A SUFFOLK bowls club, named as the top club of 2007, is aiming to win the accolade again.Halesworth Angel Bowls Club scooped the title of English Bowling Association Club of the Year for 2007 ahead of 2,400 clubs nationwide following a visit from the judges to the final five clubs.

Nick Garnham

A SUFFOLK bowls club, named as the top club of 2007, is aiming to win the accolade again.

Halesworth Angel Bowls Club scooped the title of English Bowling Association Club of the Year for 2007 ahead of 2,400 clubs nationwide following a visit from the judges to the final five clubs.

A dozen club members, including five of their young bowlers, were among around 500 guests who attended the EBA Annual Presentation Dinner Evening at the Connaught Rooms in London to receive the trophy, donated by Tony Allcock three years ago, together with the Club of the Year Flag, pennant, and certificate.

In addition the small north Suffolk club, which has around 80 members aged nine to 80 plus, also received six sets of Drakes Pride bowls as part of their prize.

Dennis Taylor, who took over as chairman from Trevor Flatt in November last year, said: “As the new chairman of the club it is a big honour for not only myself but everyone involved in the club like secretary David Moreton, treasurer Sylvia Fisher, greenkeepers Paul Raymond and Ralph Wright, junior organiser Jean Macheath, Ken Fisher who tends the flower beds and green surrounds and all our other helpers.

“As a club we cannot afford to stand still and so have to move forward and set an example to other clubs. It would be nice to be in a position to go and win it again!”

The final judges found Halesworth Angel Bowls Club to be a vibrant, welcoming and friendly club well supported by the members on and around the green which they maintain themselves. The club was praised for developing and improving the facilities which were extended three years ago and also for their outstanding junior programme.

Special mention was made of the progression of the young bowlers through and into all the club representative teams and the major part they had played in the success of the club on the green in 2007.

Success off the green was matched with success on it not only at competitive level but also with the full member participation in charity events and social bowling events. Halesworth Angel Bowls Club ended the competitive season with the Quinton Bowl, the Junior Cup, and the Halesworth Three Wood League Shield and the EADT County Triples Shield.

Matthew Allen, aged 16, took the Suffolk Under-25 title while Mark Todd, John and Ian Catchpole were runners-up in the Suffolk Triples. The year ended with Halesworth members James Jenkins, Matthew Allen, and David Fosdike, who play indoors for Sole Bay, taking the Anglian regional Junior Under-18 triples title.

Taylor added: “The club was well represented in the Suffolk County teams throughout the summer at all levels, including 10 of the young bowlers in the Under-30 squad. The excellent Junior/Adult Tournament was played on six rinks and again was very well supported.

“Entries for all the club championships are increasing year on year which is very pleasing to see. Despite the poor June weather everything was ready for finals day when junior and club competitions are all played side-by-side when some excellent bowling was on display in very competitive matches.

“Members also play their part in the development and administration of the game locally, regionally, and nationally, putting back into the game for the benefit of everyone.”

Taylor also revealed that the club are to host a new open pairs tournament in 2008, which is expected to attract entries from Norfolk.

Club member Roger Denny is organising the event which will be an invitation only tournament for pairs featuring one player under 15 and one under 30. Derek Newby and Tom Veasy, two of the club's sponsors, have agreed to put up £500 each for the tournament.

Taylor added that the club enjoys the services of 16 EBF markers and nine EBCS coaches, including six aged under 17 years. New and improving members of all ages are welcomed and well taken care of through the nine club teams fielded each week in addition to the club teams at weekends.