MORE THAN MET MY MATCH IN MAURICE

Thursday 15th May 2024

LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3: Eagle Reds 190-169 Wymott

v MAURICE JACKSON L 14-21

Just like a spell of good weather, good form also has to break eventually and I couldn't find a way of holding off the deluge of good bowling that Maurice Jackson produced.
Things didn't go to plan from the off as I focused on getting a good start. Actually a touch unlucky to go go six down as I did, but what's a home game these days if I don't lose the first four ends?
I managed to grind a way back to 8-9 and stay in the game at 11-12, but I couldn't keep hold of the block for more than a couple of ends and there was just a sense that Maurice still had the upper hand here. Aside from his own excellent lead bowling, the Wymott number ten was clinically disruptive from the back. Under pressure but still managing to put up a fight with some good woods, to see them knocked out with this sort of regularity is deflating to say the least.
Maurice continued to put the squeeze on me and started to regain that early lead going towards to important end of the match. When he did give me scope to break, I sent two agonisingly short bowls. Tension had got to me. I could feel my face all flushed up.
I hadn't given up, but when Maurice gets to nineteen, rolls a couple of feet short and I bend around his bowl to rest on the jack, his sublime second bowl to tap me out again sort of sums up the night really. Stunned to distraction at that shot, my second didn't quite find the road and it was another brilliantly landed second bowl by Maurice on the last end that beat my more than reasonable one to finish the game.
Overall, I just wasn't getting a length at times. I was hoping our green would have had been freshly cut, instead it was a bit sticky and certainly more of a leveller for I felt there was nowhere to go to try and catch Maurice out.
This is no criticism of our Geoff "The Grasscutter" Bibby, merely that a quicker running green might have suited me more against Wymott's best player.
Bitterly disappointed with probably five or six ends where I missed opportunities to score or make a two, I got myself a bit tensed up and it just wasn't happening for me tonight.
Should've done this, could've done that... but beaten by the better player and of that there is no doubt.
With that win, Maurice replaces me at the top of the Division Three Averages table, and that's a relief in some ways because folk have been talking about it and perhaps I felt an added pressure. Defeat and a dip off the radar for a week will hopefully do me the world of good in the long term. I've said I'm not bothered about the merit table of averages and it's difficult not to acknowledge it when you're nevertheless aware of it. 
More importantly anyway, a fourth win of the season for our team with seven winners. More wins than the whole of last season I think? Harry's Thursday night brigade are now ticking along nicely in the region of lower mid-table. 

RECENT FORM PREVAILS

Monday 13th May 2024

Chorley & District League Div-2:

Eagle & Child 'A' 163-116 Croston Subs 'B'
v DAVE SHACKLADY W 21-10

A game of two halves, this one. But recent good form prevailed in the end.
Two weeks earlier in our opening Chorley League fixture, Andy Sexton was my scorer as I went twelve down in the opening seven ends. Thoughts that Andy may be a bad luck charm when finding he had my card again could be forgiven after losing the first four ends of this encounter too.
Dave's mesmerising blue tinted transparent bowls were well placed and I might have been too timid the odd time to knock them out. Thankfully, on end five I broke the duck with a reassuringly well placed two. Lining up an even better looking two on the next end, I'd left a very visible target and Dave ran through with weight to knock the jack off and void the end. I knew I could be in for a real game at this point.
Dave's lead bowls did start to lose the accuracy of early on, but his second bowl sometimes did the damage instead. However, I stuck in there and although a bit frustrated at times, was generally playing well enough to keep the opponent in my sights.
Strangely, it was a very poor end from both of us that changed the game. A short and straight looking mark dragged our first woods way to the left of jack line, then Dave finds the land but overcooks it. I'm immediately cross with myself for going down the same road again, but find out when I get there that my lousy second bowl just counted. Still unhappy about it, winning that end nevertheless gave me a first opportunity of the match to go where I've been scoring plenty at home recently.
This proved to be a game changer. Trailing 9-10 at this point, I won the next seven ends to swing a win and although a spot untidy on the penultimate end when forced to a different part of the green, finished the game really strong as I did last Thursday at Victoria.
Shaking my head in irony with the virtual voice of Thursday captain Harry in my head, having sent the jack to the edge of the green at all-but (a cardinal sin in Mr Glynn's book and I bollocked Banksy for it a few weeks ago) I made amends with a ruthless second bowl that almost sat on the block.
Winning seems to be a good habit just now, seven victories out of the last eight and three successive away wins are definitely the best ratios I've put together by a long way.
It was a good night for the team too, with six winners on the board and up to third in the table with a game in hand on the top two. Lots of bowls to play yet but a bright start to the season. 

GETTING MY SHIT TOGETHER!

Thursday 9th May 2024

LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3:

Victoria - Eagle Reds
v MARK DARCH W 21-10

Harry puts me on at number ten, just as deputising captain Steve Loynd did last week. But I think I might actually be ready for it now. Tonight's away win even eclipses the performance against Colin Rawlinson a few weeks ago.
Having weighed up my possible opponents, I knew full well Mark Darch had taken good wins against good players in Luke Howard of Hoole and Farington BC's John Frodsham, but my pre-match nervousness was in the perfect place.
One last wee, even though I didn't need it, and just a general underlying excitement to get on with the game. I seemed to ooze confidence and a belief in what I was doing for once. It's early days in this rich vein of form, but I've notched up a level and I kind of knew it was there but have only just started to tap in to the zone required.
I played a very solid game and only recall two - what you might say were disappointing woods - in the whole game, both on one end early on which was the only bad end between us and I even won that because at least my length was good. Other than that, I was there or there abouts, led strongly and picked out a winning bowl with my second a good few times. Despite not getting anything on the first couple of ends, I put a good run together and got probably seven or eight ahead, varying my lengths and places to go as I got a good feel for the green.
Seemingly in charge at this point, it was Mark who then shows his credentials playing straight peg up and down the front of the clubhouse and it's a long way lengthways on this big expanse of a green at Victoria. 
He's sending forty metre bowls and wrapping them close to the jack. I do well to remain unruffled, stick to the task and put a few in to save and limit the home bowler to mainly singles. Mark's totally nailed this mark now and I'm just waiting for either a mistake from my opponent, finding a world class winner or spending the rest of the game across there getting beaten up until he gets to twenty-one.
Suddenly though, a mistake. Mark was in a rhythm, but I felt he just rushed this end a little and sends the jack a bit lower, before his first bowl goes even lower and drifts down the gutter. I get a length first bowl, but two foot wide to the right and know full well this simply might not be good enough against this chap. I'm surprised then, when Mark sends his second a little deep and also short. This was a tide turning moment of the game. All I needed to do was send the same wood, but I tidied up the land for good measure and sent a cracker to assure myself of two. I knew straight away it felt good and walked up behind it, poker faced but buzzing inside of the chance to carry on where I Ieft off before Mark got me in to this trap.
I'm not just playing a good game, I'm thinking a good game too and my thoughts were let's get the f*ck out of here, win the next end with a good lead and then play across the middle of the green, which will make sure Mark is at least two ends from getting to play from that place he was thriving from.
I remember my previous visit to Victoria  playing against Glyn Andrews a couple of years ago, I didn't play too badly but only got nine. He finished me off across the narrower sided middle of the crown and that's where I found joy to punish Mark and see the game out from here. Even having the audacity to turn over peg to beat what looked a sure winner for Mark, it felt like a cockiness, but it was just confidence and what a difference that can make in this game.
Fortunate a couple of times when Mark sent a bit of weight but found gaps, I hear nineteen called by my scorer Terry (Tez scoring my game yet again, love it) and I'm just thinking let's go back that way again, keeping it simple and send a good lead. It was a good lead too and whilst my second one ran through eighteen inches, my opponent didn't quite match it and it's game.
I've gone away from home and on paper, looks like I've made moderate work of a win against a good player. I saw this one out as opposed to the game against Colin Rawlinson when I did the hard work and then almost let it slip.
I'm learning, I'm delivering much better bowls and with more consistency. I don't know what it is, but I just feel as though I know what I'm doing all of a sudden and also how to execute it.
Reigning in my new found satisfaction with my own game, I remind myself sternly that one is only as good as your next game.
Bring it on though.
Captain Harry Glynn was back and I think he enjoyed seeing me show a bit of potential. If he says I played well, I did. I told him, "I feel like I'm getting my shit together." He chuckled, and said "Good!".
Whilst my winning run continued, our team's sequence of successes finally came to an end. Jimmy Sloan was the only other winner on the night, but some good performances still and plenty of chalks on the board despite the overall loss. 

