Can I start my report by offering my thanks to three people in particular. Namely:
Mike (Ormond), who even though not being in the best of health and unable to play bowls this last season, still had the welfare of the Club close to his heart. Mike being instrumental in liaising with our Green Keeper Leighton to order materials, as required, coming down to Happy Valley to support the Teams and to liaise with the Town Council for financial assistance.
Leighton (Jones), who worked tirelessly, throughout the season, to maintain the bowling green, even though it had become somewhat "lifeless", after years of end of season renovation work neglect. More on this matter to follow.
Tim (Williams) for all the unseen work he does in improving the profile of the Beaumaris Bowling Club, via its Facebook Group Page and its Web Site. Tim being the epitome of the phrase "a glass half full rather than a glass half empty" person.
The Club's greatest achievement in 2023, was the winning of the Gwynedd Knockout Cup, for the 4th time in the Club's History, by beating a very strong Llanrwst Team, at the Benllech Bowling Club, in August - 5/3 in games and by 9 points on the aggregate.
So congratulations to that team:
Adam Harris - Captain
Barry Harris
Keith Bailey
Stuart Thomas
Jamie Roberts
D.P. Williams
Geraint Booth
And after coming in as a 11th hour reserve, for Tim Williams, myself, Dave Mathias.
The team then going on to play in the Welsh Club Championship, at the Brymbo Bowling Club in Wrexham, in September, were they unfortunately lost to the Cuncliffe Bowling Club.
HONOURS and ACHIEVEMENTS in 2022.
1 - Congratulations to Club Members, Keith Bailey, John Short and Geraint Booth on being selected to play for the Welsh Men's Teams (away), against Lancashire and North Midlands. Keith also receiving the "Player of the Match" trophy against Lancashire
2 - Congratulations to Dan Owen on being selected for the Welsh Junior Team, home match, against Shropshire at Caernarfon. Dan also receiving the "Player of the Match" trophy.
3 - Congratulations to Barry Harris - Arfon Jones - Geraint Owen - Alan Caughter - D.P Williams - Gwyn Thomas - Tim Williams and Dave Mathias on being selected for the Gwynedd Veterans Team
4 - Congratulations Barry Harris - Adam Harris - Keith Bailey - Stuart Thomas - Tim Williams - Llew Griffiths - Hefin Jones and Dave Mathias
also "Country Members" - John Short - Ryan Short - Dave Jones - Geraint Booth - Jamie Roberts and D.P Williams on being selected for the Mon Menai matches against:
Heywood
Leeds B
Warrington and
Wrexham.
5 - And in the Final Division 5 Aggregates Standings congratulations to:
Stuart Thomas - 3rd position - played 4 - won 4
John Short - 4th position - played 4 - won 4.
Plus 44 and 32 respectively on the combined aggregate.
6 - And in the Anglesey - Bangor and District League, congratulations to:
Stuart Thomas - Singles Champion and
Stuart and Keith Bailey - Doubles Champions.
Presidents Day Competition. Congratulations to:
To Barry Harris and Andrew Hennessey on being crowned the Wednesday Night League Aggregates Champions.
Tim Williams on reaching the Final and to
Barry Harris and Geraint Owen - the Semi Finals
7 - Congratulations to Barry Harris on winning the Tom Towart Memorial Cup at Benllech.
THE LEAGUES
The Premier Toyota Welsh Counties
The team, could not emulate last year and finished in 3rd position on 66 points. Two bad home results against St Asaph and Llanrwst near the end of the season, when to be fair, the green was not at its best, costing them the League.
Best Player:
Barry Harris - 7th spot
Played 12 - Won 8 - Lost 4 - plus 56
The team did however reach the Final of the Ian Lawley Presidents Cup, but as the other Semi Final between St Asaph and Rhos Park was not played, this will be held over until the beginning of the 2023 season.
The North Wales Coast League Division 1
The A team finished in 7th position, in Div 1
Played 18 - Won 8 - lost 9 - tied 1 - 91 points
Best Player.
Barry Harris - 2nd spot
Played 18 - won 16 - lost 2 - plus 134 points
My thanks go to Team Captain, Alan Caughter on what was a difficult season for him. And Alan must be commended on fielding a full team of 10 players for all of the 18 games played.
He was thankful therefore to B Team players, Arfon Jones - Geraint Owen - David Graves - Peter Evison and Olga Evison for playing for the A team when asked.
