The Government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions has enabled us to prepare with confidence for the 2021 outdoor season.  The Prime Minister’s announcement confirmed that outdoor affiliated bowls clubs will be able to open from 29 March.  

Despite lock-down we have arranged a full program of fixtures for 2021. The Green is in good shape thanks to our team of volunteer green-keepers and we are ready to go.

Bowls is a naturally covid-safe sport being a socially-distanced, non-contact activity that also plays a key role in the mental and physical health of many across the country.  The positive prospects for the new season provides a great opportunity to try something new or to pick up from where the pandemic stopped you.  So why not kick off your lock-down blues on our Green. For more information see our website www.embersportsclub.org/bowls

A great picture sent in by one of our bowls club members, Stuart Chalmers, of his new front-door sign.

He said it will remind him of the time he was getting a bit of flack from the skip in his team during an especially tricky end.

As he went to play his last bowl he paused and shouted up the rink “Where’s my nearest bowl?”.

“In yer ******* hand!”, answered the skip….

As their season was drawing to a close Ember’s bowlers took the opportunity to give Sport England a ‘Thumbs Up Thank You’ for their £3,500 support grant from the Community Emergency Fund (CEF).

Ember were facing a difficult year financially due to the Covid-19 lock-down. The loss of all fixtures, social events and internal competitions meant a shortage of funds needed to cover essential green maintenance and renovation programs. However the CEF grant to cover the operational and maintenance costs incurred during the lock-down period will enable the autumn and winter works to progress, leaving the club in a healthy position as it looks forward to next season.

The autumn renovation work starts this week and any help that members can give to complete the work will be most welcome.

The final of the COVID H/C SINGLES was played with in front of a small but enthusiastic group of spectators. The competition followed World Cup formats with a round-robin group stage followed by a final knock-out round: all played under Covid-19 sanitising and social distancing procedures.

The grand final was won by Mike Grimshaw 21 – 11 against Malcolm Studholme, the dark horse who had seen off several lower handicap bowlers on his way to the final. Sadly for Malcolm he came up against Mike on top form.

Both bowlers were presented with a bottle of wine for their efforts and Mike received a Certificate for display in his trophy room.

Full details of the competition are on our main web pages. Click here for details.