FIVE OUT OF FIVE AND GOOD FORM

Thursday 2nd May 2024

Leyland & District League Div-3: Eagle Reds - New Longton 'B'

v DAVID DAWSON W 21-13

David put the pressure on from the off with good lead bowling and I had to stick in there with him in the early stages, make sure I got up and at least snuffle his chances to get two.
Once I broke his initial run, there wasn't much in it for a while until I got on the mark that served me well the previous evening. I was playing it even tighter tonight and a couple of spells on there, assisted by a couple of near misses from David's strikes, turned an early deficit in to a healthier lead than I thought once I'd got to nineteen. It had been a close fought match, but I was playing well again and getting the scores when they really mattered. I'm starting to take control rather than losing it!

It turned out I needed to win by six for our Eagle Reds to take the match on chalks and unknowingly at the time, succeeded to make it three wins in a row for us. 

Last on the green like last night, match finishing at 9:50, bedtime on a Thursday ideally 10:00, led there with bowls whizzing around in my head until after 11... the bowling season is back in full swing.
Form has returned too. Five wins from five matches in the Leyland league places me second in the merit table of averages, behind my best pal Lee Dalton of all players, the Vernons player sits top by just six chalks.
This novelty might never happen again that we are the top two and it's a source of amusement, for we both agree that divisional merit means nothing outside the top division, and even less after just five games. 
By the end of a twenty-two game season, sure enough the top twenty or thirty will be some of the best players in the division, but even that can't necessarily determine a true reflection of ranking. Some games are much tougher than others at this level and it can be the luck of the draw how that pans out.
We're not interested in the folly of the merit table, but equally we'd like to stay up there as long as possible to piss off those who will be chasing it! Notably, one or two players who should and could be bowling at a higher standard, but perhaps seek a more likely scenario of victory being more important than a truly challenging match and season.

HOME TURF TAMED

Wednesday 1st May 2024
LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3: Eagle Reds - Hoole Village Hall 'A'
v KEITH ROUGHLEY W 21-12

Two more home games in successive evenings started with this rearranged fixture after postponement two weeks ago and prompted a concerted effort to get to grips with the problems of home turf.

Having played against Keith in my first season, I had an idea of what I was up against and his subsequent improvement, noted a couple of weeks ago by his recent away win against Farington's Roger Iddon as a reminder to take nothing for granted.

Keith started well, but me too. There was no chance of going twelve behind like two nights ago.

The game began to swing my way when I got a round peg mark going quite well and although frustrated when sometimes short with my second bowl, the lead bowl was good and that's a part of my game that needed to, and now is, getting better.
The Hoole player came back with a few good ends but couldn't get a run together himself and once back on the patch that I built a lead, saw the game out and finished it with a well placed two.
Some proper concentration and emersion in to the game helped me overcome recent psychological home green issues and I found myself looking forward to another game tomorrow night, rather than worrying about it.
Best of all, another win for the team and two on the bounce. Not unprecedented with this team, but rare. Under the vice-captainship of Steve Loynd with Harry away for a week, Steve's iron fist demand for victory was met and he was expecting nowt less than another one tomorrow!

HOME HELP

Monday 29th April 2024

CHORLEY &DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-2: Eagle & Child 'A' - Hilltops 'B'

v ANDY ARROWSMITH L 13-21

Still not coming to terms with the condition of our home green, the plan was to play as straight and simple as possible in this first fixture of the Chorley league.
The Problem was, Andy Arrowsmith had the same idea and more importantly, the away player starts with the jack.
The aptly named Mr Arrowsmith continuously sent two woods as near as damn it to the target and a game has never got away from me so quickly. Five ends in and it's 0-10!
Seven ends in and mercifully I manage to count for second and slow the brutal barrage to 0-12. I don't feel like I've even been on the green very long and that the game is almost over!
It didn't help that I wasn't playing any better than my scatty pre-match practice, but that's to take nothing away from Andy's intense start to the game. Yet another left-hander I've faced this season and a crafty one, a good player who adapted quickly to the trials of our green and set an example that should stop me whinging about it and just get on with it.
Andy's game did break up a little bit and I also scored a few good ends at least, hearing I'd got double figures was a sense of relief. At 10-16, I send a good lead and Andy goes short twice to let me off for two.
At 12-16 suddenly I'm thinking I could give myself a chance. Feeling wild enough to round peg for the first time in the match, I thought I'd got another on the board but Andy's second bowl was just too good and order was restored from the Blackrod bowler. At all-but, my last bowl somehow found a small gap rather than smack the jack or his holding wood out but I doubt I could have held him off much longer anyway.
I suppose it could have been a lot worse and I did alright to salvage some respectability.
Despite being one of three players in the first four to be defeated, our other five players turned the match around in to our favour and although a depleted side compared to last year's promotion chasing squad, we start the season with a win. 

Team leavers are talisman Chris Miller, vastly experienced Kevin Bibby and Trevor Bibby, a threesome that are worth many wins a season between them. 

Whilst I will miss admiring the silky left handed bowling delivery and dry wit of Chris, and Kevin who I have got to know a little better over the Winter league, suffice to say that from a personal point of view I won't miss Trevor quite so much.  

I've got two more matches at the Eagle this week in the Leyland league with a catch-up match on Wednesday and at home again the following evening. 

The feeling of helplessness on home turf needs dealing with. Andy Arrowsmith was first hand evidence that good play is possible on there and so I've got to clear my head of negativity, be absolutely in the zone and be more aggressive early on if an opponent threatens to dominate.

CRACKING WIN SHOWS PROMISE

Thursday 25th April 2024

LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3: Farington St Paul's - Eagle Reds

v COLIN RAWLINSON W 21-20

I think it's fair to say that I was drawn against the opposition's best player, so it was as well that I came with a plan; to keep it simple and find the head space that served me well in that recent trophy winning practice match!
This was executed very well and I won the first six ends or so with the sort of lead bowling that I've been craving to produce. The level of intensity didn't wane much throughout the match and even when Colin did break my run, there wasn't much in it for a while and I'd sustained my lead with some very good bowling at times, notably when knocking the jack out with a bit of pace to deny Colin two to make two for myself.
Scoring again for me, Terry Grayston, who seems to be my personal card marker this season, asked me if I wanted to know (the score)... I was 18-9 up and in fairness there was nowt flukey about it.
However, perhaps I should have said "No thanks", to Tez. Thinking now that I just need to carry on what I'm doing to see the game out, from that moment Colin put the squeeze on me and found a mark to beat me up on. Although often good enough to save one, I just couldn't land something to match his efforts and the lead slowly drained as Colin found a renewed confidence with a long run in possession of the jack.

