BEAUMARIS BOWLING CLUB - SECRETARY REPORT - 2023 SEASON.
As the Secretary of the Club, I can only say, that the past season, was what the late Queen once described as being "Annus Horribilis"
The 2023 season started off in April, as being one, with full of hope and expectation. But it soon became apparent that the hard work carried out by the lads from the North Wales Cricket Greenkeepers Association (plus myself, Tim and Leighton Jones), with the renovation of the Bowling Green, in September 2022, at a Club cost of £2000, had not brought the expected improvement to the playing surface we all expected. And to be brutally honest, with the passing weeks, the playing surface of the green was worse than it had ever been.
By early May, the Super League Team, had therefore decided to move the playing of their Home Fixtures, to the Benllech Bowling Club. And this decision, together with other general complaints made by playing members about the bowling green, culminated in our Greenkeeper Leighton Jones, stepping down from his position with immediate effect. In that regard, we were fortunate that Club Member Barry Ward, volunteered to carry out the grass cutting duties (more of Barry later).
The Club, were then dealt a hammer blow, when the Donation Request, I had submitted, in September 2022, on behalf of the Club, to the Beaumaris Town Council, to cover in full or in part, the £2000 spent on the 2022 renovation, was, after being held over until April 2023, rejected completely. The reason stated being that the Town Council had purchased planking and wooden pegs to upgrade the ditch boarding around the green, on the Club's behalf, in late 2022. This even after the Club had to pay out £200 of their own money, in labour charges, to put them in place.
Shortly after, the Club, Dennis Mower, broke down and we were without it for a number of weeks, whilst it was under repair by Mona Tractors Ltd of Llangefni. The Club was therefore grateful to the Llanfair PG Greenkeeper John Short, for coming to the green, with their Mower to cut it. Again in this regard, I would like to thank Tim Williams for personally arranging the repair of the Mower and to Barry Ward, for bringing and returning the PG Mower in his Van.
So these ongoing problems, coupled with myself over committing to Captaincy duties and to various Management Commitments, both within the Club and with other external Leagues and Association's, made it, like I've already said, a "Annus Horribilis" season for me personally.
In saying that, there were of course, positives to the 2023 season.
And one being the Club Bingo Night, held at the Bulkeley Arms Hotel, in Menai Bridge, in April, which raised in excess of £700 for the Club. My thanks therefore go to Tim Williams who organised the event, to all the Club Members who donated Prizes, to everyone that bought Raffle Tickets and finally to all the Club Members who attended on the Night.
Before extending other general thanks to various people, I will firstly review the playing season.
MONDAY NIGHT LEAGUE.
Captain - Dave Mathias
The team finished in 5th place in the League Table.
Played 18 Won 9 - Lost 9 - 96 points.
Best Singles Player:
Dan Owen - Played 14 - Won 10 - Lost 4 - plus 70, on the combined aggregate
Best Doubles Player
Barry Ward - Played 13 - Won 11 - Lost 2 - plus 87 points on the combined aggregate.
My thanks also go to Matty Owen and Ian Hughes who returned to play for the Club after many years of absence.
WHITWORTH CUP
The team lost in the First Round to Holyhead,
3/5 in games and by 134/148 on the combined aggregate.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LEAGUE.
BEAUMARIS A - Captains - Dave Mathias and Tim Williams.
The team finished, as in 2022, in 2nd place in the League Table, to the Holyhead Bowling Club. Holyhead on the last match of the season, pipping Beaumaris to the title, by just 1 point.
The team having played 18 matches, winning 14 and losing 4, - 124 points
Best player being Tim Williams, played 17 - winning 14 and losing 3. With a combined aggregate of plus 107 points.
My thanks going to Tim Williams, for taking over the Captaincy from me, mid season, as by then my stress levels were literally going through the roof.
FESTIVAL CUP
After beating the Llanfair Academi in the Preliminary Round, the A team then lost to Bangor - 4/4 in games and 124/133 on the combined aggregate
BEAUMARIS B
Captain - Geraint Owen.
The team finished in 7th position, having played 18 matches, winning 7 - losing 11 - 76 points.
Best player being Dan Owen - played 17 - winning 10 - losing 7 - plus 42 on the combined aggregate.
