George Hitchmough – Page 33 – Hesketh Arms Bowling Club

HESKETH ARMS NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2020

AWARDS EVENING

The Club’s annual Awards Evening will take place on Saturday, 1^stFebruary at the Churchtown Conservative Club, starting at 7.30 pm. As well as presentations to the successful players from the 2019 season, there will be a finger buffet, quiz and raffle.

To order your ticket, priced at £5.00, please contact any club officer or your team captain. All proceeds from the night will go towards club funds.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Members are reminded that the Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held at the Churchtown Conservative Club on Tuesday 4^th February, 8.00 pm start.

Any proposals should be with the Secretary seven days before the meeting.

CLOSE SEASON WORK & MAINTENANCE

The Club is again indebted to our Honorary Vice-President, Bernard O’Malley and Nationwide Produce for their generous help in funding the end-of-season work, which is essential in providing the quality playing surface which we have become accustomed to at the Hesketh Arms. This is undertaken as early as possible in October once the green has been closed. Any delay in carrying out this vital work out would result in it not being as effective.

Thanks should also go to Graham Meadow and George Hitchmough for their ongoing work in co-ordinating the jobs which need doing around the green and the surrounds, which continues throughout the close season.

CLUB COMPETITIONS

The Club will again run a full programme of club competitions and weekend events during the 2020 season, starting with a Round Robin on Saturday, 11^th April, 2.00 pm start.

The dates set so far are as follows :-

Saturday 11^th April – Easter Round Robin 2.00 pm start

Saturday 25^th April – Spring Pairs (random doubles) 12.00 pm start

Sunday 10^th May – Rose Bowl (singles handicap) 12.00 pm start

Sunday 7^th June – Championship Cup (men’s singles) &

Ladies’ Championship (ladies’ singles) 12.00 pm start

Sunday 21^st June – Vice-Presidents Trophy (random doubles) 12.00 pm start

Sunday 5^th July – President’s Cup (singles handicap) 11.00 am start

Sunday 12^th July – Chairman’s Shield (non-random doubles) 12.00 pm start

Dates for the remaining competitions will be notified in due course.

HESKETH ARMS BOWLING CLUB

SEASON REVIEW 2019

Welcome to the Hesketh Arms Bowling Club Season Review 2019. The Club has enjoyed another successful year, with both the Eagles and the Owls again winning their respective championships.We were again able to complete a busy programme of internal club competitions, as well as staging open singles and doubles events. Membership remains strong and we look forward to another enjoyable season of bowling in 2020.

SOUTHPORT LV LEAGUE

Premier Division Pts

1. Hesketh Eagles 216

2. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘A’ 171

3. Scarisbrick NSC ‘A’ 146

4. Mere Brow 145

5. Victoria Park 133

6. London Tigers 125

7. Zetland ‘B’ 116

8. HeskethHarriers 114

9. London Lions 105

1^stDivision Pts

1. Zetland ‘A’ 182

2. Sandbrook Park 168

3. Crowlands 147

4. Hesketh Falcons 146

5. Scarisbrick B.C. ‘C’ 139

6. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘B’ 138

7. Zetland ‘D’ 131

8. Scarisbrick NSC ‘B’ 108

9. Tarleton 102

Congratulations to the Eagles on convincingly retaining the Premier Division championship they had won in 2018. Losing only two games, they finished a clear 45 points ahead of runners-up Fleetwood Hesketh ‘A’.

Having won the 1^st Division the previous season, the Harriers were playing in the top division for the first time and competed well, eventually finishing in 9^th place. Special mention must go to Jim Halsall, who topped the divisional merit with 14 wins and an aggregate of +134.

In the 1st Division, the Falcons had a good season, winning 10 games out of 16 to finish in 4^th place.

