Inter County Competitions
The Premier and A teams both qualified , in the round robin sections, for the knockout stages which meant leaving Devon at 7.00 a.m. for a 10.30 start at Melksham in Wiltshire. Both teams won quite convincingly and thus qualified for the next round. These were played at Northampton requiring a 5.45 a.m. departure in order to be sure of making the start time. The A team were drawn against Norfolk and the Premier team were paired with Kent ( winners on many previous occasions). Both Devon teams had an excellent start and were well up after the first session. Unfortunately tiredness caught up with everyone in the afternoon and both teams were narrowly defeated 15 points to 21.
It was a great effort from all the players and perhaps next year will bring better fortune. The County committee have discussed the issue of tiredness due to the early start necessitated by the distance involved and have agreed that a better alternative to the early start from Exeter by coach would be to ask players to travel, in groups, by car sharing the petrol costs, and the sum formerly spent on the coach could be used to providing overnight accommodation at a Travel Lodge or similar and thus allowing our players to complete the playing day considerably fresher in body and mind.
The AGM and finals
On Saturday April 21st the AGM of the DCSMBA will take place at Isca. The meeting is due to start at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a buffet lunch and then the County finals will be played. Please note that the buffet is only being ordered for those attending the meeting and staying on for the finals and not for those turning up later, remember there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Members of the Association are urgently asked to consider standing for the committee, there are certainly going to be a few vacancies and all positions are available for nomination including the post of team manager as Simon has tendered his resignation for personal reasons. I will also not be standing for re-election after ten years on the committee as secretary, membership secretary, vice chair and chair I feel that the time has come to stand down. I don’t quite seem to enjoy the long trip to Isca on winter evenings, particularly since I am the only North Devon resident on the committee these days.
Please remember it’s not a bit of good complaining about committee decisions or personnel if you are unwilling to play your part.
The Jack
I have finally received some correspondence on the origin of the name Jack, when referred to that cute little yellow ball we all so tirelessly try to get close to. Gaye and Chris Young of the Upottery Club, to whom I am indebted, tell me that in the middle ages men would amuse themselves throwing stones, either for distance or at a target for accuracy. The medieval latin was “jactu lapidum” and the first syllable came to mean the target as bowls developed from crown or rink. They then go on to dispel the myth that our sport is a very civilised game by describing the origin of the term “visiting the head.” The origins are said to lie in Central European warfare; for amusement after the battle the victors would sever heads of defeated warriors and roll them towards a target. To see who had won they would visit the head.
Competitions
Due to many reasons, including the disparity of entries from various areas, the variety of playing surfaces available etc., the committee have decided that for next season all preliminary round matches in the various disciplines will be played at Isca , rather than at club venues, this will then free up mat time at clubs to allow the County tens or top team as some call it to be played on a home and away basis similarly to the Gardiner trophy although of course the number of woods used and playing order will remain distinct from those of the South-West competition.
The county also intend to run less open competitions as the entries are dwindling year on year. It appears that players prefer to compete in their own areas in the myriad of competitions now available, comparatively locally.
Other Info
Green folder inserts for this year will be available at the AGM together with entry forms for next year’s competitions. If you are not being represented you may wish to ask another club to collect yours. Inserts may also be obtained by sending a large SAE (£1 Postage ) to Brian Glanvill, 36 Maple Drive, Exmout,h EX8 5N.
Competition entry forms may also be obtained from John Smith, 40, Winslade Park Avenue, Clyst St. Mary, EX5 1DA.
If possible, the entry forms will also be available direct from the website.
Written by Mr John Crossman - DCSMBA Chairman
Contact - jmj@crossman49.freeserve.co.uk