The B team finished in 6th position in Div 3
Played 16 - won 6 - lost 8 - tied 2 - 84 points
Best Player.
David Graves - 17th spot
Played 14 - won 10 - lost 4 - plus 55 points.
My thanks also go out to Team Captain, Trevor Ashenden on what was again for him, a difficult season and other than the last match, away v Sunny Rhyl, Trevor managed to field teams of 10 players.
Sadly again, at our Annual General Meeting in January 2023, the question as to whether Beaumaris will be able to field 1 or 2 teams in the Coast League in 2023 will need to be addressed.
Monday Night League.
Winners of the Tony Hughes Cup beating Criccieth at Bethesda
The team finished in 6th place
Played 18 - won 10 - lost 8 - 98 points
Best player - David Graves 14/9/5 plus 33
Doubles - Bobby Williams - 12/10/2 plus 67
My thanks to all the players who turned out for me during the season
Wednesday Night League
A team - winners of the John Griffiths Cup beating Benllech at Caernarfon
The A team finished in 2nd spot
Played 18 - won 15 - lost 3 - 84 points
Best Doubles Players
Barry Harris and Andrew Hennessey
Played 18 - won 17 - lost 1 - plus 197
Barry and Andrew also being crowned the League Doubles Champions and sharing the £50 Prizemoney.
My thanks again to all the players who turned out for me during the season.
The Wednesday Night B Team finished in 6th spot.
Played 18 - won 9 - lost 9 - 71 points
Best player - Bobby Williams
Plated 17 - won 11 - lost 6 - plus 87 points.
Gwynedd Senior Citizens League
Tim Williams for qualifying for the Welsh Seniors merit finals at Caernarfon in June
Division 1
The A team - Finished in 5th spot
Played 20 - won 14 - lost 6 - 109 points
Best player:
Dave Mathias - 2nd place
Played 18 - win 17 - lost 1 - plus 139 points
A difficult season for Captain Brian Begley, who incurred family health problems and was constantly having to play teams of 7 and not 8 players.
Division 2.
Big congratulations to the B team who finished in top spot.
Played 20 - won 17 - lost 3 - 114 points
Best player Robin Davies
Played 20 - won 15 - lost 5 - plus 87 points.
Robin also finishing 2nd in the League Aggregates.
An absolutely tremendous and remarkable achievement, especially as Robin celebrated his 94 Birthday on the 8th September 2022.
Doubles - Best player Peter Evison
Played 20 - won 11 - lost 9 - plus 21 points
Going back to the condition of the Bowling Green, I am very pleased to confirm that on the 24th September, three members of the North Wales Cricket Greenkeepers Association, came to Happy Valley with an array of machines. They completely scarified the green, of years of untouched thatch, then seeded and Top Dressed it. So hopefully we will all reap the benefits next season.
My special thanks go to Leighton, Tim, a chap called Wil and myself, for the time and effort we all put in on that Saturday to help. And not forgetting Leighton's wife Kerrie, who helped him move 5 tonnes of Top Dressing Bags from the Car Park to the Greenside, a few days before.
My thanks go to Kim, in the Pavilion Cafe, for the catering assistance she gave the Club, for evening matches. This helped raise Tea - Coffee money for the Club.
My thanks go to Tim Williams, for resurrecting the Saturday A and B Team Match Day Raffle, half way through the season, which again helped raise money for the Club
On a sad note, the Club did in July this year, lose their second oldest member, when Sheila Graham x passed away. And although not a member, our thoughts were also with Arfon Jones, when his Mother also sadly passed. I did attend both Funerals on behalf of the Beaumaris Bowling Club.
It was nice to see new and old members returning to the Club, namely Andrew Stanley- Barry Ward - Colin Rutter - Medwyn Williams and Mick Coleman.
So that is my Beaumaris Bowling Club Secretary Report for 2022. If I have failed to mention someone or something of significance, I apologise.
Personally it has been a very difficult year for myself, as I took on too many Management Positions, whilst also playing upwards of 95 matches, in various Leagues - Cups and Representative Competitions. This will have to change in 2023.
So to all my Beaumaris Bowling Club friends, Winter well and hopefully I will see many of you again at our Annual General Meeting in January 2023
Dave Mathias
Hon. Secretary - Beaumaris Bowling Club
01248 490222 - Mobile 07712121147
E mail - davemathias49@gmail.com