Eagles Merit Winner :

Kevin Leddy – 14 wins

Harriers Merit Winner :

Jim Halsall – 14 wins

Falcons Merit Winner :

Peter Jozwik – 13 wins

SOUTHPORT PARKS LEAGUE

The Kites continued under the captaincy of John Unsworth andenjoyed another good season in the 1^st Division of the Southport Parks League. Last season they finished in 4^th place but this year went one better to end the season in 3^rd place. Hopefully, 2020 will be the year the Kites finally gain promotion to the Premier Division after several top four finishes.

Congratulations to Kez Adams, who was the Kites’ team merit winner with 17 wins out of 20 games played.

1^st DIVISION Pts

1. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘A’ 186

2. Tarleton 159

3. Hesketh Kites 137

4. Zetland ‘A’ 136

5. Scarisbrick NSC ‘B’ 127

6. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘B’ 112

7. Crowlands 111

8. Holmeswood ‘B’ 103

9. London Sphynx ‘A’ 101

10. Ainsdale ‘B’ 95

11. Scarisbrick B.C. ‘B’ 85

KitesMerit Winner :

Kez Adams, 17 wins

BURSCOUGH LEAGUE

Having only been formed two seasons ago, the Vultures were competing in the top division of the Burscough League for the first time, having gained back-to-back promotions in 2017 and 2018. This is one of best divisions in the area and the team did extremely well to finish in 4^th place. They will now look to challenge for a top three position in 2020.

1st Division

1. Banks St. Stephens 173

2. Burscough RBL ‘A’ 149

3. Bretherton 146

4. Hesketh Vultures 127

5. Fleetwood Hesketh 118

6. Zetland ‘A’ 115

7. Longton VM ‘A’ 110

8. Croston Subscription 104

9. London 97

10. Crossens ‘A’ 79

11. Mawdesley ‘A’ 75

12. Holmeswood ‘A’ 72

Merit Winner :

Chris Porter, 14 wins

In the 2^nd Division of the Burscough League, the Ospreys enjoyed a much-improved season, winning eleven out of their 24 matches to finish in a respectable 10^th place.

The team was pleased to welcome Kevin Leddy back into the fold after a break from bowling and Kevin won 16 games to claim the team merit award.

2^nd Division

1. Mere Brow 194

2. Croston Black Horse 154

3. Longton VM ‘B’ 153

4. Zetland ‘B’ 150

5. Hoole Village Hall ‘A’ 146

6. Tarleton 134

7. Mawdesley ‘B’ 127

8. Burscough RBL ‘B’ 124

9. Hoole Village Hall ‘B’ 107

10. Hesketh Ospreys 101

11. Holmeswood ‘B’ 82

12. Botanic Gardens 76

13. Crossens ‘B’ 66

Merit Winner :

Kevin Leddy , 16wins

SOUTHPORT VETERANS’ LEAGUE

In 2018, the Merlins finished in 4^th place and it was hoped that they would challenge for promotion in 2019. They very nearly achieved this, finishing in 3^rdplace, just six points behind runners-up Formby Park ‘A’. Maybe next season will be the year the Merlins make it to the 1^st Division.

The Hobbies were also competing in the 2^nd Division and they finished in a comfortable 7^th place, winning nine of their matches.

Individually, two players ended the season with 18 wins, Brian Sutton winning the Merlins team merit and captain Roger Van Beever leading by example for the Hobbies.

2^nd Division Pts

1. Ainsdale ‘A’ 184

2. Formby Park ‘A’ 168

3. Hesketh Merlins 162

4. Freshfield ‘A’ 150

5. Hesketh Bank 150

6. Scarisbrick B.C. ‘A’ 130

7. Hesketh Hobbies 129

8. The Northern 128

9 Botanic ‘A’ 122

10. Fleetwood Hesk. ‘B’ 112

11. Our Lady’s ‘A’ 107

12. Hoole Village Hall ‘B’ 89

Merlins Merit Winner :

Brian Sutton, 18 wins

Hobbies Merit Winner :

Roger Van Beever, 18 wins

AUGHTON & DISTRICT SENIOR CITIZENS’ LEAGUE

We continued to run two teams in the Aughton and District Senior Citizens’ League on a Wednesday afternoon and in 2019 both our teams were competing in the 1^st Division following the Hawks’ promotion from the 2^nd Division.

