Well the annual Overs and Unders competition took place on Sat 11th September with the usual rivalry taking place.  The age limit set this year was members over 55 versus members under 55.  Members arrived and signed in on their respective team sheets and birth certificates were being checked for those people not owning up to old father time!!

With a little inclement weather forcast and the extensive array of prizes on offer (all purchased from Harrods – some players got confused and thought it was more like King Herod)  but the people to blame for the the selection of prizes  are  Mr Jamie Fleming and Mr George Whyte.

The main aim of the day is fun – with everybody getting a pick from either the Overs or the Unders table depending on how well you faired throughout the days play.  As usual the most expensive gifts went first – the good old golf brolly.  You can never have too many of them a member was overheard saying….however not everyone went home happy.

The annual “must get a new golf brolly” day saw Mr Pat O’Reilly leave without adding to his ever growing array of brolly’s coming a credible 3rd in the days play but  the 2 members above him in the results table whisked the golf brolly’s away out of sight.

Overall not a bad turn out for the days play with 40 members taking part and at least everyone went home with something – no matter however small.

The John McConnachie Memorial Friday night triples competition starts on Friday 13th Aug at 7pm.  Members playing are asked to be at the clubhouse for 6:45pm.  Good luck to all participants and may the best team win……  Further updates to follow.

Friday 13th Aug report.

Well the sun shown (well for a time anyway) and all the big guns headed out to do battle in this years John McConnachie Memorial Triples competition.  The format of which is 11 ends.  Battle commenced from some at the agreed time but for others it was a different story.  Missing players….missing shoes…oh the list goes on.

With Scott “Hawk” missing 1 shoe from his locker he spent most of the time hopping around looking for the missing item much to the amusement of the other competitors.  Eventually a substitute show was provided and play for all the teams could begin.

The green looked well but to be honest played terrible and tested all the competitors to the limit.  Some “Big” names fell by the wayside after the 11 ends were complete with the so called underdogs being triumphant on the evenings play.  So those teams lucky enough to have won are now thru to the next weeks round which takes place on Fri 2oth Aug…..For those that were not so lucky it just means they can enjoy the clubs bar facilities earlier than most.

Fri 20th Aug report.

Well with the teams called to the green at 6:40pm for the 6:45pm start by the ever efficient match secretary, Mr Jim McWilliam, the players made their way there onto their respective rinks…..that is all but 2 players.

The match secretary decided he needed to finish his Guinness before attempting the 11 ends of bowls……and with a few large gulps the drink was done and his rink could finally get underway.  That just left the teams drawn to play on rink 5 to start their game.  After a quick count – there were only 5 players on the green with Mr Gerry McColl being the absent party.

After a quick phone message, and a call back from the man himself – his team mates were informed that he was at least 10 minutes away “stuck in traffic”…so as every good seasonal bowler knows…..that is 10 mins to have another drink so the 5 players vacated the green to enjoy a refreshment whilst waiting for the arrival of one of their party.

Finally Gerry turned up and the teams could let battle commence.  With the games generally equally balanced  (apart from the whacking great win the Thomson family managed to rack up and skipped by “Super Skip” Craig Thomson) all in all the games were closely fought as each team battled to make it through to the semi-finals with each shot being closely calculated, pondered over, discussed, made a hash of and player ridiculed.

The game in rink 5 was very closely fought with the team skipped by Stephen Gow 4 up with 1 end to go.  Here lies the escape story of the night that even Steve McQueen and his fellow prisioners of war would have been proud of.  With the leads having played almost all their bowls and Stephen’s team lying several shots the call went out over the radio waves for the “Heavy Hitters” to take aim and fire at the head.  Needless to say the outcome was that the end was burnt and had to be replayed.

That was not the end of the excitement……with the end being replayed and the leads and seconds finished it fell to the skips to make or break the evening.  With Stephen, Gerry and Jim lying several shots Donald McKinnon and Stephen Blair informed their skip “The Rocket” that he needed to pull the jack 3 yards to give them 5 shots.  With 2 bowls left to play “The Rocket” duly picked the jack up and did as he was told.  Stephen then drew with his final bowl and secured 3rd shot.

There was no option but the bowl had to be removed from the head with the “Rockets” last bowl to have at least a chance of getting through to the semi-finals.  In a last gasp effort the bowl was thrown and somehow managed to hit the bowl and leave his team mates with the 5 shots needed to win the match.

Look out Houdini….the “Rocket” is after yer job.

A harsh result for Stephen and his team mates…..as they did deserve to have the lead they had accumulated on merit on the evenings play….but I’m afraid thats bowls!