Despite Colin sapping the life out of my earlier good work, temperament remained pretty good for a change. Although it felt pressured because it was my game to lose having led handsomely, I was still playing quite well and that's all I need to do to keep the demons at bay.
The only time my discipline blipped was after the rather well worn mat slipped underneath my right foot for a second time in three ends and cost me another chance to save. Just for a fleeting moment, I was livid. Despite a splutter of expletives, hopefully not loud enough to offend the locals, it was channelled positively and geared me up to finally break Colin on the next end having just lost the lead at 18-19.
No surprises where Colin went next, but a surprise that he went a little tighter to the right than previous marks and even bigger surprises to see his lead fall short and off track and his second run a little far. A massive opportunity and siezed with a close first bowl which I tapped up with an identical second for a very big two. I could hear my captain Harry Glynn enjoying that one. 20-19.
After finally reassociating my right hand with that yellow block again, I mused, "I don't think I'm going to go over there finger peg", which got a little from my opponent and nearby scorers. Finally I was out of that trap and went back to where I began the game with a fairly uncomplicated short straight peg. I send a cracking lead and tap the jack, but not quite thick enough and so Colin could still see it. He sends a bloody belter, hits it thick and follows through by a foot. I didn't adjust well enough and fell short with my second, leaving Colin a chance for game but his second was also just short and so it went to the wire.
That twist suddenly switched my mindset. Having survived that scare, it was my game to win again.
Colin decides to play to his home gallery at the clubhouse end, round pegging over the the middle of the crown towards a perilous edge of the green.
Brave with his lead, that first bowl finds the slope and slowly drops off the green. A bit of experience came in to play here, as I aim to make sure I stay on and count, but get a real feel for it and what I might need to do to adjust. My land was spot on but it gave up a yard and a half short, then Colin has to pass mine with his second bowl and does so, running up just a couple of feet short.
Composure was everything now, as I tell myself, "Take your time Johnny Boy, hit that land again and give it a bit more ooof."
It felt good when it left my hand and flipping heck, it was perfect. Tapping the jack up and getting a vocal reaction from all watching. What a moment. A bit of fist pumping went on, but I couldn't help it. A big win and I played well.
It was a really good game and I would feel the same had I Iost, but winning makes it more memorable. One of the St Paul's players Peter Suart said he was distracted from his scoring duties elsewhere because he was too busy watching our game. A compliment indeed to Mr Rawlinson and I.
I thought I'd heard of Colin and seen him play, but just couldn't associate him with St Paul's, and that made sense as I'm later told he has transfered from Wymott, along with his wife Val who is no bowling slouch either.
It turned out to be a rare, but well earned away victory for our team. Of six winners, Arthur Parker came back brilliantly to beat Tony Peacock, who brutally kicked my arse here two years ago. Meanwhile new recruit Judith Farrell despatched very steady home bowler David Bridge.

THE MAJESTY OF ST PAUL'S
Farington St Paul's has not been a happy away trip as I have no doubt whinged about in previous reports.
It's a lovely set up and they're a nice bunch over there, but I've struggled on their green for reasons historically documented, but as soon as I saw it I knew I could play there this time.
I'd heard from that man Mr Suart again, who is a customer where I work, that much work had been done and that it was now in great condition. He's not wrong.
A fantastic job done there by Peter and the team to bring the green up to the standards of the rest of the facility.
Formerly one of my least favourite greens to play, now thinking it could be one of my favourites and particularly having now played one of my best away games there.


TOUGH GREEN, TOUGH DRAW, BUT GOOD EXPERIENCE
Saturday 27th April 2024
HESKETH ARMS SPRING DOUBLES
With STEVE MARGINSON
1st Round
v STUART HODSON & RAY BEVINGTON L 14-21 (Off 3-3)

Clubmate Steve asked me if I fancied a pop at this with him. It was a different green to play and only a fiver each to enter so why not?
It's a fairly small sized green with quite a pronounced crown and various other miniature crowns, gullies and channels to challenge us and on top of that, a few days without a proper deluge of rain and some strong Spring sunny spells meant it was running very quick. Exactly the opposite to what we've all been accustomed through Winter and this new season so far.
I'd heard of our opponents so I knew we were up against it, but we started quite well and there was not a lot in it going in to the teens at 12-13, and that despite conceding a very poor four from our point of view.
But once Stuart and Ray started trickling short round pegs towards the green edge, we were in trouble. They played these delicate marks very well, and whilst not perfect all the time and joining mine in the gutter occasionally, generally they were there or thereabouts. If we found land, we misjudged length and vice-versa.
The gulf in class and their previous experience on this green told in the end, but not before Margy landed a fantastic bowl to break them at all-but and knock us on for two.
Thinking we might still have a sniff here if we could get back to playing how the started the match, I then made a real hash of my lead and second bowl and disappointly allowed damage to be done that Steve couldn't this time rectify.
A good experience on a tricky green and no shame given that Stuart and Ray won a further three rounds to make it to a closely contested final, eventually beaten 18-21. 

LEAD TRAINING REQUIRED

Wednesday 17th April 2024

At Euston Green, Fleetwwod Bowling Club

SPRING WATERLOO TROPHY

First Round Qualifier
v DARREN BITHELL (Freckleton) L *17-21 (off 3-3) *Although the official scoreboard only read 12, I know for a fact I scored at least 15 and Darren saw the card and said 17... so I'll take 17!

Practice time alone restored some faith for a recently fragile bowling state of mind.  Turning up at such occasions as a total rank outsider (if a bookmaker was on site, they probably wouldn't even grace me any odds whatsoever) it's always a relief to settle down and send a few ends that wouldn't look out of place on finals day.
Unfortunately I was fifteenth match on the card and so the good momentum gained from an hour's practice time had a further two hours to wear off before I went on.
The rarity of blue sky and full sunshine graced this day's qualifiers, but not without a strong cold wind and I ended up meeting my opponent a short while before going on as he invited me to join him in a small sheltered sun trap after he saw I was getting a bit chilly.
No introductions needed then as we finally got under way and I got off to a steady start and edged in to a small lead. Ultimately, once again my lead bowl just wasn't up to the standard required. Nobody kept hold of the jack for long until Darren's long marks over the middle of the crown had me on the rack for a while and proved costly. His left-handedness proved particularly more difficult to follow on that mark.
There was a chance in this match, I sort of realised later and I just didn't believe hard enough that I could come back. A super bowl to tap out Darren's toucher put me back in contention and broke his run of dominance, but again I didn't put the lead up. Weight was fine, I seemed to be just off my line a bit and even though Darren wasn't having a fully consistent game himself, he was easily good enough to mop up my mistakes.
With Darren all-but, he sent two woods that were too good, pegging across the middle of the green under the bar lounge windows. He left a big target and I sent a pacey one which should either hit the jack off the green or knock both his woods off. Instead I somehow found a bowls width gap that didn't seem conceivable even after it had happened.
The damage was already done though and whilst not a write-off of a game from my point of view, poor lead bowls let me down and it wasn't the improvement here that I was quietly aspiring towards.

BOWLING BOOK A-WARD
By the mere fact I was sat in the stand close to his kit bag, a chap who has just come off the green after winning through to round two starts chatting to me about some classic Waterloo finals of the 1980's.
It turns out to be Alan Ward, a one time Waterloo semi-finalist and author, no less, of a book called Bowling Legends
A history of great crown green bowlers and much about this greatest and oldest competition at Blackpool that has been recently kept alive ten miles up the Lancashire coast in Fleetwood.
I should get the book, he's plugged it as available on Amazon. I then wonder what he would make of my own self indulgent and insignificant bowling ramblings? 

It's probably best he, like everyone else outside Singapore, doesn't know about it!

CLUB SNUB DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
Also randomly sharing his thoughts to me briefly was the chief orchestrator of the new Fleetwood Waterloo, Mark Mills. Mark is part of a small team of dedicated volunteers who not only put up the Waterloo and Fleetwood Bowling Festival competitions, but their efforts have contributed to upgraded spectating facilities and a fabulously kept green which has improved every time I've visited over the last three years.
Even the back green, which looked to be in a somewhat neglected state last July, has been transformed and now looks an equally inviting surface.
If I heard correctly, Mark happened to point out though that all this kudos for Fleetwood Bowling Club is not just lacking general support from club members, but moreover deemed nuisance value by some. I don't get it. Maybe there's two sides to the story, but Mark, and his comp organising successor Heidi Sutton, are struggling for helpers. The lack of local bowlers popping down for an hour or two to assist does seem strange. They seem an ungrateful lot and it all appears to be a funny old fraught relationship with Fleetwood BC. Waterloo is still a very big competition and what it lacks in host club support, makes up for in terms of quality in depth of bowlers entering. Short term perhaps that's what's important.
It's still early days at Fleetwood and hopefully more acceptance, followed by some embracing of what's played there will come about in the years ahead.
The original Waterloo venue in Blackpool remains intact to a degree and just requires a bowler to win the lottery and return it to it's former glory. There doesn't seem to be any other way back there.
For now, every credit to those making a success of keeping the historic trophy going under ever increasingly difficult circumstances.

