A glimmer of hope on the horizon

We are hoping that the COVID lockdown restrictions currently preventing any activity on the Yamba club’s greens will be modified following the extant midnight Friday, September 10 deadline.

The club’s match and greens committee continues to develop alternate plans and schedules so that lawn bowls can be progressively reintroduced at the club and that the majority (if not all), of the club’s championship program can be accommodated in the resultant compressed timetable.

Roll-ups and social bowls will be the first lawn bowls activities to be reinstated at the club. Hopefully, roll ups will be possible daily from 10 am on a space available basis and as directed by the greenkeeping staff.

It is intended for the social bowls program to come back in its full magnitude with Tuesday morning mixed bowls, Wednesday afternoon men’s pairs, Thursday morning ladies bowls and Friday men’s triples. Members are reminded that once the bowls program is again up and running, nominations can be made by telephoning the bowls office on 6646 8669 or by recording participation details on the nomination sheet adjacent to the bowls office (once the club is open) prior to 11.30 am on the intended day of play.

It is anticipated that weekends will predominately be used to accommodate club championship events, however, weekend social bowls will be programmed whenever possible and feasible while roll ups will continue.

The initial club championship to be contested will be the completion of the men’s Minor Pairs semi-finals and final. It will be a case of straight back into the deep end for the respective semi-finals with Keith Smith and Len Yeomans up against Rod Berry and Peter Retallack, while Bob and Chris Gunning will take on Jack Atherton and Paul Conley.

Also planned to be played soon after our return to the greens are the Mixed Pairs Championship, the ladies Major Pairs and Triples Championships, the club men’s Veteran’s and C Grade Singles Championships, plus the inaugural clash for the President’s Cup.

An entirely revised 2021 bowls calendar will be available once the return to bowls date and any ongoing restrictions or conditions are known.  

Please continue to do the right thing, observe restrictions and conditions, get vaccinated, stay safe and we will all be back on the greens in the near future.

 Don Freeman