Lee Richards RIP

Pre Season Roundup

Congratulations to all of the following : Ysie White has been selected for the Welsh Ladies elite squad, along with former Tenby Club member Ceris Hewlings. Full squad can be found here :- http://www.welshwomensbowling.co.uk/news_story.html?story=240#open .

John Roberts has once again been selected for the Welsh Trial team, Full trial team details here :- http://www.welshbowlingassociation.co.uk/trialteam.php

Finally an amazing six members of the club have been selected for the Junior trial team (under 25) - Luke Rees, Cameron White, Aaron Lloyd, Joe Richards, Ryan Thomas and Ben Cloake, full details are here :- http://www.welshbowlingassociation.co.uk/jnrtrialteam.php

Ysie in Oz

Tenby Bowling Club member Ysie White is pictured at the opening ceremony of the World Junior Championships at Broadbeach Bowling Club on Australia's Gold Coast. Ysie and fellow Welsh competitor, Ross Owen, of Harlequins BC, have made bold bids in the opening rounds of both the ladies and men's singles and mixed pairs events. Countries competing include Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, Namibia, Scotland, Ireland and Canada and the hosts , Australia.

Seventh Heaven

The N. D. Toy & Partners Ltd sponsored Tenby team finally won the Division One league title after doing their utmost to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (writes Paul Diment). Two weeks ago, Haverfordwest visited Tenby. A win for the home side would have secured the league with two games remaining. Haverfordwest didn't read the script and recorded an historic 14-0 victory. The result was that Tenby were now 19 points behind their north county rivals with two away games to play. For those not familiar with scoring for league games, the maximum amount available is 14 points (two points for a winning rink - four rinks being played - and six points for the overall win). On average, a side will win two rinks and lose the other two - therefore scoring four points each The winning bonus of six points is dependent, naturally, on how well the individual rinks have done against each other. Therefore. with two games in hand, Tenby's aim was to win both matches and secure at least four winning rinks out of eight - obtaining 20 points and winning the league by a solitary point. For those of you still with me (!) - the first of their 'games in hand' was against Pendine. Always a very difficult place to visit, Tenby surpassed their own expectations by claiming 14 points (four winning rinks and win bonus). This was an excellent win against a very strong and established first division team who a few weeks earlier had beaten a strong Whitland team

14-0. The following day, Tenby visited their local rivals Saundersfoot, now only five points behind Haverfordwest. Tenby once again rose to the occasion, winning on all but one rink and scoring 12 points in the process - winning the league championship by seven points and their seventh consecutive league title. Seven consecutive league wins matches the record of the Tenby team in the 1960s, which featured the likes of Crofton John, Bill Griffiths. J. J. Nichol], Bob Diment, Tom Evans, Sid Dyde, Martin Mulligan, Lewis Hilling, Eric Dorling, Alwyn Adams and George Thomas. In addition, it also matched the record of the 1990s learn containing the likes of Roy Powling. Jim Oliver, Doug Silcox, Sam McNeilly, Terry Thomas, Simon Evans, Lee Williamson, Chris Thomas and Terry Preston. A question, which was put to me after the win, was which team was the best. Despite malicious rumours. I was not around to witness the 1960s team, but the comparison between the 1990s team the 2010s team is interesting. When comparing, you have to take into consideration that the game has changed in that now, more attacking shots are played than were in the 1990s. However, that is not to say that no one could play attacking shots in the 1990s team -far from it - but it was considered a last resort shot, rather