MY FIRST SINGLES TROPHY!😆
A few more less wet days later and my home green was running a little quicker and I seemed to get to grips with it much better at last.
I played Aaron in our latest Hargreaves Cup bout, in which tongue-in-cheek pride of the avenue is at stake versus my neighbour.
I've mentioned on many occasions I enjoy playing against him, it's quickfire bowling and you've got to be on it or he'll thrash you. With Aaron I find myself in the right space of mind, playing very competitively but without fear or inhibition. Big note to self here; This is precisely the mode I need to transmit in to proper matches.
Remarkably this was a third close win in succession and Aaron is a bloody good young player, so if I'm scratching around for encouragement that I actually am a better player than when I started out, my games against this chap ought to be a standard bearer.
Upon this latest match, Aaron roots in to his bag and awards me a small trophy and it's made clear he wants to win it back in the not too distant future.
The Hargreaves Cup just got real!
What a nice lad, a lovely gesture and I'll enjoy it's place on our mantlepiece... for now. 

FLATTERING WIN CAN'T PAPER CRACKS

Thursday 11th April 2024

Leyland & District League Div-3: Eagle Reds - Farington & District

v JIM FINCH W 21-7

Despite another faultering home show, a very, very flattering win. I didn't send a single lead bowl that I was properly happy with and never settled down in to any sort of rhythm as our Eagle green once again got inside my head and left me scratching it at times.
With all due respects to my opponent Jim, out of a very strong Farington team at this level, he was probably an easier game than most of the others on the night. On this form, there's no doubt I would have got a spanking from most of their remaining line-up.
I'm pretty sure Jim's had better days as he was just as inconsistent as me. The difference on the night was that I stuck a decent second bowl up enough times to turn a game that was tight in the early stages at 8-5. It didn't feel like a well earned comprehensive victory and it certainly wasn't.
Whatever it was, it was one for the team though in a tough match against probable promotion material. Steve Loynd grabbed our other win and a well earned one versus John Steele.
Following this game, our captain Harry Glynn said I was playing better in my first season than the start of this, my fourth one. Even if that was a nod towards the fact I was playing more instinctively and with more freedom back then, Harry's observation was a tough one to consume.

Basically, I think I'm putting too much pressure on myself. I've earmarked this as a season to really improve and perhaps I should've buried that thought deeply and set our to just think humble but play hard.
Next up, and ridiculously, given my current form and fragile state of bowling mind... the small matter of Fleetwood Waterloo qualifiers (seemed like a good idea to enter at the time)
I don't see the point in cancelling. I've got some experience there now and enough to go with a clean slate intent on giving somebody a decent game. I need a shot of confidence and hopefully I can rise to the occasion and find a bit, then chill the bloody hell out and turn it in to some much better league form!

LESS OF A FOOL AT HOOLE

Thursday 4th April 2024

Leyland & District League Div-3: Hoole Village Hall 'B' - Eagle Reds

v MIKE HENLEY W 21-11

I was ready to pack my bowls away and forget where I'd put them. If I didn't play well tonight, no tantrums, just a quiet word with captain Harry to tell him I need a time out (even though the season has only just started!) It would be relatively free of guilt, for he's got new recruits this season and so it's not as if I'm going to leave the team short.
Any sort of repeat performance from Tuesday would have been punished by veteran left handed bowler Mike on his home turf, but I managed to get my act together as the rain began to pour heavily on Hoole's lush as ever turf.
I wouldn't say I played with a carefree attitude - I wanted to play well and of course I wanted to win - but the general apathy I felt after foolishly losing the plot two nights earlier helped me relax, concentrate on the basics and in the end I didn't send many woods worth cursing.
I got off to a good start but Mike produced some great shots to keep himself in it and at 15-10, although I felt I might have the upper hand, I sent my opponent longer than he liked to go and put up good woods to take two good two's and speed myself towards the finishing line.
Although there wasn't much grace in my winning bowl - a good length sent but around eighteen inches wide of the target and only counting after a tight measure - I was in a happy bowling place again and my fickle relationship with the game was favourably rekindled, not least because I simply played reasonably well.
A loss for our team on the night, but three points picked up against a good Hoole team. Briggsy and Banksy were our other two winners, the former playing as well as I've seen him play, the latter with an excellent comeback. 

COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME

Tuesday 2nd April 2024

Preston & District Amateur League Cup 

1st Round 
Eagle & Child "B' - Vernons BC
v ALAN McDOUGALL L 15-21

There have been moments when I've thought I might not be too bad at this game and was genuinely starting to feel I could settle down and start making some proper progress this season. Off the back of Winter, an air of confidence and deeper understanding of the game. 

Perhaps I've been kidding myself, for such thoughts were trashed after an impromptu call-up to help out the Eagle & Child's new 'B' team in the Preston League.

I generally played absolutely rubbish. The very basics went to pot and I just didn't seem to know what the bloody hell I was doing out there most of the time.
When finally put out of my misery and after chucking my bowls in to the laurel bushes with dummy firmly spat out, I did wonder whilst still in a huff and trying to retrieve them in the darkness of undergrowth, if it was time I just packed the game up.
It's a close call, but having calmed down I realise a second opinion would be the rational option so I'll still be making myself available as normal to start the Leyland League in a couple of night's time.
Honestly though, if you're not enjoying something and there's other stuff you're better at, it feels like a completely pointless waste of valuable time. 
This game sucks time up like a vacuum and so enjoyment is paramount. 
It's not about the winning and losing, I really am past all that crap. I just feel it's time that match performance hit a consistently satisfactory level I suppose, but tonight was just consistently bad.

Before this sounds like sour grapes, absolutely no offence to my opponent Alan. Nice bloke, proper firm handshake and he played well, particularly so at the business end of the match. Given that we were only 10-11 despite the disconsolate feelings about my own game, opportunity was there earlier on to get away from him and keep my nose in front, but I let myself down. 

Some really wayward bowls that were embarrassing, unacceptable and the reasons why I became increasingly irrate and distracted. 

Then outside influences started to get under my skin. Crossing bowls and players from other matches seemed to inadvertently time their movements against me to annoying precision. It pains me to admit that even the encouragement from our scorer Terry Grayston - who I love - felt clichéd and ill-timed at certain points and drove me nuts. I should've been appreciating the fully paid attention of Tez to my match, but I think it was just because I was having a shit game that silly stuff like this was bothering me. I'll tell Tez on Thursday and have the conversation. I want him to understand, because it's not him, it's me!

Although I actually didn't roll too badly on the last few ends, Alan absolutely nailed them. No doubt the Vernons man deserved to win.
In the aftermath, I question why my game went catastrophically wrong from my point of view. An inquest going on inside my head as I make the roughly seven minute brisk walk home.
Practice hasn't gone great since our green reopened. Although just getting the better of neighbour Aaron on that first opening evening to retain our Hargreaves Cup match, Aaron wasn't on his game by any means and I've spiralled downhill since. When I told a few clubmates I had a bad feeling about the match ahead, it turned out to be one of few things I got right on the night.

I really feel for the chaps at the club who have worked hard to get our green in shape, but such a wet Winter and pretty damp Spring so far, coupled with resident pecking crows has made it a different and funny old beast to tame and I just don't feel confident on there. It's probably just be me, but I'm interested to see how it generally pans out as a home green this season. I for one am finding it difficult. 

Green conditions aside, at times, releasing the bowl wasn't fluid tonight either and with my thumb still not fully functional after coming off my bike a couple of weeks ago, perhaps this is affecting my grip? I'm not sure my foot placement was correct either, my stance normally angled a little as I play across myself... I could go on...
Uh oh, this all sounds like clutching at excuses. I'm searching for reasons, but it's all just excuses.
The only bonified contributory factor for my downfall was temperament and in that department I'm simply flawed. If I don't bowl to what I deem a reasonable standard, the red mist descends and I get lost in a battle against myself. 