FESTIVAL CUP
The B lost in the First Round to Bangor - 3/5 in games and by 46/84 on the combined aggregate
Then playing in the John Griffiths Shield Competition, the B team then reached, but sadly lost in the Final, at Llanfair PG, to Caernarfon - 123 / 165 on the combined aggregate.
The team being:
Geraint Owen - Dan Owen - Matty Owen - Bobby Williams - David Graves - Callum Graves - Robin Davies and Peter Evison.
NORTH WALES COAST LEAGUE.
Division 1 - BEAUMARIS A.
Captains - Alan Caughter and Barry Harris.
After being in the relegation positions for most of the season, the team rallied on the back half, to finish in a very creditable 7th position.
The team having played 20 matches - winning 8 losing 11 and drawing 1 - 112 points.
My personal thanks go to Barry Harris, who took over the Captaincy from Alan Caughter, due to personal reasons in May and to three new Country Members (Dion Williams - J G Davies and Olwen Edwards), who came in to play for the A team on numerous occasions.
My thanks also go to B team players (Geraint Owen - Dan Owen - David Graves and Barry Ward), for stepping up from the B team to play for the A team, when they were short.
GWYNEDD CUP 2023.
Beaumaris A having beaten Bethesda - Blaenau and Penmaenmawr in the Semi Final, took on Llanrwst, in a repeat of the 2023 Gwynedd Cup Final, at the Criccieth BC, on the 17th August 2023.
But sadly it was not going to be a repeat of the 2022 Final, as the team were soundly beaten 5/3 in games and by 35 points on the combined aggregate.
The Team being:
Adam Harris (Captain) - Barry Harris - Keith Bailey - Llew Griffiths - Geraint Booth - Stu Thomas - Jamie Roberts and Dave Jones.
Division 3 - BEAUMARIS B.
Captains - Trevor Ashenden - Peter Evison and Geraint Owen.
The team finished in 5th position - playing 16 matches - winning 8 - losing 7 - drawing 1 - 99 points.
Best player being - Geraint Owen - played 15 - winning 10 - losing 5 - plus 44 on the combined aggregate.
My thanks go to Peter and Geraint for taking on the Captaincy of the team, when Trevor had an extended Summer break in Spain.
Also to Hefin Williams who returned to play for the Club after a few years of absence.
GWYNEDD CUP
The B team having lost to Penygroes BC in the Preliminary Round.
Then in the Glynne Owen Trophy Competition, after beating Llanfairfechan the B team lost in the Semi Finals to Bangor 125/150 on the overall aggregate.
GWYNEDD VETERANS LEAGUE
BEAUMARIS A.
Captain - Brian Begley
The team finished in 4th position on 93 points, but in reality they scored 99 points, but due to being one player short on six occasions, they had 6 points deducted.
Best player was David Mathias played 18 games and winning 13 games.
Best Doubles Player - Derek Stanley
My thanks go to Brian Begley on what was for him a nightmare season, in having to try and field full teams throughout the season.
BEAUMARIS B
Captains - Trevor Ashenden and Peter Evison
My thanks go to Peter Evison who took over the Captaincy when Trevor had an extended Summer break in Spain.
The team finished in 9th position on 52 points - playing 18 matches - Winning 5 and Losing 13.
Best player:
Singles - Peter Evison
Doubles - Medwyn Williams.
2023 GWYNEDD VERTERANS CUP
The one team representing Beaumaris, lost in the Preliminary Round to the Craig y Don BC. In the 4 Home - 4 Away format, Beaumaris won the games 5/3, but lost the overall aggregate by 1 point 144 - 145.
PREMIER TOYOTA WELSH COUNTIES LEAGUE.
Captain - Adam Harris.
Big congratulations to the Beaumaris Team on winning the League for the second time (last in 2021).
Played 12 - Won 9 - Lost - 3 - Agg +293.
Best player for the Club and in the League
John Short - Played 12 - Won 12 - Agg +106.
The Squad being:
Adam Harris - Barry Harris - John Short - Ryan Short - Geraint Booth - John Evans - Stu Thomas - Keith Bailey - Dave Jones - Jamie Roberts and Catrin Griffiths
As stated previously, the Beaumaris Super League Team decided to play their home matches in 2023 at the Benllech Bowling Club, paying £25 a match for the privilege
They also having entered the National Arthur Land Cup, played their opening game, against a very strong Garswood Hall Bowling Club, Wigan there on the 21st May 2023.
