Fry’s brought the 2024 season to close with their annual Dinner and Presentation evening, with trophies being handed out.
The week before at the AGM, John Naish was elected as a Life Member of the club. John has been a member of Fry’s for over 15 years, joining the club along with other members after Knowle Park folded.
In external competitions, Fry’s had a successful season, with Callum Gwinnell reaching the Bowls England Champion of Champions Somerset Area final, missing out on reaching the all England round to Matt Hamilton of Ilminster. In the City and County of Bristol Bowling Association Pairs, a combination of Nick Grenfell, Jonathan Day and Callum Gwinnell reached the final against the defending champions from Olveston. Due to heavy rain before the game, the game is now set be played in 2025. In late July, the club had the privilege to host the Bowls England Women’s Champion of Champions All England Round of 32 match between Sue Cooke, Box BC and 2021 & 2023 Bowls England Singles Champion, England international and eventual 2024 Champion of Champions winner, Stef Branfield, Clevedon BC. With an attendance of around 30, the evening was success.
Back home, the first trophies handed out were for the Triples Day held in July. Taking the runners-up place were Jeff Budd, Geoff Kershaw and Steve Buck with Mike Barling, Don Gourd and Nick Grenfell this year’s winners. In the delayed pairs final the runners-up were Barry Smale and John Whatley with Sally Morgan and Eric Jones taking the winners trophies. In the Novices, Bob Eales faced Kevin Smith, a contest which went the way of Kevin Smith.
In September, Fry’s held their first Finals Day, with 4 finals and a semi-final to be played. The final in the Over 70’s was played between Vernon Hopkins and defending champion Nick Grenfell. Nick would take the title for the second year running after a tighter game than the scoreboard suggested. The three major singles finals saw Stephen Day in all three. After waiting for the Two Wood semi-final to be played, a familiar foe awaited to make it 3 years in a row the final would be contested with perennial Two Wood winner, Jonathan Day. A late surge in the last few ends would see the title change hands as Stephen picked up the winner’s trophy with an end to spare. In the morning, the Handicap final saw the first of two matches between Nick Grenfell and Stephen Day. With the crowd building and sun shining, a close game ensued. After a tight first half in the first to 21 shots encounter, Stephen would string together successive ends to bring home the Handicap title. With rain looming, the Championship was again played between Nick and Stephen. The game went a similar way to the morning’s Handicap, with Stephen pulling away to become the third player to achieve the club’s Triple Crown.