Confidence is on the floor after this. But if selected to play Thursday, I actually feel slightly better that it's away from home. That's not how it should be though.
There's a pressure I put on myself to perform and especially on my home green to make a decent show of myself. But if Thursday night turns out to be Tuesday night replayed, then I really could see myself taking a sabbatical from the game. To be quite honest, there's plenty of other stuff I can be doing. 
Alternatively, things might go well and all this confidence shrivelled rambling will seem ridiculous and insignificant.
Hopefully it's the latter, but my mood about bowls right now feels very fickle and a bit deflated. 

OFF THE FIRST ROUND MARK AGAIN

Monday 17th March 2024

Longridge Spring Floodlit Singles

1st Round
v MARK IRELAND W 21-9 (off 3-3)

The season got off to an encouraging start and whilst short of practice, the same could be said of my opponent. One thing for sure was the fantastic condition of the green. A credit to Dave Peel and the volunteers who tender it. Competition organiser John Hanson keeps things pretty low key here, but it's a venue fit for bowling Kings and Queens.
Strangely drawn against the same opponent as last Autumn's first round, a combination of playing better and Mark not really playing as well as in our previous meeting made for a fairly straight forward victory and a third successive first round win at Longridge.
A good lead was built up fairly quickly and I was playing with confidence. Moments of particular satisfaction were a couple of ends when perfectly planting bowls to steal when Mark had every right to think he'd scored a very good two.


BROWNED OFF IN THE RAIN
2nd Round
v BOB BROWN L 10-21 (off 3-1)

Light rain started to patter on this impeccable green as my next match got underway. I'm not sure I adapted well as it took a few ends to get my length again, by which time this home bowler opponent had reversed my slight handicap advantage and started to make a comfortable lead for himself.
Bob Brown's perogative (those of a certain age will pardon the pun) was short, round pegged marks trickling off some of this green's most pronounced contours. He played them really well throughout the game, leading with precision, sticking a very good second up there too and simply leaving me and my limited skill set with too much to do.
Unfortunately, despite my new mantra of taking every bowl as it comes, I got lost in the struggle against Bob and I did let a bit of frustration get to me. On the occasions that I got that block in my hand, my lead bowl wasn't tight enough and when it was, I ought to have made a two. One's are no good when you're under the cosh.
It wasn't a total disaster, I wasn't a million miles off in this match and was probably unlucky a few times, should have asked for the long tape at least once when an end appeared very short, but the basic fact was that Bob was too good a bowler and played the green very well indeed.


CLUMSY BUGGER
On the morning prior to the evening's bowling competition, a hour's run over Darwen Moor and Tockholes had it's moments and notably when descending the main track off Darwen Tower towards Sunnyhurst Woods.
After passing a couple of lasses walking, I veered left to regain my line and clipped some loose rock to take a tumble.
One of the girls kindly shouted if I was alright. It got a chuckle when I blurted back to them, "Yeah thanks, just a clumsy bugger. Getting too owd for this lot."
A grazed hip and a few other scratches, fortunately I was fine to carry on running and even more fortunately and remarkably, my favourite Tracksmith Van Cortlandt tee had somehow survived any abrasion. At the time I think I was more concerned about damage to my top than to myself.
A bit sore later on, but fine to play bowls at Longridge.

The following morning though, a quarter of a mile down the road from home and I can't believe it as I come flying off my bike for the first time in a long time. More scratches, more bruises and on bending my thumb backwards on the handlebars, significant swelling to hamper simple tasks for the next few days.
Two crashes in successive days might sound like back luck, but it was good fortune that knees, head and face escaped unscathed and that my bowling thumb wasn't broken. Perhaps it's the universe subtly reminding me that I'm not a Spring chicken anymore. 

NEW SEASON DESIRE

As the new crown green season edges close enough to be on the anticipation radar, 

there is something different going on in my head (Well, a lot of people tell me that!) 

But what I mean is, the way I am thinking about the game of crown green and how I'm going to approach the new season. 

Three seasons of bowling has been an education and the learning never ends, but I've got some experience now and I'm feeling a fresh confidence and real determination to just play every bowl as well as I can, not get wound up when things don't go my way and let the results take care of themselves. 

At the moment, this is nowt but a strong desire and a visualisation stored in my head. But I need to hold that thought, for what goes on upstairs above the shoulders is a vital component in one's bowling armoury.
This has got to be the season to make some proper strides forward in the game. I feel that one or two at my club think I might have hit the dreaded plateau, so I'd like to prove a few folk wrong. Most importantly though, I need to prove to myself what I think I am capable of.

Without confusing desire with delusion, I can safely state there is still more to come from my bowling. The broader question is more about how far forward I can stride?

The new season gets off to a gradual start in a month's time, having entered the Longridge Singles again. I like the green at Longridge Cons and haven't made a total fool of myself there yet so it's a good one to enter and get practicing for.

WE ARE STAYING UP... WE ARE STAYING UP...

A remarkable escape for the Misfits team was sealed with a stalemate in our penultimate match against third placed B Team. Landing the peculiar tally of 1.5 points for a drawn match, this was enough to maintain our top flight status for next Winter. 

Kevin Bibby and our captain Steve Marginson's winning run came to an end, but Nigel and I made it four in a row. Fortunate perhaps that their main man Eammon Delaney wasn't playing that evening, but nevertheless a good 21-14 win against two good bowlers.

Valiant efforts were put up against champions Westhoughton in the season's final game, with Kevin and Steve playing well and leading Dave Higginbottom and George Chadwick 10-7 until Steve knocked his own out with a last bowl which instigated a swing of momentum and epitomised how just one bowl can often turn a match. Our pair were tortured to defeat from thereon down the far side of the back green.

Nige and I were playing one of the game's best pairings in Kevan Shaw and Ben Phillips and although far from being brushed aside by our opponents, they were just too strong for us and had an answer at every telling moment in the match when we threatened to give ourselves a chance. We were eventually shaken off 11-21 down the same side of the green as our teammates in the previous match, with Kevan landing excellent leads on marks that appeared most straight forward, but were all about sending absolute perfect weight.
I absolutely bloody love playing against them. It's an honour, an education and as big a buzz as doubles down at Fox Lane on a cold and probably damp Wednesday evening could ever get.
One of the reasons I was desperate for us to stay up was the opportunity to play against these two, Dave Higginbottom and the other top bowlers on their team again next Winter.

Kevan and Ben are a real class act, highest quality players, gentlemen of the game and with proper firm handshakes. Nothing limp or clammy about their traditional pre and post match hand clasp. Much, much lesser bowling mortals should take note!

A mention for our other players in the team, starting with Harry Derbyshire for whom we have missed and especially earlier in the Winter when we were struggling. Harry's been out of action during the Winter following an operation and subsequent recovery period.

Steve Banks meanwhile hasn't got a look in for a while after a series of postponements and then by his own admission, not wanting to break the current winning formula that staved off relegation. Banksy was still always in attendance to support the team every week.
Andy Sexton, a key player in last season's successful rise to the runners-up spot, has made only a couple of cameo performances this Winter. This runs consistent with what seems to be his fraught relationship with the game in recent times.

RUN DOWN

There are more bugs going around at the moment than even Piers Morgan could have boasted during his phone tapping editorial pomp.
Contracting three cold viruses inside four months has been difficult to comprehend and the latest dose perhaps the worst of the lot. 

I'd only got back running for a few weeks after the bug that kicked the New Year in, before being forced out of action yet again with some crappy flu symptoms (more than just man flu) and as it lingers it takes the edge off my energy levels, so now pushing three weeks since I last ran.
There's much worse things of course and I shouldn't complain. But it's a bit frustrating because during a spell where I've got on top of both old and the new injury niggles, only for bloody illnesses now preventing some sort of progression.
One of the many legacies of Covid seems to be the havoc played with immune systems. I'm not the only one complaining of bug after bug recently. All in all I went well over two years or so without any sort of cold virus  after the lockdowns and mask wearing regulations in public places. The only ailment I experienced during this period was Covid itself. 

From finally catching a good old normal head cold last November, it now feels like a hell of lot of time spent sniffling, snuffling, sneezing and coughing ever since.