22nd December 2010

The scaffolding has now gone and the main external construction work has been completed with the focus now on the internal fixtures and fittings.  The most important area of the new clubhouse – the bar – is being built and will be much larger.  The committee have been busily working away sourcing new items for the fitting out of the clubhouse including new seating, tables, Bar and catering equipment to name but a few.

Externally the veranda and railings have still to be completed but internally work is continuing with completion dates estimated at the middle of January 2011.  We continue to work towards getting into the new building and adding the finishing touches to what will be our new home.

The building of the new clubhouse commenced on Monday 9th August 2010 with the contractors on-site early that morning.  Things moved apace with fencing being erected for site safety and early ground work commencing shortly afterwards.

Its great to see the work commencing and there is an air of anticipation and optimism around the club since the work started.  Photographs will be posted of its progress throughout the build process.

The club were represented with in the DBA district finals this year in the Pairs competition by Stephen Blair and Ronnie Walker.  The finals were hosted by Dumbuck BC with ALL of the District finals taking place on the night so plenty of activity.

Argyle were drawn to play against their Dumbarton BC opponents on Rink 1 nearest the clubhouse and a great turnout from the our club members ensured that the support for the players was outstanding.

The Argyle rink started well and went into an early lead with Dumbarton slowly catching up.  A very tight game ensued with neither side having any large lead throughout the proposed 17 ends.

There were some fine shots played by both teams on the night in the closing ends Dumbarton went 2 shots clear with 2 ends to play.  Argyle fought back taking a single at the next 2 ends to force an extra end with the scores tied at 12-12.

With Argyle taking the early upper hand in the end and lying shot Dumbarton played with weight and managed to move the jack to the side almost in line with the rink marker.  Argyle then drew the shot within a yard to put the pressure back on Dumbarton.  With 3 bowls to play Dumbarton drew the shot just inside the Argyle bowl and with the last Argyle bowl the attempt to draw the shot failed to come back into the rink Dumbarton won 13-12.

Well done to Dumbarton and good luck next Tuesday with the inter-district final being played @ Cardross BC.  Hard lines to the Argyle team who put up a spirited performance on the night and represented the club admirably.

The club sent out 8 teams to contend for the DABC Strathleven Rosebowl.  After an afternoons bowling under the belts the members drifted back to the clubhouse to report the results.  Although the 2 initial results back didn’t make good reading the club had 5 wins – 2 loses and awaiting 1 result to be received.  However the 6th win was not to be

So with 5 wins and 3 loses we acquitted ourselves well but just fell at the final hurdle.

DBA & SBA Results Posted

Results from the DBA and SBA games concerning teams selected from the Argyle have been posted to the results page.  The update can be viewed HERE.

A new page has been added to the site for the Seniors results.  The page can be viewed by highlighting the Seniors Section above.

The Ladies section officially opened their 2010 season on Sunday 11th April.  Ladies Committee, Main Section President and Vice-President were invited onto the green as the Ladies President Michelle made her speech and invited her father John Deignan to officially throw the silver jack and the first 2 bowls of the season.

With the Jack successfully delivered John then threw the first bowl of season 2010 to the applause of all members and by-standers with it coming to rest a few inches from the jack.  The second bowl however was not as close……with a WRONG BIAS being thrown!!!!

Oh Well…..lets hope its not an omen for things to come for John….or there will be queues of people looking to play him in the seasons competitions ahead.

The club enjoyed its first win of season 2010 on Saturday 10th April with 6 teams competing against the Renton Bowling Club in the annual friendly match.  The game was held again at the Renton Bowling Club again this year due to our lack of an official “clubhouse” and their hospitality was again second to none.

The weather played its part in the days events as well with an almost “tropical” temperatures in place and no doubt a few drinks were sunk to quench the thirsts on the day as well.  The Argyle club recorded an overall victory of over 20+ shots over the 6 rinks with Andy “the road-show” Kane skipping the most successful rink for the Argyle on the day.

Full Team Selection and results:

Team (Score)

F.Quinn, W.McDonald, S.Martin, J.Fleming (-2)

J.Donnelly, D.Purdy, J.Beaton, M.Douglas (+10)

A.Kane, W.Stewart, J P.Brennan, R.Sommerville (+22)

A.O’Neill, J.Brennan, J.Molloy, T.Williamson (+1)

J.Dickson, T.Taylor, Wm.Scullion, J.Scullion (even)

C.McEwan, G.Whyte, W.Bell, J.Donnolly #2 (-2)

Well done to all concerned and lets build on this result throughout the season ahead.

Members are reminded that the Renton friendly game will take place on Saturday 10th April at the Renton Bowling Club.  If you wish to be considered for selection for this game you MUST add your name to the sheet in the cub house.

No name – No Game