The 68th annual general meeting of the club is due on Sunday, November 27 at 2pm when full support of the members is expected. The main business will be to present a resume of the club’s activities over the past year and the appointment of club officials with a single notice of motion proposing a change to the club’s constitution. This is entitled ‘Executive committee’ and should be of interest to members.
Secretary Arnold Gill asks all members to attend the annual meeting to show support for the club’s operations and aims. A good attendance can be a thermometer of an organisation’s health!
WINTER SEASON
The first of the winter season’s entertainments should fill all the tables at the club on Saturday, November 19. It takes the form of a musical evening topped up with stovies or macaroni and cheese.
Dancing there will be, of course, with a short quiz thrown in for good measure – largely a make your own fun type of evening. Hopefully, this first night out will be well supported (the bar needs the income!!!).Vice-president Stewart Napier has kindly stepped in to run the social committee with the sudden resignation of Gorge Milne, and with the committee now down to a very tight five members, Stewart will be grateful for any help he can get. Ideally, he wants more members to boost the committee’s numbers, but a few extra hands to tackle the organisation of the remaining social events would be handy.
What about it? How would Seafield appear to outsiders without its social calendar?
CLOSING DAY
All that any club might wish for at the end of season closing day was there at Seafield last Saturday. The sun shone, the green was in magnificent condition and the standard of play was as high as anyone might expect. More the lay-out for tea at the conclusion of play was top-notch and few had to go home to make much for tea. Sandwiches, cakes and currant cake replaced the usual two course meal and that proved a success. Time saved was just fine for the raffle and presentation of trophies.
The usual names were on the prizewinners’ list with an encouraging leavening of freshers. The trophies were presented by vice-president John Leiper and ladies joint match secretary Joyce Cormack.
JUNIOR CHAMP
Any club member watching the Seafield juniors in action on Sunday, would have been heartened by the standard of the bowling. And the thought was – if only more youngsters could be encouraged to join the small group, the future of the club would be in good hands.
The Junior Singles championship was won by Ross Cowie with Cara Gardiner runner-up. Cara, however, had the satisfaction of beating Ross in their head-to-head match in the Round Robin tournament. He was presented with his trophy by interim president John Leiper.
Ross is a member of the Cowie family who have had a long association with Seafield. He is the grandson of Margaret and the late Jim Cowie and his parents are active members, Neil and Christine Cowie. He has been taking part in other of the club’s events, and is proving an asset in the men’s hat-night games.
TRIPLES A WINNER
The annual SBS Triples competition proved a triple winner on Saturday when the 1 – the sun shone all day, 2 – the bowling was of a high standard and 3 – the organisation went off like clockwork.
The winning team was an all male unit with Tom Fraser leading, Bob Lawrence at No2 and skip Tom Johnston. They proved too strong for the other finalists Bob Yeats, John Leiper and Brian Douglas who had won all their games up to the final.
The SBS attracted an entry of 36 ladies and gents, a number which divides most conveniently into six rinks of triples! All enjoyed it very much – even those who did not make it into the final stages.
SEAFIELD AT AYR
Seafield’s two representatives in this year’s national finals at Ayr, Joyce Cormack and George Robertson, acquitted themselves well. Joyce, a frequent visitor at the finals, progressed to the quarter-finals in the women’s singles winning her first two games but narrowly failed to make any further progress.
George battled through his first encounter in the men’s seniors but was disappointed not to emerge victorious in the second. The Seafield match secretary declared he very much enjoyed his first trip to Ayr. The atmosphere around the greens was buzzing and the participants appearing friendly but competitive.
He doesn’t guarantee he will manage a return visit – but would certainly love to qualify again!
AYR BOUND
Congratulations to two of the club’s top bowlers who have booked their places in this year’s Scottish Bowls finals at Ayr. Joyce Cormack won the Aberdeen ladies singles title and secretary George Robertson the gents seniors.
Joyce, of course, is no stranger to the road to the south-west Scotland venue having made the trip on several occasions – once returning with the Scottish championship.
In beating Northern’s Mike Reid in the final at Whitehall, George maintains a great winning streak for Seafield seniors. Bob Findlay won the title in 2014 and 15 while Syd Anderson emerged winner in Aberdeen in 2013.
The club nearly had a third representative in the national finals – young Jak Miller who was beaten in the final of the juniors.
We wish Joyce and George the very best of good fortune in their bash at the Scottish titles. Hopefully, some club members will be able to make the journey south to support them.
HELP
Seafield will be back in the limelight next month when the green is the venue for the Bowls Scotland Ladies finals. This prestigious occasion on Saturday, June 11, underlines the club’s position in the Aberdeen bowling hierarchy. The club was naturally delighted to be asked to host the finals but the event doesn’t come without certain obligations.
To ensure its success, a great deal of effort will be required, covering such aspects as marking, refereeing, manning the bar, organising a raffle and tackling the many demands of the kitchen. Where are our sandwich makers, bakers of fancy pieces and waiters/waitresses?
Yes, it will be a busy day indeed. President Jim Duncan and secretary Arnold Gill are appealing to members to step forward to offer their services in any of the above capacities. Contact either to play a part on June 11.
As Arnold put it, “Lets show the other clubs we can put on a good show for Bowls Scotland”. Remember, the club’s reputation is at stake!
NEW SEASON
If Seafield’s new season began inauspiciously last Saturday it certainly was no fault of the members. They turned out in force to welcome in 2016’s bowling programme in spite of a bag of weather that ranged from momentary full sunshine to showers of sleet and rain.
Nevertheless, half of those attending turned out in rainjackets and anoraks to applaud the president’s wife Margaret Duncan throw a mean first bowl. Sensibly, president Jim reserved his welcome speech for back indoors with a darkening sky and yet another shower imminent. No further play was possible.
The green itself looked in very promising condition, a fact that Jim referred to in his words of welcome – thanks to a dedicated crew of volunteers too many to name individually. Or rather he hesitated to name in case he missed out anyone. Jim welcomed two new members, Mark Birnie and Steven Geddes both of whom have been members at Seafield in the past.
He thanked the ladies for a tasty and substantial afternoon tea and the usual raffle followed. The president’s prize was won by fabric convener Reg Geddes.
COACHING
Seafield club members interested in qualifying as coaches can take the first step by attending a conference organised by Bowls Scotland on Sunday, March 20 at Dundee’s West Park Conference and Events.
Coaches are vital to a club’s survival and its aspirations in recruitment of new members. Seafield’s officers are keen to add to its coaching staff and recommend attendance . Coaching workshops are designed to introduce bowlers to the requirements of qualification and to improve the skills of those already in possession of coaching certificates.
Seafield secretary Arnold Gill is well aware of the club’s need for additional qualified members and has issued a general appeal to anyone interested to contact him.
The cost of attending the Dundee conference is £20 but in terms of value it would be money well spent.
Seafield Bowling Club 