Pre-Covid normality, if I caught a cold, once recovered I could get back stuck in to training knowing I've probably at least six months grace until the next viral intrusion. Not so lately, as I seem to pick up everything  that's going around as if I'm a toddler all over again.
Hopefully when finally through this latest batch of unsavoury infection, some sort of bodily factory reset kicks in and I get a fair chance of working towards a good fitness level again by Spring.

Will I actually EVER race regularly again?? I'll never give up trying, or believing!

THREE WINS IN A ROW SETS UP "INTERESTING" DESTINY

A third successive win for the Misfits in Fox Lane Wednesday night doubles and a season that started with a sort of shoulder-shrugging pessimism is drawing to a close with a fist-pumping optimism.

Top flight status still hangs in the balance and realistically, not entirely in our own hands. But after that grim first half of the campaign, a settled team has seen us really gain some confidence and hit a winning run.
Against the team placed fourth, the oddly named With Beccs, Kevin Bibby and Steve Marginson slumped to a 2-10 deficit as opposition lead bowler Bill Rodden took charge of proceedings. But when his run was finally broken, the game opened up and momentum switched. At 14-14, Kevin and Steve seized that momentum and played really well to see out an excellent win.
It was down to Nigel Tomlinson and I to once again compliment the first pair's victory and bring home maximum points. Nige has been my most regular partner so far, but that's not entirely why he's perhaps become my favourite. We seem to be a good foil for each other, with completely different mindsets (I'm wired, he's chilled) and yet it works for us more often than not. When we both play well it's been proven we are a match for very good bowlers. Of course when we are both off our game then we are easy pickings, but generally, during normal service, if one of us doesn't get there, more often than not the other one does and that's what you need in doubles.
We had a tight game against Will Rodden and Chris Thompson but eventually got ourselves in the driving seat. Despite losing more ends early on, restricting our opponents to a long list of one-pointers kept us either level or noses ahead until I finally felt my game got going, but once again Nigel turned up trumps with some incredible winners from the back and this was the telling factor.
I wasn't overly impressed however, when lying three down, I implored my partner to get close and save with his last bowl. Instead, he went off piste for the strike and just missed, allowing our opponents to pick up a full house and get right back in it at 16-16 when we seemed to have taken control.
Nige said he felt confident enough to make the hit though, so fair enough. The control freak lead bowler that I have become - I had to suck eggs on that one!
We knuckled down again to win the next three ends though and see out the win which is all that matters. Scrappy at times from my own point of view, but I'm not playing too badly. There's a perfectionist within that has no right to be and is often disappointed. But without that over-expectational demand on myself, I wouldn't get the good shots and I don't think I would be slowly making improvements.
This win temporarily lifts us above our opponents to the dizzy heights of fourth, but the points margin is narrow and we've played a game more than three of the four teams below.
It was only this week I discovered it's three teams relegated, not two! Pretty brutal in a league of just eight I considered and decided to share my thoughts with league co-organiser Dave Charlesworth. You don't get much change out of Dave's dry perceptions at the best of times, and his reply that  "It makes things more interesting", simply cannot be argued with I suppose.
That said, three going down makes the survival of our team become an even more unlikely story should we see it through.
We continue to keep ourselves in with a chance though and if we can salvage another point or two from a very challenging last couple of matches then regardless of the endless ifs and buts of our rivals with a game in hand, it might just be enough. 

FIGHTING CHANCE TO STAY UP

Following Saturday's race, no running since as whatever cold virus that was lurking has since made it quite clear that further physical exertions are not a good idea just now.
Concentration switched to bowls then as weather conditions finally settled down and the Wednesday bowling night was ON.
Fox Lane's greens were looking superb. A subtle cut and brush, enhanced by the new floodlights, provided a truly inviting spectacle after nearly a month of postponements.
Our team's survival chances were further boosted as all four of us played well against relegation rivals and Fox Lane home team, Real Ale Madrid.
Two convincing wins and a second successive priceless three points were scooped up. Kevin Bibby and Steve Marginson set the tone with a 21-7 effort. I was back with Nigel Tomlinson again and we were both back to form on that big number one green.
After losing the first few ends, I put up some good leads and if I didn't, more often than not Nige was there to rescue the points. In fact, even when I was up there with good woods, Nige would even better them. He sent some absolute wonders all evening and the beauty about Nigel, who has only been playing a couple of years longer than I have, is his humility and that he doesn't know how good he actually is... and could be.
Our opponents Andy and Peter were both playing well and yet became resignated to their plight. "What the f*ck do we have to do against these lads?", I overheard a couple times. They just couldn't get in there, didn't get any lucky breaks and Nige played some blinders when they did get in. When we did lose an end, generally we restricted them to singles and made it really hard work. A 21-9 victory was capped off with a sweet second bowl of mine looking the likely matchwinner, only for Nigel to typically beat it by an inch.
Sublime as it was, as the supporting Steve Wilson pointed out, Nigel had made a bigger target for potential disruption, but we got away with it and the game ended with me bollocking my partner for showboating!
These two victories pulled us out of the bottom two relegation places for the first time all season but we still need to defy the odds by getting four or five points from our final three games to give ourselves the best chance.
No mean feat given that we face three of the current top four, starting with leaders Westhoughton next week.
Olive Park Greens have somehow climbed above us now, beating The Cons on Wednesday who have now parachuted to second from bottom, but crucially with a game in hand on us Misfits.

GUNK, MUD AND HOPE

Saturday 6th January 2024

LANCASHIRE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Witton Park, Blackburn
Senior Men's Race: 9.8K

This race was pencilled in maybe three months ago. A good starting point to finally, and hopefully, get racing regularly again in 2024.
As things transpired, my performance didn't feel like a true representation of where my running is right now. Training has been going well and I felt really strong on a New Year's morning tempo run, but then an underlying cough and sore throat has taken hold as the week progressed.
There's a load of bugs and viruses about just now, Covid is still expressing it's latest mutation too, although it would seem I tested negative for that.
This was a bit of a weird one though, in that I was coughing and blowing a load of congealed gunk first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but symptoms seemed to go away during the day. I didn't actually feel fatigued by it either, so all week I'm not sure if it's a good idea to do the race on Saturday or not.
The fact I wanted to and basically felt energised enough to do so perhaps overrode common sense.
Lancs Champs is a tough comeback race. Cross Country has always been my weakest running discipline, sited by the wrong type of mud and too much of it. Laps do my head in as well. I'm just a sucker for punishment I suppose, but it's a classic on the local fixture calendar and those additional psychological challenges will stand me in good stead. 
We're off and I feel I'm running at a consistent effort rate - but a bit like one of those recurring running dreams I have when I'm trying to wade through something like treacle whilst everybody else gallops by easily - it became a reality. Despite maintaining effort rate, as each lap went by, I dropped steadily back through the field and just couldn't latch on to any passers by. 

A great distraction when starting the third lap was Harriers secretary and honorary member George Davies reaching high to make an exemplary left handed catch when I chucked him my gloves from a good fifteen yards away.  

Two hundred yards further down the course though and the reality of my current running ranking is exposed as I'm lapped by firstly, the impressive looking leader, Daniel Bebbington, speeding through the claggy mud as if it was track. I then get a glimpse of the rest of the top fifteen or so by the time I'm starting the fourth and final lap, of which I was pleased and not surprised to see clubmate and former work colleague Ben Fish up there, claiming a top ten spot by the end and not suprisingly the first veteran prize. Five times a Lancs Champs winner and still classy as ever going in to his forties.

