Carry On Presidents
Stamford IBC presidents Margaret King and Ian Hall have agreed to continue in the roles for a further 12 months after they failed to attract successors at the club’s annual meeting or subsequent presentation evening.
They hoped that volunteers would come forward before next April but none were forthcoming. Mrs King also succeeded Mr Hall as chairman of the management committee in which Judy Barwell has taken over as secretary.
Other appointments included: premises officers Dave Heffernan & Maurice Dye, competition secretary Derek King, management committee Shirley Suffling, Janet Lonslow, Vanessa Shackleton.
After his ‘A’ team won the Lincs Men’s League southern division, Tony Barwell continues his captaincy with Pete Linnell, again captain of the ‘B’ team and Bob Warters in charge of the Over 60s. Christine Ford will captain the women’s county league side and Shiley Suffling wil captain the mixed team.
At the presentation night on Saturday which was well-attended, with a free buffet provided, head coach John Little was rewarded with life membership in recognition of his 25 years as a coach.
Also acknowledged were Stamford IBC members Owen Aspinall and Louise Harris who reached the finals of the Lincs IBA Under 18 sets singles and Under 25 singles respectively and held simultaneously.
Owen lost 9-1, 6-2 to Jack Wells (Spalding) while Louise (representing Spalding) was beaten 21-18 by clubmate and England international Ruby Hill.
Domestic League and club competition winners at Stamford were recognised with trophies and rink vouchers.
Summer Leagues - Monday Triples winners: Whisky (captain Ron Blake) runners-up Bravo (Jeff Bourne), Tuesday pairs: Tulips (I Reay) Carnations (B Allen); Wednesday triples: Just 5 (G Oliver) Eon (B Allen); Friday triples: Imps (C Ballard) Mercedes (P Green).
Winter Leagues - Monday pm triples Div A Magpies (T Scarr) Maltesers (G Oliver); Div B Relegation Fodder (R Clarke) Vikings. (N Cook); Monday evening rinks: Blackstones (T Christie) If Only (B Warters); Monday triples: Wayne’s world (W Aspinall) Wicker’s World (J Holroyd); Tuesday pm Ladies Triples: (Imps (P Mumford), Deependers (A Northen); Tuesday evening rinks: Gun Law (S Law), Blackstones Mafia (R Downs); Wednesday pm triples Div A: Magpies (T Scarr) Misfits (L Marshall); Div B: Amethyst (N Handley) TBC; Wednesday evening triples: Div A Googlie Bears (S Harris) Tiple Triple (A Windsor); Thursday pm men’s triples: Typhoons (N Crees) Maltesers (J Turnham); Thursday pm Novice triples (pre & post Christmas): Jokers (S Wheatley) Galaxy (S Taylor); Thursday evening rinks: Avengers (D Mackie) Blackstones (T Christie); Friday am pairs Div A: Brunnians (B Crouch) Parkway (T Scarr); Div B Rambos (M Ramsden) Crispies (C Ford); Friday pm triples: Belton (T Barwell) Eagles (A Northen); Friday evening men’s triples: Owen’s Army (O Aspinall), Misfits (S Harris); Sunday am pairs: Broadband (A Speechley) Midges (T Barwell).
Competition Winners
League Winners
Owen Aspinall
John Little Retires as Coach
END OF AN ERA FOR COACH JOHN LITTLE
The comparison between bowls and ballet may be hard to imagine. But for John Little who has retired as head coach at Stamford Indoor Bowls Club, it has been a favourite analogy.
During his 25 years as a coach, he has always seen the delivery of the bowl as a thing of beauty - smooth, graceful and athletic - and he tries to instil in his pupils the poise needed to obtain the best results and success in the game.
He tells them: “It’s just like Swan Lake,” and says most get it straight away. Indeed even at 80 years of age, John himself, still has one of the smoothest delivery actions among the club’s 450 members.
However, he has decided that it is time to just enjoy the game without the commitment of regular Saturday morning sessions, when he admits he can ‘at last enjoy a lie in’.
Though, naturally, he will still offer advice, one-to-one, if members request his help.
John remembers his first brush with bowls as a teenager heading to what was then the famed Walton and Hersham Football Club’s ground where his father was press officer and he was part of its junior academy.
“On the way, I used to walk through the local park and would sometimes sit on a bench beside the green and watch them bowl. I didn’t really understand what was going but I suppose I was fascinated by it then and subsequently was drawn to it in later life.”
He joined the Royal Air Force from school with tours of Aden, Bahrain and Singapore - playing football as a full back for the Far East Command - and completed his service at RAF Wittering on ground crew with Harrier jets.
“ I never wanted to fly them, just happy to take them apart and put them together again,” he recalls.
After a short period as a publican at the Red Lion at Haconby, he joined British Aerospace in Saudi Arabia and took up bowls when working for Hansons at Whittlesey, playing for Langtoft and Ketton and the Northants Federation’s Adams and Newton teams.
Helen Randall, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, introduced him to coaching at Stamford IBC and it has been his passion for 25 years. He has helped hundreds of bowlers from beginners to club, county, national and international champions, ending in John receiving life membership at Saturday’s presentation evening.
“Coaching people has given me a feeling of achievement other than competition. I still get a kick out of seeing how my pupils have progressed. I particularly enjoy seeing raw beginners starting to do well.”
What aspect of coaching is most important to him?
“Feet position,” he says unhesitatingly. “I push hard for that in the first few weeks with a beginner. Emphasis must be on stance and balance. Every bowler needs a good foundation to be able to deliver the bowl smoothly and correctly with a graceful follow through as they step off the mat.
“After that I just want my pupils to enjoy it, practice and be the best they can be.”
So why now has he decided to call a halt to coaching?
“I have simply decided that after 25 years it seems an a appropriate time to step back. But I will always be available to help anyone who asks. It will also give me a chance to enjoy bowls, merely as a player.”
The coaching corps will miss John’s involvement, particularly his analogy to comparing bowls with ballet and its graceful movement. We’ll miss him. (B W)
FOOTNOTE: Saturday morning coaching will be back in September when the winter season re-starts. Henry Gordon and Jeannette Bourne are among the latest to achieve Grade 1 coaching status.