Mike Flack wins two club comp titles in a week

GARY Player was famous for a lot of reasons, but one of his most memorable quotes was ‘the more I practise, the luckier I get’.

This so appropriately applies to Wanderers Bowling Club’s Mike Flack, who, on many an evening and all alone on the greens, would be the only person practising his bowls delivery.

In fact, he most probably practises more than any other single member at Wanderers Club, and all that effort seems to have paid off during the last week. Last Saturday he faced the invincible Steve Van Rooyen, probably also favourite for the event, in the finals of the men’s handicap singles, and although the handicaps saw the men starting six shots apart, Mike held off an aggressive attack from Steve with steady bowls and equally steady nerves, and emerged victorious with the score line at 21-12. A week later, leading for Kim Hawkins in the finals of the men’s drawn pairs against Arnie Harper and Bill Addinall, Mike again set a pace that any lead would be proud of and he and his partner won 27-5 with five ends to spare, thus claiming that title as well. After the game his opposing skip, Arnie Harper, graciously accepted that Mike played exceptionally well.

Well done Mike, who incidentally also went on to win the second session of the breakfast trips on Sunday when skipping with Ronnie Hook and Barry Mansfield. The score was 24-7 (plus 17). Do we have an up and coming star in our midst, perhaps? Time will tell.One other club competition was also completed this week when the final of the men’s drawn trips was played on Thursday afternoon. Steve Van Rooyen, Robbie Carr and Brian Deets beat Chris Klopper, Gordon Chislett and Russell Shepherd by 22-14. Details of the match are not known.

This leaves just two finals of the men’s comps to be played to complete the events for 2014. On Tuesday at 10am Roy Funnell and Derek Stevens will face off in the senior singles and on Saturday, 17 January at 1.30pm, the finals of the men’s drawn fours will take place between Robin, Kim, Russell and Shaun versus Gary, Steve, Bill and Brian. Note that the AGM of the bowls section will take place at 5pm that day after the match.

The woman competition secretary advises all women that the competitions for 2015 are all on the board inviting entries. Note that the final of the women’s drawn trips will be played on Saturday, 21 January at 11am. This will be between Lorinne, Jo-Anne and Anne versus Gerrie, Heather, Margaret.

Last Sunday, 11 January the breakfast trips attracted an almost full house of 32 teams which could be accommodated owing to the re-opening of the A green after a period of maintenance. Bob Hayward, Jeff Bolt and Jo-Anne Jordaan won the first session with a 2+12. Mike Flack and team won the second session as already mentioned above. Second place overall went to Derek Stevens, Denis and Chantal Hearnshaw with a 2+17 – Chantal claiming to be the star of that win.

The overall winners were Chris Klopper, Russell Shepherd and Shaun McAlister who pipped Derek and co by a single shot. Herbie Hoffmann, Steve Edenvale and Brian Cox took up the rear spot or sportsman’s prize with a 0-20.

Upcoming events:

Next Wednesday and Sunday are the roadrunner’s pairs and the Acutts fours skins.

Call Ron Jackson and Bob Hayward respectively to enter or confirm your teams for these events.

Then in the second week of February the night bowls event will take place over six consecutive weeks. Submit your entries for this event to Richard Hendicott or Jeff Bolt.

There were no winners for the R700 snowball last Friday as Shireen Impson was not present. Dan Paruk won the mutton pack, May Walker the pork roast and patties, ‘Porky’ Hauptfleisch the chicken pack, Graham Jeff the rump steak, Eric and Patti Redman the pork ribs and Allan Roberts the chicken.

In the bowls monthly draw, Rob Philogene won the R750, Lorraine Du Preez the R500 and Rob Kemp the R250.

Members are reminded of the AGM on 17 January at 5pm. Let’s have a great turnout.