In any race though, running well or not, you finally find your level and mine was on that last lap. Traffic had been strictly one way since the start... just passing me by. Approaching our final uphill slog on the section known as 'The Saucer' though, I realised an Accrington guy that had just slipped past sounded like he was suffering much more than me and finally, yes finally I passed somebody and gained a place back! Buoyed by this moment of euphoria, there was a bit left in the tank to maintain momentum and now rather than worry who was coming behind, I set my sights on Chorley veteran Paul Wareing next ahead. I made up good yardage on him through the gate and deep slop at the bottom of the hill, gritting past him with maybe 300 yards to go and holding on by a couple of seconds. It was a positive end to an otherwise difficult three quarters of an hour getting my arse kicked. 
It was all absolutely worth it though. Great to catch up with some of the guys again from Blackburn Harriers and other clubs who I've not seen for years. It should also be said, around the course, absolutely fabulous support from people I recognised who had a right to forget who I was, and others of whom I had rudely forgotten them. A few times on the first lap I would hear my full name sounded in exclamation. 'The Ghost of Harriers Past', it would seem!
This run was a reminder that I do miss the racing scene and some of the terrific spirit amongst club runners. Maybe it's all down to body chemistry and running endorphins, or perhaps my own personal perception, but it got me thinking how club runners are that bit more an engaging, encouraging and upbeat crowd than crown green bowlers. I'm careful not to state that as an overall generalisation, for I've met mainly very fine people through bowling so far, but somehow it feels the runner's glass is half full and the bowlers glass is half empty. Only a runner that bowls or a bowler that runs might understand!
The morning after the race and I'm not that sore, my legs aren't as spannered as they could have been and so on that basis I can happily convince myself a couple of minutes could have been shaved off had I felt in full fettle.
Sara assures me an early walk with the dogs on the moors would be "active rest". It was a stunning frosty morning up there and I was very grateful she dragged me out of my post-porridge stupor.
Coming off Great Hill I see that a runner approaching upwards is Rob Hope and I'm flattered he still recognises me from my halcyon fell racing days. He stops and chats for a few minutes. I can't take Sara anywhere rural without bumping in to a runner and subsequently gassing it would seem. But I think Mrs Sutton was suitably impressed on this occasion when I explained Rob happens to be a multiple British and English fell racing champion. He was the dominant force in the sport for some years when I started running. The same age as myself, but obviously a different class and needless to say Rob is still a force to be reckoned with on the fells.
Sara was amazed at how humble a chap he seemed to be and that he even bothered giving the likes of myself the time of day, but that's not only the mark of the man, but the spirit of fell running and amateur running in general.
Nobody I know about thinks they are Billy Big Bollocks in this game, even if they might have a right to be.
I can't help thinking this crossing of paths with Mr Hope was somehow a sign to really crack on and get back in to it properly this year.
Please body parts, I implore you to stay mobile and intact!

It was Rob Hope's body parts I was more concerned about after he retraced his route back down the hillside though. One of our dogs, Connie, is an absolute beast for chasing runners, bikes, even buses once or twice... I thought Rob getting 200 yards ahead and even out of sight around Drinkwaters Farm ruins was a safe enough bet to take Connie's lead back off... bad move. She was off! Chasing down a national fell running champion with me screaming louder and more anxiously than usual in these helpless circumstances. She came back fairly quickly and I don't know what happened. Perhaps he upped the pace and Connie met her match? I could see Rob still running again in the distance so no harm done I suspect. 

Race Winner: Daniel Bebbington (Blackburn Harriers) 31:02
My Stats: 44:53 Pos: 100th/136

WAITING FOR BETTER WEATHER

Last year drew towards it's close with yet more disruption of the bowls fixture calendar. If it isn't freezing, it's sodden on those there greens at Fox Lane.
Our team finished 2023 on a high note though with our first overall match win of the season against relegation rivals Olive Park Greens. Two close games won to seventeen was enough to lift us off the bottom in place of our opponents that evening.
I've got rusty again and didn't play particularly well, but my partner Kevin Bibby returned to better form and carried us over the line. Kevin led out well when we swapped around and this was the key to a much needed win. Nigel and Steve then completed the proverbial six-pointer which gives us a fighting chance, but it's still going to be a tough task to stay up and particularly if we're not playing with regularity.
Once again, fixtures called off first week of this new year after seemingly endless piles of rain. A long overdue dry spell begins, but now it's touch and go again if it can stay above freezing early enough in the evening. 

HEROES TO ZEROES!

Primary evidence hereby given that you can't "be as good as your last game". Instead, the adage that you're only as good (or bad) as your next one most certainly ran true for Nigel Tomlinson and I when paired together for a third successive match.

Not just on the bowling green, but sport in general can kick you in the nether regions when least expected and Farington Con's pair, John Ashworth and Paul Richmond, provided the proverbial ball ache.

Despite a rosey looking start, I was struggling to get near enough against two guys playing well and Nige wasn't up to his usual standards either which stirred up the recipe for a comprehensive defeat. Considering we only scored seven, it did feel like we were on the green for quite a while, but there was an air of inevitability at our plight. On only the odd occasion John's lead bowl wasn't good enough, Paul played some blinders from the back.

We tried to break through, but to no avail and couldn't keep hold of the block for more than an end. Conceding an awful four late in the game finally put it out of our reach. The partially frozen surface made Fox Lane's back green trickier than usual, but John and Paul adapted well and there just didn't seem to be anywhere we could go to find a bit of joy against them.
After running a pair of the crown green establishment to the wire a couple of weeks earlier, it felt more like a couple of light years ago, such was the disparity of our performance here.
In addition, it was two defeats on the night to pile on the misery for our Misfits team and nil poi reasserted bottom position. 

It's not yet an inconceivable mission to find a way out of the relegation places - and I believe we can do it - but next match really has to deliver a positive change to the reading along our points column.

It wasn't ideal that last week's match was cancelled, with all of us going longer than usual without a roll. Since I acquired a winter ticket at Fox Lane, no luck with the weather or green conditions to get a practice in either.
Some guys are playing in two or three Winter Leagues a week and there has to be some value in that. The retired set have the advantage of playing afternoons too. As for the opportunity for a game elsewhere in another evening league, I'd have to be good enough to get the invitation and realistically that's just not going to happen in any sort of foreseeable future. 

SUPER SUNDAY

Things weren't getting much better for our Wednesday night doubles team.
Defeats to second placed team Expendabowls, in which Kevin Bibby and I didn't play as well as we can against a very good pairing of Tracey Charlesworth and Andy Graham. We did make them work for their 21-16 victory, with many closely fought ends taking the match towards the hour and a half mark, but ultimately our opponents just seemed to have the upper hand and led throughout the match.
I was having much more success on Tracey's club fundraising football card. Winning for the second time in four attempts and two twenty pound notes pocketed in the process, thank you very much. Kind regards to Dunfermline's rivals Falkirk and fellow Scottish club Aberdeen for coming up trumps.
For the sake of some dubiously humourous irony, I revelled in letting everyone know I've more wins on the football card than the green so far. It's nowt at all to boast about though, really. 
Squad rotation meant it was my turn to take the sidelines in the next game, but once again a pointless evening left our team firmly rooted to the foot of the table.
I wasn't to miss out for long though as the following Sunday was booked in as a catch-up day with two tough matches on the card against league leaders and perennial champions Westhoughton, followed by newly promoted Real Ale Madrid - a team of Fox Lane homesters who are going well in third spot.
I was eagerly anticipating facing Westhoughton. Despite not being good enough to carry their bowling bags for them, I've made no secret I really enjoy playing top players and that's how it should be. 

Partnered with Nigel Tomlinson on the big green, we faced the might of Kevan Shaw and David Higginbotham. No introductions needed if you know your crown green.
Now I definitely believed we could give them a game to some degree if we both played well. Last Winter, Nige and I didn't disgrace ourselves against Kevan and his more regular competition winning partner, Ben Phillips.
But how this match panned out certainly exceeded lofty expectation.
We started well and looked the part. Sending good bowls up, beaten only by brilliant ones. 5-2 up, we still weren't looking out of place at all at 6-7.
Our level didn't dip, but the scores gradually started to run away from us. 8-16 down and when I heard that score, thoughts of, "Bloody hell. What do we have to do against these guys?", came to the fore. 

In terms of how close the game was playing out, the scoreline seemed harsh. But that's testimony to the level of opponents we faced.
Crucially though at this point, we broke their steady progression at a time when the game could just as easily have got away from us.
Double figures were surpassed - we deserved double figures at least - but then lost an end to go 11-17.
Kevan round pegs short down to the bottom edge of the green and his first bowl trickles off, his second is most surprisingly short. I send a perfect first, somehow Nigel rolls up even closer and after surviving Dave's strike attempt, Nigel just has to pass their short ones for a potentially game-changing three and now it's 14-17.
Nige and I were becoming a real pain in the arse for our illustrious opponents and continued to find winners.
Not only did we then fight back to draw level, but had the sheer audacity to push on to the brink of victory at 20-17.
I just needed to send a bloody good lead wood and we had every chance.
I had dared to believe before this game, but when belief actually morphed itself in to reality, I got caught in the moment. It wasn't nervousness, it was more the distraction of the situation... stood there with jack in hand, I was thinking, "Holy shit! This is it. Higginbotham and Shaw at our mercy!"