The match being played on a 4 Home - 4 Away format, overall aggregate to count.
The Away Team of John Short - Ryan Short - Keith Bailey and Graham Hunt, although losing the match 0/4, did extremely well to restrict the aggregate to minus 42 points.
The Home Team of Adam Harris - Barry Harris - Geraint Booth and Stu Thomas, then played brilliantly to win the match 4/0, but agonisingly only winning the combined aggregate by 41 points. So overall they lost the match by 1 point.
A game that will be forever imprinted on Adam's memory, as at one point he was 30/16 up, but only then winning 31/28. Ugh !!.
OTHER SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
1 - Congratulations to John Short - Geraint Booth - Keith Bailey and Stu Thomas on being selected to play for the Wales Men's Senior Teams, at various times, against - Merseyside - North Lancs and Fylde - Derbyshire and the Supplementary Competition in Wigan.
2 - Congratulations to Dan Owen for being selected to play for the Wales Junior Teams against - Yorkshire - Shropshire and Staffordshire.
3 - Congratulations to Barry Harris on becoming the 2023 Welsh Veterans Champion, on the 7th June 2023, by beating Roger Wilson of the Rhos Park Club, at the Argoed Bowling Club (near Mold). And by so doing qualifying for the Welsh Champion of Champions Competition held at the Benllech Bowling Club on Sunday the 24th September 2023.
Barry then went on to play in the Jack and Jean Isherwood British Veterans Merit at the Prees Bowling Club in Shropshire, where he sadly lost in the First Round 21/14.
In the Welsh CGBA Champion of Champions Competition played at the Benllech BC on Sunday 24th September (a horrendous rainy day), Barry beat John Bailey (Llanrwst BC), in his opening match, but then lost in his second match, to the eventual winner, Chris Charlton (Fron Park BC).
4 - Congratulations to Barry Harris for also being selected to play for the Welsh Veterans Team.
5 - Congratulations to Adam Harris - John Short - Barry Harris and Geraint Booth on qualifying for the 2023 Gwyn Morris Welsh Men's Merit Finals Day at the Rhos on Sea Bowling Club. John then going on to lose in the Semi Finals and qualifying to play in the All England Merit Finals Day in Greater Manchester. But sadly he then lost in the First Round.
6 - Congratulations to Full Club Members - Adam Harris - Barry Harris - Keith Bailey - Stu Thomas - Llew Griffiths - Tim Williams - Dave Mathias - Dan Owen (and Country Members - Geraint Booth - John Short - Ryan Short - Jamie Roberts - Dion Williams and Graham Hunt), on being selected to play for the victorious Federation of Bowls Division 6, Mon Menai Team, against Fylde - Warrington - Southport and Bradford B.
7 - Congratulations to Club Members Dave Mathias - Tim Williams - Gwyn Thomas - Arfon Jones - Geraint Owen and Barry Harris on being selected to play for the Gwynedd Veterans Team against Wrexham - Clwydians and Deeside.
8 - Congratulations to Barry Harris and Dave Jones on winning the Anglesey - Bangor and District Doubles Final at the Benllech Bowling Club. With Dave Mathias and Gwyn Thomas, also reaching the Finals Night competition.
9 - Congratulations to Tim Williams on winning the Anglesey - Bangor and District Singles Title at the Llanfair Bowling Club. With Dave Mathias also reaching the Finals Night Competition.
10 - Congratulations to Tim Williams on winning the Anglesey - Bangor and District Presidents Day Competition at the Holyhead BC on Sunday 10th September 2023. And to Daniel and Geraint Owen, who also qualified to attend the event.
11 - Congratulations to Dan Owen for winning both the Monday Night and the Wednesday Night Junior Aggregates Titles in the Anglesey - Bangor and District Leagues. Also for topping the Individual Aggregates Table for the Llanfair PG Super League Team
12 - Congratulations to Adam Harris and Geraint Booth on winning both the Llanfairfechan and the Bethesda Doubles Competitions.
