Fry’s Bowling Club brought the 2023 playing season to a close by awarding Life Membership to Clive Davies at the AGM in October. A former employee of the chocolate factory, Clive joined Fry’s in 2005 after playing for Avonvale. Clive served the club as Chairman from 2009-2011 as well as taking care of the clubhouse. A much-loved member, never without some good stories, he sadly had to stop playing this season due to ill health. The club look forward to welcoming Clive to club when he is able.
The following week, Fry’s held their annual Presentation Dinner at Somerdale Pavilion. Starting off the presentations was the Triples competition held on a showery July day. Just missing out on the title were runners-up Pat Slavin, Sally Morgan and Dave Shaw, with the title going to Kevin Smith, Vernon Hopkins and Nick Grenfell. In the Pairs final, Dean Thomas and John Whatley took the runners-up trophies, with Ken Stewart and Roger Loader finally winning the title after many years of being randomly drawn together. With the team competitions presented, attention turned to the singles titles, which started with two new competitions. After seeing an increase in ladies join the club, a new Ladies Singles was introduced played in a round robin format.
The runner-up was Sally Morgan with Carol Grenfell winning the inaugural title. In an effort to stop the under 30s winning (almost) everything, drastic action was taken and a competition for the over 70s was introduced. Jeff Budd would make the first final, but Nick Grenfell would take the title. The drastic action would prove invaluable as our under 30s took the remaining four singles titles. Callum Gwinnell claimed his first singles title in the Novices over John Whatley. Youth was a guaranteed winner in the Two Wood with Jonathan Day taking the title from Stephen Day, as well as a comfortable win in the Handicap over Roger Loader. The Singles title saw Callum Gwinnell play Nick Grenfell with both players looking to bag their second singles title. Youth came out on top in a close encounter, with Callum Gwinnell taking his second title of the season.
The non-competition awards saw Jonathan Day pick up an award that despite the many titles, proved that even some of the best have Shot’s Gone Wrong. A horribly offline bowl, which was closer to the adjacent rink than the jack, took a massive wick off a wide bowl seeing his bowl come in for another counting shot in the Bristol St Andrew’s Floodlit League was a worthy winner. Best Newcomer went to Lynne Nicholls with the award for Most Improved went to Terry Morgan. Club Member of the Year went to Dave Shaw for the second year in row.
That brought the curtain down on the 2023 season. Attention turns to the short mat sessions in the clubhouse along with social events throughout the winter, along with planning for the 2024 outdoor season.