To Nigel, it was just another end. For a guy who spends a lot of time up ladders painting, his proverbial feet meanwhile, are firmly on the floor.                                  

Needing just one to win, in jest I asked Nige if he wanted to swap around, "No, no...", he chuckled, but in hindsight it might not have been a bad idea.
My game went off the boil on those last few ends. Nigel was still getting close enough to save, and was briefly lying game for us until Dave landed a perfectly weighted intervention.
I was asked by one of the Westhoughton entourage why, at all-but, I didn't lead out where I'd come from and already had success, including that key threesome down at the bottom end. Kevan asked me the same thing after the match. Honestly, I don't know! The job must have got to me. Nige laughed later, saying I was spinning on the mat and nobody knew when, or where I was going to fling the jack! It's one of those moments to put down to experience.
After squeezing a couple of singles out to reduce their arrears to 20-19, the Westhoughtonians produced their renowned long corner to corner craftsmanship to win it. I didn't push up hard enough, Nigel sailed through unlucky not to make some contact, but Kevin's class second bowl and Dave's near enough first bowl counted to grab the spoils.
Nigel played superbly well throughout. When Kevan Shaw is saying to his teammates on the sidelines, "You've got to put front touchers up against their fella at the back", it said it all.
Difficult to recall details of the number of cracking shots and key moments in the game, all four of us sent great woods, many that didn't even get to count. It was a really good match and acknowledged as such by these two top players who graciously pointed out they would have no complaints had they lost.
For me personally, certainly the best I've played in a doubles match. Aside from the last few ends, on the occasion my lead bowl didn't make it, my adjustments on the second bowl were stupidly good. I surprised myself at times.
Fond recollections of this cracking match will live long inside my bowling memory bank, but not without a little tarnish on my own behalf for being a numpty by not maintaining the standard and keeping my head together when it mattered. A win would have made it even more memorable.
To quote Brian Potter, Peter Kay's leading character on Phoenix Nights, "Coulda-shoulda-woulda..."
Not many teams take points off Westhoughton and that was a real bonus point opportunity squandered.
Thankfully though, next match up Nigel and I took a win on the back green and with Steve and Andy only going down to our second 20-21 reverse of the day, an extra point for the aggregate assured two for the afternoon and every little helps in a relegation fight. 

RUNNING FINE AND DANDY

Crown green and fell running couldn't be further apart. As I may have mentioned in some introductory notes a few years ago, limited similarities of both disciplines would consist of belonging to the North country and both requiring some mastering of the lie of the land, all be it to very differing extents. 
I've discovered this year particularly, as much as I admire the beautiful craft of bowling and take satisfaction from it's role in fulfilling the yearning for sporting competition, fell running still rules the heart.
As does the desire to stay fit for long enough to finally race regularly again. 

I keep coming back to it. The cycle of get fit - get injured - try again - repeat, has dominated efforts in my dwindling mid-to-late forties. It's been frustrating, but when it's something entrenched in the soul, there will always be a pair of legs on me ready to repair themselves and go again.
Approaching the half century mark of existence, it's only the last year or so I've finally accepted things aren't going to be what they used to be on the athletics front. I'd totally written myself off at one point, such was the frustrating constance of injury niggles.
The fact was though, I just needed to adapt my training to the ageing process and lower the bar of expectation  - in fact remove it completely - or just lose the basic enjoyment factor which is ultimately what it's all about.
Over the last few months, I've built up a very good base level of fitness again and perhaps the best for three years or so.
Having tinkered along without interruption for a month or two, one evening I thought let's just go out and get a decent length of a run in. An eight miler on the roads from my doorstep up to Denham Hill behind Whittle-le-Woods was once a staple weekly run within a thirty or forty mile week. 

Now it would seem, a challenge of sorts for I didn't really have the confidence in thinking I could get round comfortably. Maybe a lack of confidence is an age thing too? Fear of the inevitable next niggle is the haunting thought that thwarts even the most modest of running ambitions these days.
But, of course I could do it. At a reasonable pace too. Next up then, a similarly nostalgic training route on the moors. For those who know their West Pennines, starting at White Coppice, to Great Hill, Spitler's Edge, Winter Hill and back the same way. Even with quicker going underfoot thanks to a rough path created from Spitler's down to the Belmont Road, I was still over ten minutes adrift of a previous self over a decade ago for a standard training outing. But, I felt just as good as back then and at least felt like I was shifting. That's what actually matters!
Since then, a similar distanced run each week transfered on to the fells has boosted my condition (and confidence) further. 

Mixed in with a few lighter trots, some bike hurt and recently picking up cross country fartlek sessions with Ian Dandy on a Saturday morning.
The Preston Harriers coach was a brilliant roadracing frontrunner in his day. You can see he still lives and breaths the sport and wants to share his lifetime of knowledge in a positive way. There is a radiant, raw enthusiasm about him which I find really refreshing and I want to try and stick with his training group, maybe trying other sessions on offer during the week too.
With all due respect to those whose wing I may have been vaguely under before, Ian Dandy made a difference to my running in just one session last year by highlighting my ineffective arm movement which I've worked consciously on ever since.
I'm a Blackburn Harrier on paper, not Preston, so one morning to be the only runner not racing and available for his session seemed above and beyond the line of duty for him to come out on a squally October morning just for me. But Ian said, "If you're mad enough to do it, I'm mad enough to coach!".

The longer run and these weekly sessions had not only put a bit of strength back in to my legs, but also a bit of zip.
Typically of course, since putting this latest blog post together, a double injury niggle of mild hamstring strain and that old chestnut, the Baker's cyst getting itself all irritated again.
When running well, the danger can be a false sense of invincibility and whilst fully aware of the risks, I did push a bit hard on a six miler a few days before Ian's session and in the aftermath, paid the price.
Just over a week out wasn't too bad though and I got going again with a couple of gentle runs whilst away in Anglesey. However, a massive cold kicked in and wrote off the next two weeks as well!
So, steadily back in to it once again last week and with that half century mark now ticked off since starting this latest chapter of irrationally detailed accounts in one's amateur sporting life.

TOUGH OUTLOOK IN WINTER LEAGUE

A wet second half to the Summer has generated in to a very, very wet Autumn and the first two weeks of bowling in the Fox Lane Winter League were postponed. Now four matches in to the new season, playing on still sodden greens that were only just passable, our team Misfits have had a rocky start to the campaign in a division where our opponents look an even tougher prospect this season.
Last year's runners-up spot looks simply unattainable this time around, but if we can steady up after a rusty start, a top half finish wouldn't be an unreasonable ambition.
'Rusty' was definitely the key word in my first couple of games, having not rolled a bowl for a month. I lost with Steve Marginson, equally rusty and out of sorts, against Eammon Delaney and his partner at the back who made some great shots to pull them away after we threatened to make a game of it early on.
With Nigel Tomlinson, a closer game against Farington Cons duo Peter Quinn and John Steele. Going down 17-21 but again, not making a good account of myself overall. Nige's brilliant savers kept us in it and I cocked up on the last end with jack in hand, unable to improve much on a crap lead bowl.
The following week on the back green, a much better showing all round with Kevin Bibby. We both played quite well and saw off a newly promoted Croston Subs partnership. Will Rodden Jnr started the match well and looked like he might dominate, but Kevin and I hung in there in a closely contested match to turn a 7-11 reverse in to a 21-14 win.
In Fox Lane Winter League, each team plays two matches on the night. It's three points for winning both games. If one game won, two points for a superior points aggregate and one point if not. 

No three-pointers or even two-pointers so far and that's what's required to get ourselves out of a possible relegation scrap.