13 - Congratulations to Barry Harris (Beaumaris A) and Geraint Owen (Beaumaris B) on reaching the North Wales Coast Presidents Day Qualifying Day.
SECRETARY SPECIAL THANKS go to:
1 - Tim Williams for the work, he has once again done throughout the season, to promote the Club through Social Media outlets.
2 - Tim and Barry Ward for the hours they put in watering the Bowling Green, during the very hot spells of weather we encountered in May - June.
3 - Barry Ward for not only taking over the cutting of the Bowling Green , but doing so with great energy and a will to listen to other, more experienced Greenkeepers, on how to improve the green in 2024.
* on this I will be pleased to formally propose Barry as our new Greenkeeper at the Annual General Meeting to be held in November 2023, when a small Greens Sub Committee will need to be elected, to take over the running of the Green, with Barry.
4 - To Kim Owen and her staff at the Happy Valley Pavilion Cafe, for providing after match Tea - Coffee - Milk and Sugar (and washing the mugs afterwards), throughout the season.
5 - To Kim - Dave and the Ladies for running the Rounders Charity Competition at Happy Valley on Sunday 10th September 2023 and then donating half the proceeds to the Beaumaris Bowling Club, which amounted to £500.
6 - To our old Greenkeeper Leighton Jones for all the hard work he had carried out on the green, some of which was which was voluntary, over the last 5 or so years.
7 - To Club Members Dave Mathias, Llew Griffiths and Dan Owen, on committing to play for the Llanfair PG Super League Team and by so doing attaining some creditable individual and team results over the season.
8 - To Keith - Jac Bailey - Pete and Olga Evison - Barry Ward - Derek Stanley and Brian Begley who represented Beaumaris at the Walled Towns Bowling Competition at Caernarfon on Sunday 10th September 2023. And after Conway withdrew at the 11th hour, they finished in second position behind Caernarfon.
9 - To Andrew Perrott of "The Puffin" free magazine, for promoting the Beaumaris Bowling in his quarterly additions.
And "hot off the press", so to speak, I was informed by the Beaumaris Town Council, on Friday 29th September 2023, that the revised Donation Request I had submitted the previous week, had again been rejected. This being the case myself and Mike Ormond, felt the Club could not again withstand another financial hit of over £2000 to purchase Top Dressing and Seed and also to employ the North Wales Cricket Greenkeepers Association to carry out the renovation work. The Club (Barry Ward) therefore intends to do their own scarification of the Bowling Green, then to seed and Winter Feed it, with the hope that the playing surface will be greatly improved in 2024. Fingers crossed on that.
One sad note before I finish my report, is to inform you that a new Club Member in 2022, Mick Coleman (from Llangoed), recently informed me that the Bowel Cancer he had incurred in the Summer of 2022, was now terminal. So my thoughts and I am sure that of the Members, will be with Mick and his Family over the coming months.
I finish my report by saying, that after what has been a "Annus Horribilis" Bowling Season for me, that I have now decided to drastically reduce my Management Commitments in 2024, by when I will be 75.
Having already resigned from my positions on the:
Welsh Governance Board
Coordinator for the Welsh Junor Team
Coordinator - Selector - Gwynedd Vets Team.
I also intend to stand down as the Beaumaris Treasurer at the AGM in November 2023. And if Barry Harris does not wish to take up the position, a new Club Treasurer will need to be elected.
We will also at the said AGM, need to discuss the following:
1 - The new revised contract the Beaumaris Town Council are preparing, in conjunction with the Beaumaris Bowling Club.
2 - The formal acceptance of Barry Ward as our Greenkeeper and his rate of pay for 2024
3 - To decide whether the Club can still maintain 2 teams playing in the
North Wales Coast League
The Gwynedd Veterans League
The Wednesday Night League.
I will, if elected, continue in the role of Club Secretary and attend various AGM's - Meetings on the Club's behalf over the Winter months, but due to matters currently out of my control, I may have to review my position at our Pre Season Meeting in March 2024.
If I have failed to mention a specific event or person, from what has occurred through the 2023 Bowling Season I sincerely apologise.
This concludes my Secretary Report on the 2023 season.
David Mathias
Hon. Secretary Beaumaris Bowling Club
01248 490222 Mobile 07712121147
E mail davemathias49@gmail.com