by Sue Read

JUNE came in for North Tawton Bowling Club with a not-to-be-forgotten match, a friendly, against a Bowls England team, invited to help celebrate the new clubhouse. 

Its official opening will be on Saturday, June 10, but the visit on Thursday, June 1, was every bit a celebration. 

Players had come from across the South West as well as further away such as Leicestershire, Herefordshire, Hampshire and Lancashire which was where the Bowl England president, Viv Tomlinson who was playing that day, lives. 

There were three Devon players including Carol Horgan, Bowls England Captain for the day. She is a former Crediton player who was much involved in the town when she lived there. Carol is now Devon Bowls Administrator. 

Bowls England won the day, but, as Gordon Denham, North Tawton club secretary said, the score was immaterial as it was about enjoying the day, which they certainly did. 

It was a rinks game, each rink having two teams of four players. Each player used two bowls with the game played over 21 ends, so it took almost two and a half hours to complete. The players were given lunch and tea. 

North Tawton had invited Bowls England to play in a celebration match in 2015, shortly after the first sod had been cut to start building the new clubhouse. 

But it was not until this year that the match could be fitted into the Bowls England schedule, which suited North Tawton admirably. The weather was good and it was an excellent day for the club.

Club chairman, Mike Thwaites, said this was the first time a Bowls England team had played at North Tawton. 

“We are very proud of our new clubhouse,” he added. It will be used throughout the year, providing space for short mat bowls in the winter.”

Members of the Bowls England team sent their appreciation of the day to North Tawton. 

Carol Horgan’s comments included: “Your Club thought and planned everything perfectly for today and both Club members and England guests were treated to a day to remember from a Devon Club that now will be the envy of all and will, I am sure, go from strength-to-strength.” 

The former club premises are still used as changing rooms and storage.