A JOLLY GOOD SHOW

JOLLY MEMBERS DAY

THE BLACK HORSE, CROSTON

The Eagle & Child Bowling Club's Jolly Members* Day almost had the dampeners put on it having rained through the night, in to the morning and threatening more in the afternoon.
Mercifully, local precipitation held off for a few hours and the bowling doubles competitions commenced. This was testimony to the remarkable green at the Black Horse in Croston. Aside from being a cracking surface with a challenging crown and contours, kept in top condition by second claim Eagle member Tony Dobson, the surface water miraculously disappeared and you just couldn't tell it had been sodden on there at all.
Arguably, the beer takes presidency from the bowls on this day, but all were relieved to be able to get our woods out and be spared a rainy day inside competing at darts and dominoes instead.
As knives and forks were placed down and our breakfast plates were cleared, our club's indomitable organiser of events Steve Wilson announces our partners and I was delighted to get Vernon Robinson. It prompted a mutual thumbs up across the pub. I like Vernon and he's a Bolton Wanderer like my Dad was.
I fancied us doing quite well and after an atrocious first game in which we both played poorly and got tonked by Geoff Bibby and Colin Campbell, we then tonked Alan Robinson and Frank Goldthorp, who in turn went on to tonk Geoff and Colin. A bizarre tonk triangle which really opened the group up. 

As the stats worked out, a one roll play-off was required and Vern, busy hugging a pint at the time, sent me out there for the pressure bowl. Although second to Andy Vurley's winner, two from three went through and we scraped in to the quarter-finals.

From here, Vern and I began to play much better. A not so pretty but crucial four on the first end contributed to seeing off self-proclaimed "6-4 favourites" Harry Glynn and Steve Wilson in a tight game.

In the semi, we built up a good lead against Aaron Hayhurst and Jim Turner to win with an end to spare.
In the final, another good start left Colin Procter and Jimmy Sloan requiring a four to tie on the eighth and final end. Despite my poor woods, Vern got one close enough and that was it. Jolly Members* Day champions 2023.
We decided to dedicate our victory in honour of The Trotters having a promotion winning season ahead.

* Jolly Members Day replaces the same day out formerly known as the 'Jolly Boys' to be inclusive to our female members.
I was rather surprised to hear one or two grumbles about this. Nobody is stopping any of the more old fashioned fellas having a traditional lads outing of their own, but for an event organised in the name of the club, exclusivity is unnecessary and doesn't help purvey the impression of a progressive club. The Eagle & Child is lacking in female members compared to many other clubs in the area and needs to attract more lasses rather than isolate them in any way.

Personally, I think it's the way forward and that actually, our club's ladies should be more clearly and warmly invited to next year's outing. Only one girl broke the mould this year, hopefully a few more in 2024.