Reviewing 2009 - 10
and
Towards 2010 - 11.

James Kirkbride
Club Captain

CLUB CAPTAIN:

First of all let me thank all those people who have helped me over the past year. I appreciate the effort you have all given.
I have been fortunate to have visited a lot of bowling clubs both in New Zealand and in England and believe me when I say that this is the friendliest club I have ever had the pleasure to be associated with and it also has two of the best greens I have ever played on.
This is down purely to the attitude and dedication of the members. I find that on working bees there is no shortage of eager volunteers who do excellent work. Thank you all.
Unfortunately our membership is dwindling and we are going to have to make a concerted effort to keep our head above the water. That is why I want to take this opportunity to ask you all to give a little more time to help keep our club financially stable.
In the coming season the executive will be looking to form several new sub-committees, mainly in the recruitment of new members, raising funds and helping with the catering and social side of the club. If you feel that you could spare 2 or 3 hours a week helping in one of these areas please let me know.
The executive are also going to appoint a lady vice club captain at the A.G.M. She will look after the areas of concern of our lady members. Any more serious concerns she will bring to the club captain who will then take them to the executive. In this way we hope to resolve more speedily any problems our lady members may have.
I thank you once again for all your support and look forward to enjoying your company again next season.

The 2009 - 10 season has been a busy year with development within the club.
Positives:    *   Corporate events held throughout the season with various firms willing to mix the social occasion with bowls.     
                    *   With appropriate fees being charged and the use of the bar good revenue came to the club.
                                                Recommendation: That in the forthcoming year a sub-committee of about four to five members take on the role of looking after these functions and allow the development officer more time to plan other events for the club.
                    *   Twilight bowls.  
                                                Recommendation:   That the incoming season will require more manpower to maintain this activity successfully, the number suggested is four. The setting up of this event with game preparation, organising raffles, bar service and cleaning up at the conclusion and preparing supper can be very time consuming with only one or two helping.
                     *   The secondary schools activities this year saw girls from Rangi Ruru, St Margarets and Christchurch Girls High participating on  Tuesdays and Wednesday afternoons. The coaching provided, when required, by Alison Bigg, Allan Reid and Murray Scott was appreciated. The latter part of the season saw an inter-schools competition using our greens for their tournaments. This is an area that should be developed for the future. even though we would have little likelihood of new members forthcoming.                 
                    *  The website.
Negatives:  *  The unlikelihood of new members coming from the secondary schools' participation in coaching and competition.
                    *   The continual effort to increase membership was always put in but the season overall did not seem to show any real increase.
                                                Recommendation:   That we try to get members to introduce one new member each in the coming season.            

A review of the club’s constitution was undertaken by John Hampton. It was his view that very little has to be altered except that where social members are concerned where a minor tweaking of the constitution could be made to bring it into line with other membership requirements.
All job descriptions are in the process of review and the results are to be reported shortly.

Mick Tarling
Club Development Officer

Match Committee Convenor
 Allan Reid

MATCH  COMMITTEE:

Overall the match committee would be very happy with the programme adopted for the just completed season.
Positives:    *  The participation in all the club and interclub events by our members.
                    *  The adoption of a new format for the men’s club fours and triples championships. It had four qualifying rounds, with points gained going towards a seeded draw from which the finalists were found. This new format proved to be very popular with the fighting for games won and points gained leading to some great competition.
                                                Recommendation: A similar format be adopted for the pair’s competition for next season.
                    *  By completing club competitions midway through the second half of the season the more “social” format of games including other club trophies were all able to be played. These were a lot of fun and club members need to be congratulated for their willing and enthusiastic participation in these events.
Negatives:  *  The lack of participation in centre championship events as this is a perfect opportunity to play against the best which can only improve all aspects of your bowls. Those who did enter these events can be proud of their efforts for themselves and their club.
                    *  Lack of numbers in the women's championships meant a similar qualifying system was unable to be adopted. It is hoped that with an increase in numbers and participation that the women can look at something similar in the new season.
                     *  Apart from the Manning Cup the lack of women who wished to participate in Saturday competition. Hopefully this will be addressed in the coming season with the introduction of a 2/4s competition prior to Christmas.
Congratulations  this year’s match committee headed by Allan Reid and ably assisted by Lois Brown, Pauline O'Connor, Margaret and Dave McLennan, John Hampton and John Pilkington for their assistance and organisation in putting together this season’s successful match programme.

If any members have suggestions which they feel would assist in the programme for the 2010-2011 season please get in touch with the incoming committee.

TOURNAMENT  COMMITTEE:

The 2009-2010 season was a busy and successful one with the weather being particularly helpful resulting in no cancellations or postponements.
Positives:    *  Pleasing numbers participating in all tournaments.
                    *  The outstanding success of the three "special" tournaments.
                                1]   Ladies' all day tournament with 32 teams.
                                                Recommendation: That next year perhaps a more substantial lunch be provided and not have any afternoon tea but have sandwiches etc on the tables in the bar after the game for those who want it.
                                2]   27 teams in the colts' and juniors' pairs tournament.
                                3]   32 teams  in the all day  men's two bowl triples tournament.                                    
                    *  The good sponsorship involved with all the tournaments.
Negatives:  *  The parking issues.

The tournament committee worked well being particularly diligent in their telephone communications. June Smith co-ordinated the ladies’ day very efficiently and Sandy Stokes did some herculean work in getting good numbers at all the tournaments along with Lois Brown and June Smith. Also Allen Snowden needs to be acknowledged for his guidance in all things financial.
Special mention needs to be made of all those who helped behind the scenes; John Elley, John Dunn, Murray Scott, Colin Green and Bill Coey with John Pickering and Bob Rhodes always immaculately preparing the greens.
Sincere thanks to all club members who have supported Sandy through the year and fronted up when required, often when it wasn’t always convenient.
Lastly the St. Albans-Merivale Bowling Club thanks all its generous sponsors without whom we would not be able to have such successful tournaments, please support them whenever possible.

Sandy Stokes
Tournament Director

Irene Godfrey
Convenor of selectors

Irene Godfrey was the first women to be appointed as convenor of selectors.
" I really didn’t quite know what I was letting myself in for," Irene stated. " The first months were very interesting trying to sort out problems with our male bowlers and the selections being made for centre fixtures."
Positives:   *   Ladies' success in the Bernie Bigg, Rountree Cup and The Pennant.
                   *   The number of teams, both men and women, who entered the champion of champions. The highlights of the year for the club may well have been the superb performance of the men's triples team of Brian Ware, Michael Young and Mick Tarling who reached the final of the men's champion of championship triples. The final was lost 18 - 22  to Maurice Simes of Canterbury. An effort to be proud of as was the ladies' four of Doreen Orange, Eleanor Sweeney, Lois Brown and Margaret McLennan who reached the post section of the champion of champions.
                   *   The willingness of the men to be involved in Saturday interclub competitions.