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OAKLEY CLUB TOUR

By Spencer Kerley Oakley Bowling Club

Thursday, 29 August 2019

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Oakley Bowling Club Contributor

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Friday saw 37 bowlers set out on the club's annual tour which this year was to Norfolk. It was an eventful start as our coach had a problem with its air conditioning. With their usual efficiency, however, Mervyn and Joseph picked us all up in an alternative vehicle and, having fixed the original problem, transferred us to the main coach and we still departed on time. The M25 was surpisingly clear but thereafter the journey was slow though we did arrive at the Wymondham Dell Club in time for a sumptuous buffet, before taking to the green and suffering defeat No 1. Our base in Norwich, the home city of our President Lesley Allard, was the George Hotel from where, next morning, we were able to explore the city before playing matches at the Norfolk Bowling Club and at Long Stratton. Defeats 2 and 3 ensued. Sunday saw us depart for Great Yarmouth and again the traffic was horrendous but we were able to wander around, see the attractions(!) and grab lunch before moving on to Caister on Sea. Here the game was overshadowed by Ben Stokes heroics in the Ashes Test but we did maintain our concentration and post our first and only victory of the tour. Bank Holiday Monday saw us have another free morning before games at the palatial County Arts Club and at Great Plumstead. Defeats 4 and 5 followed. These defeats did nothing, however, to dampen our enthusiasm for the Gala Dinner where, as it had been every evening, the food was excellent and afterwards we were entertained by our driver Joseph who shortly is off for a year's course at the London School of Music. He has promised to come back and drive for us next year. Tuesday saw us making our departure from the George, whose staff had looked after us so well, and once again there were traffic problems, with the M25 closed, but after a long detour and a missed coffee stop we arrived at Chess Vale who helpfully improvised and provided us with sandwiches etc and the missing coffee. The artificial green, on which England trained before the Delhi Commonwealth Games, proved a challenge and defeat No 6 followed although we did have one winning rink which pleased our President as she was on it. After an excellent hot meal we set off for Oakley with the first drop off taking place at 8 pm. On the way home it was announced that Jim Dixon had won the player of the tour award and John Ryan the Black Mark Trophy for the most misdemeanours. It was an excellent tour and we are grateful to all the clubs who looked after us so well and to Lesley for organising the trip. Paignton is our venue for 2020.

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Spencer Kerley

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Oakley Bowling Club, Malshanger, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 7EY

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