SADBA FINALS DAY 2023

The Finals Day this year was held at Harpenden Bowls Club on Saturday 9th September in what was a scorching hot day, but that did not hamper the enthususam of the teams for the Triples League and all the other Competitions, with many supporters, who turned out spick and span for a great day of competitive bowling.

Once again thanks go to Harpenden Bowls Club for providing a superb environment with much support from their Club members.  The green was pristine in appearance and played superbly making it a pleasure to bowl on or to just to sit and enjoy the skill of the competitors.   Harpenden had light refreshments available from early morning during the day and then a bar to help cope with the hot weather.

The matches were played in an excellent spirit of comaraderie and with some very close finishes.  In some cases results were not decided until the last end or two.  Exciting to play and watch.  The results of all the matches can be found here: Finals Day 2023 Results

Thanks go to Chris Linfield of Harpenden BC for taking photographs throughout the day.  Above are 22 images of the winners and runners-up.  Click on the image to open into a slide show and scroll using the left and right arrows in the lower left corner.

In addition, Chris has provided a further 39 photographs taken round the green on the day capturing some interesting action shots and views of spectators.  As above click on an image to open the slide show.

SADBA CHARITY GALA 2023

What a great day we had at Harpenden Bowls Club on 5th September in hot and brilliant sunshine for the annual Charity Gala with the proceeds going to the President’s Charity SENSE.

24 teams of three were gathered to bowl for the Strofton Trophy with keen competition and fabulous (and not so fabulous!) bowling throughout the day.  Harpenden as ever had a super green that bowled fast and true.

The winners this year was a Harpenden team led by Trevor Tharby, “The Brushes”, narrowly beating “The Three Amigos” from Potters Bar who often figure in the top three.

The full result is:-

Our picture shows Trevor’s team receiving the Stroften Trophy from the President Gordon Burrows.  The event raised over £500 for his Charity.

Click on the image below to open up a slide show of few more pictures.

Special thanks go to Brian Burfoot for organising the event and on the day with the support of Michael Woodhams (admin and umpire) and John Bartlett (umpire).  We also must acknowledge and thank Harpenden for their huge support in organising the parking arrangements, a great green, superb food and a bar.  The day could not have been better.

BOB VISE FINAL 2023

First SADBA Final of the 2023 season.

Bob Vise Trophy Final North Mymms v Welwyn & District.  Harpenden hosted this Final and looked after us very well indeed THANK YOU

We were treated to some very sporting bowling by two club sides who were determined to enjoy their day in the sun which stayed shining for most of the morning.

Welwyn & District retained the Trophy so well done to them.

North Mymms put up a gallant fight on all rinks and there were some very exciting heads in all four elements of the competition:  Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours.

Well done to all involved:  you have set a very high standard for the rest of our Finals this year.  Jones Cup Final is on Friday 8^th (evening) and all our other Finals are on Saturday 9^th September – all at Harpenden BC.

Photographs courtesy of Chris Linfield of Harpenden.  (“clicking” on any of the photos in the gallery below will open them into a slide show format.)

Michael J Woodhams  (Officer in charge on the day)

PRESIDENT’S INVITATION SHIELD MATCH

The President’s Invitation Shield Match was held Sunday 22nd January at Hatfield BC.  The invited teams are the winners of the Bob Vise Trophy (Welwyn & District), Jones Cup (Welwyn Garden City), Triples League (Hemel Hempstead) & Club Rink League (Harpenden).  Each team played against a SADBA team with the team with the overall shot difference being the winner.

It was a great afternoon with Welwyn and District taking the honours and Hemel Hempstead in second place.  The winning team was Martin Reeve, Peter Bowyer, Len Tye and Paddy Jones.

For the District,  the President’s side, the top rink was: Ivan Coleman, Nigel Dickenson, Peter Stokes and Alan Harman.

Michael Woodhams, League Secretary, coordinated the match and has provided a Match Report here: Presidents Invitation Match Report 22 January2023.

Ian Hulley, our Match Secretary, has produced Result sheet and scoring and this is to be found here:  Result Sheet SADBA v PRESIDENTS INVITATION 22 January 2023

CHARITY GALA – 6th September 2022

Once again some 24 mixed triples teams from the District Clubs met to play in the Annual Charity Gala for the coverted Strofton Trophy, this year held at North Mymms.

The day started off well in dry weather but later  was punctuated with a few heavy showers, but this not dampen spirits.  Great sportsmanship and bowling on the day gave a close result with the honours going to John Bell, Jackie Bell and Barry Woodham team (from Batchwood) (pictured below) with 52 points, with two Hatfield teams close behind led by Richard Lush (50) and Peter Crouch (48).  A full list of the results is here: SADBA GALA 2022 Final Positions.

Well done to all and a special thank you to the generosity of the bowlers and visitors.  From the spider, cakes sales, doantions and the raflfle some £750 was raised for the President’s Charity Dementia UK. A great result.

The short video below taken at the start of the Spider was taken by Tracy Woods of North Mymms.  Other pictures will be added as they become available.