than today in which it is an initial consideration. Personally, I don't think it is possible to compare teams from different eras. However, what is possible is to pick an all-time team between the 1990s and 2010s teams, But before 1 start, a disclaimer (!) have only considered players who have played in at least five championship sides. Also, if players don't make the side - especially existing team mates - please do not take offence - it's not that I don't rate you as players, it is simply because you are in esteemed company as I hope to illustrate. Right, here we go. First of all the leads. I have played with two leads that T consider to be a cut above the rest. They are Sam McNeilly and Peter Day. Sam had three qualities - the first was that he was an exceptional lead (naturally) and the second, he was a tremendous competitor who gave his all game after game and third, he had a tremendous sense of humour which relieved any pressure situation we were faced with. Peter would have been capped for Wales had he remained playing lead. In the 1990s, in particular, he was playing :it an extremely high standard. reaching the final of the Welsh Triples with Ian Badham and Macky Brace and winning the Welsh Rinks in 1999 and the British Isles Rinks in 2000. Another player, very similar to Sam with his competitive nature and another Welsh champion of great talent, Viv John, also makes the team. The last spot could have gone to a number of players, including Ian Badham, Roy Powling, Cameron White, Mike Jackson and Luke Rees. However, I don't think anyone would disagree when I select an Under 25 international, Luke Guymer, Seconds; First on the list is four-time club champion, Terry Preston. Terry was such a solid reliable player that there wouldn't be too many clubs (if any) that he wouldn't have got into in Wales. Jonathon Webb is one of the best seconds ever to have played for Tenby - testified by the fact that hers one of only three players to have played in all seven title wins in both the 1990s and 2010s - the other two being Andrew Muskett and myself (well I wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise!). Although Craig Guymer plays skip in the current team, the Under 25 international would make a tremendous second in the all-time team and finally, it makes sense to go for a senior international and former Silver Bowl winner, John Roberts. Special mention to John Baggott who has been a tremendous player over the years and could have easily been included in this team as a second, but I have only four spaces available. And he supports Chelsea.

Thirds and skips. I have grouped these together, as there are players included that could play either position. For example, 1 could have easily picked myself skip. but feel that in an all-time team, my best position would he third. In coming to this decision, I naturally had to consider who would be my skip. In all honesty the decision was not a hard one - Pat Currie. Having won two Welsh titles with Pat, including a British title - as a third/skip combination- it made perfect sense. Andrew Muskett, a two-time Welsh champion and British champion, has also been selected as third. l have used my memory to recall that in the 1990s he regularly played with Haydn Guy. Haydn, former Gold Cup winner and Tenby's first Welsh international (1979), was also a Welsh singles runner-up in [982, losing narrowly 21-20 and is very deserving of his place with Andrew. Simon Evans, a three-time Gold Cup winner and another former Welsh champion, is also a third. Simon could have easily been a skip. but on this occasion I have considered the overall balance of the team. His skip is one who I spent five years with as a 'lead', learning my trade as it were. Therefore, 1 am well aware of his abilities. one of which was his encouragement and winning mentality. His 'transfer' from Saundersfoot to Tenby helped change the mentality of the Tenby team to be the success that it is today - of course. this was not done alone and Pat Currie and Ben Owens were also instrumental. The player, Terry Thomas.

My final two positions for skip and third are players who also played together in the 1990s and if I was being truthful, with the exception of Viv John, is the only player who could play with him (!). The skip of course is Jimmy Oliver. I remember in 1990 when Jimmy was county skip, he beat in one season three international skips - Spencer Wiltshire, Trevor Mounty and John Price - not only did he beat them, but not altogether surprisingly, he upset all three! The third with Jimmy, like Simon, could easily have been a skip - that is the four-time Gold Cup winner and current National English singles champion, Lee Williamson. So, having picked the 16, now the team: Rink one: Peter Day, Terry Preston, Paul Diment and Pat Currie Rink two: Sam McNeilly, Craig Guymer, Andrew Muskett and Haydn Guy. Rink three: Luke Guymer, John Roberts. Simon Evans and Terry Thomas. Rink four: Viv John, Jon Webb, Lee Williamson and Jimmy Oliver. Captain: Ben Owens When looking at that side, one has to acknowledge their achievements: Welsh Carruthers Shield winners, British rinks champions; Welsh rinks winners, Welsh triples winners, Welsh pairs winners. Welsh singles runners-up (indoors and outdoors), English National singles winner, five Welsh under 25 internationals, four senior internationals, 10 Gold Cups, 10 Silver Bowls and 10 county singles. Finally, may I thank the Tenby team for their support this year and congratulate Joe Richards on being captain for the record equalling seventh win - the captain who achieved that previously. in 1997 was... (well 1 think you know, otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it!). PS. The team in the 1990s was the best!