championships.
06/05/07 - The Woodbridge Trophy
Once again this year four of our Under-18 players made the two hundred mile round trip to the Midlands to play in the National Under-18s Competition leaving Exeter at six a.m.! This is a handicap that we in Devon are well used to. However, the early start did not deter our lads from finishing as the best County Under-18s team in the Country and runners-up to the winning team which was a hand-picked rink from four different Counties. Originally the Woodbridge Trophy had the main objective of promoting the Junior section by providing a whole days bowling exclusively for that age group on the ‘National Stage’. For that reason the teams are divided into two main groups and each rink gets six games to make the day worthwhile for everyone. The drawback of course is that you don’t play everyone in the group and there is no play off to decide the winners. So it’s the luck of the draw that determines how tough your games are and with so many Under-18s playing in their Senior County Teams all round the country these days that can be very tough indeed. All the more credit therefore goes to our Devon Rink of Daniel Wills (Modbury), Gareth Hill (Ivybridge), Steve Angold (Ilfracombe) and Michael Ivings (Exeter Nomads) for finishing as best County Team and gaining a great deal of praise from the other spectators and officials. Their manner and sportsmanship as ever was a great credit to our County.
Finally huge thanks are due to Peter and Tina Hill and Robert and Audrey Ivings for taking the team, to Robert for being responsible for the boys and to Michael for making the team arrangements. You’ve all done Devon proud.
06/05/07 - The Mary and Roger Gardiner Trophy Finals
After Nomads swept the board at the County finals this year, our website has asked the question “Who is going to beat them?” Well the answer has come back loud and clear at the end of the Roger Gardiner Finals – SHEBBEAR ! that’s who.
In the opening round Totnes Creameries drew the very strong Taunton team which was wall to wall Somerset County Team and England players. To their great credit Totnes only missed out from the semi-finals by a handful of shots. Then it was Nomad’s turn to meet the Taunton stars and after a very hard-fought match the Exeter team were victorious by just five shots.
Meanwhile Shebbear had been doing a very workmanlike job quietly making their way through to the final and they carried on in the same way against Nomads. Shebbear played their own game and just kept on putting bowls in the head and leaving Nomads to take chances which just didn’t quite come off on the day. So when the dust had settled it was two disciplines each but Shebbear had four more shots and were the winners thus depriving Nomads of four in a row of Gardiner victories. So although this was the last ever Mary & Roger Gardiner Trophy tournament perhaps it was a fitting end just to see the sheer joy on the faces of the new winners. Well done Shebbear.
And finally……… to all you doubting Thomas’s, those well-worn sayings are still very true – “It’s all on the day”…..”You’re as good as your next game”…and most important of all “EVERYONE IS BEATABLE” .
Percy Verence
21/04/07 - 2006/07 Devon County Finals Day
It was a clean sweep for Exeter Nomads at the Devon County Finals this year and one which I am sure a few would like to forget. James Smith set the wheels in motion by beating fellow clubmate Phil Atkins in the County Singles Final. Michael Ivings beat Gareth Hill (Ivybridge) in the County Under 18's Final. Tony Main and Michael Avery (Yarnscombe) dropped four shots on the last end of the County Pairs Final and handed the victory to Simon Pridham and Phil Atkins. In the Triples, James, Simon and Lee beat Robert, Richard and Michael Ivings (Nomads) and then the infamous four (pictured below) narrowly deafeted Gareth Hill, John Cann, Andy Crane and David Crisp (Ivybridge) on the last end of the County Fours Final.
Left - Right: James Smith, Simon Pridhan, Lee Toleman and Phil Atkins Below: Michael Ivings - Under 18's Champion
03/04/07 - National Triples Trophy
James Smith, Simon Pridham and Lee Toleman have won the 2006/07 National Triples Championships. The same trio also won the National Triples during the 2004/05 season. It was a double victory for Simon having already won the National Singles Championship earlier in the week. Well done guys.
30/03/07 - Pie-Man Pridham retires on a high
Simon Pridham, the current County Team Manager and affectionately known as the pie-man to his friends, has won the 2006/2007 National Singles Championships. The Finals held at Kettering on the 30th March is one of the last tournaments that Simon will compete in for a while as he is due to retire from bowls at the end of the season for personal reasons. Simon, will be rounding off his season of National competition by competing in the National Triples and Fours Finals with fellow team mates from Exeter Nomads over the coming weekend.
WAY TO GO PIE-MAN.
17/03/07 - Club Team Finals - Exeter Nomads Triumphant
Exeter Nomads recorded another win after beating Totnes Creameries in the final of the 2006/07 County Club Team Champoinships on Saturday 17th March at ISCA. Of the four disciplines, Nomads won the Singles and Pairs, but Totnes Creameries won the Triples and Fours. In the end it all came down to shot difference with Nomads clinching the victory by just six shots. The club have now won this event six times over the last fifteen seasons despite some tough opposition. So who is going to stop them?
Winners - Exeter Nomads
Runners-up - Totnes Creameries
Nomads Team Retain National Mixed Fours Title
Congratulations to Lee and Marie Toleman and John and Irene Smith who successfully defended the National Mixed Fours Championships and retained the trophy which they won last year. The team qualified for the National Championship at ISCA back in November before competing in this years finals at the Caroline Chisholm School in Northampton.
MARKERS COURSE
The DCSMBA have introduced a County Markers Proficiency Course.
The course will consist of a 25 question 'written test', which you can complete in the comfort of your own home and a 'practical test' organised in a local club, which will involve undergoing a series of measuring exercises designed to assist you to become a
'Qualified County Marker'
If you wish to undergo the courses, please contact your Area Representative. The Umpire Manager will make arrangements for you to receive the written test paper upon payment of the £5.00 course fee. On completion of the Written and Practical courses, you will receive a Markers Badge.