The top division of this league is a high standard with some tricky away greens to be negotiatedbut the Hawks performed well playing in the top division for the first time, winning eleven games to finish in a decent 8^th place. The Kestrels won eight of their games to end the season 11^th.

Congratulations to Bill Bloor and Dave White who won the league’s end-of-season pairs competition.

1^st Division Pts

1. Zetland 233

2. Burscough CC Vets 211

3. Mere Brow ‘A’ 210

4. Burscough RBL 157

5. Victoria Park ‘A’ 156

6. Hurlston Hall 148

7. Freshfield B.C. 133

8. Hesketh Hawks 129

9. The Northern 125

10. Stanley Arms 115

11. Hesketh Kestrels 114

12. Aughton Institute ‘A’ 108

13. Crossens 90

Hawks Merit Winner :

Peter Smith, 16 wins

Kestrels Merit Winner :-

Jim Halsall, 14 wins

MAGHULL BOWLING LEAGUE

Congratulations to the Owls on repeating the success of 2018 by winning both the 3^rd Division Championship and Knockout Cup in the Maghull and District League.

Captained by Sue Davies, the team only lost two league games all season, despite playing in the higher division and completed the double by defeating Meadows in the Knockout Cup final, played at the Northern Club.

Individually, the team’s merit award went to Tony Wakefield, who went undefeated all season, winning all 14 games played.

3^rd DIVISION

1. Hesketh Owls 142

2. Meadows 116

3. Brooke Hotel 2 104

4. Ormskirk B.C. 101

5. Formby Holy Trinity 97

6. Hightown 95

7. Netherton Park 2 80

8. Formby S & S 77

9. Dog & Gun 71

OWLS MERIT WINNER :-

Tony Wakefield

14 wins

CLUB COMPETITIONS

The Club continued to run it’s programme of internal competitions for club members during the 2019 season and these were once again well-supported.

The successful competitors were :-

Winner(s) Runner(s)-Up

Rose Bowl Terry Corfield Peter Croston

Rose Bowl Plate Sue Davies Lynne Smith

Spring Pairs Mike Dunlop / Chris Harding /

Les Miller Dave White

Spring Pairs Plate Barry McArthur / Bill Bloor

Peter Smith Lynne Smith

Championship Cup Wayne Graham Derek Wignall

Ladies’ Championship Pat McArthur Lynne Smith

Championship Plate Peter Croston Roger Van Beever

Vice-Presidents Trophy Peter Croston / Sue Davies /

Norman Simpson Fergal Wright

Vice-Presidents Plate Mike Dunlop / Alex Rimmer /

Derek Wignall Roger Van Beever

Chairman’s Shield Barry Lowe / Jason Chapman /

Richard Rawcliffe Mark Rowlinson

Chairman’s Plate Sue Davies / Jeff Brown /

George Hitchmough Roger Van Beever

President’s Cup Bill Bloor Fergal Wright

President’s Day Plate Sue Davies Les Miller

Coronation Cup Jim Halsall Dave White

Diamond Jubilee Plate Roger Van Beever Sue Davies

Last Chance Cup Lynn Burrow / Alan Lloyd /

Mike Milne Fergal Wright

Last Chance Plate Laurie Townson / Peter Croston /

Roger Van Beever Barry Pursall

OPEN COMPETITIONS

The Club again ran two open competitions in 2019, both of which attracted entries from all over the North West, as well as local bowlers and our own members. The winners were:-

Winner(s) Runner(s)-Up

Open Singles Andy Draper Fergal Wright

(Fleetwood Hesketh) (Hesketh Arms)

Bernard O’Malley Ray Bevington& Alan Catterall &

V-P Trophy Paul Clegg Roy Webster

(Open Doubles) (Golborne Sports) (Scarisbrick NSC /Banks SS)