What a great time we had at Norwest on Saturday 26th when all gathered at the clubhouse for our annual Presentation Evening.

There was a sparking array of silverware just waiting for the talented competition winners. Our master of ceremonies, Brian, kept things running smoothly while Norwest President, Merv, handed out the trophies along with a few kisses, but those were just for the lady winners. Bit of a charmer is our Merv!

The competition winners this year were:

Ladies

Novice - Chloe Holmes, runner up: Penny Seviour. Two woods - Bowditch Presidents Rose Bowl: Val Bryant, runner up: Sandra Beard. Four woods - Marilyn Trophy: Chloe Holmes, runner up: Penny Seviour. Pairs - Knott Trophy: Val Bryant & Nora Holmes, runners up: Sandra Beard & Sue Woodham. Triples - Ann Tee Trophy: Val Bryant, Nora Holmes & Pam Bush, runners up: Chloe Holmes, Jo Probert, Lynn Frampton & Megan Rogers (sub). Round Robin - Heley Plate: Val Bryant, runner up: Chloe Holmes.

Mens

Novice - Tony Lake Cup: Jack Vine, runner up: Mark Skehan. Two woods - Atwood Trophy: Nigel Vine, runner up: Gary Gunstone. Club singles - Ushers Shield: Dave Hill, runner up: Nigel Vine. William Gregory Memorial Cup: Gary Gunstone, runner up: Aaron Delamont. Pairs - William Burgess Cup: Gerald Gregory, Paul Hill & Mike Firth (sub), runners up: Aaron Delamont & Brian Holmes. Triples - Horace Beech Memorial Trophy: Aaron Delamont, Jack Vine & Ron Bryant, runners up: Gerald Gregory, Pat Young & Steve Curtis.

Open

Singles - Helen Hymer Trophy: Nigel Vine, runner up: Ray Rogers. Pairs - Valjac Trophy: Gary Gunstone & Nigel Vine, runners up: Andy Walker & Ray Rogers. Triples - Jack Simms Memorial Trophy: Andy Walker, Brian Holmes & Jack Vine, runners: up Chris Brown, Paul Hill & Ron Bryant. Two woods - Monica Trophy: Jack Vine, runner up: Dave Hill. Cecil Jones Cup: Pete Verity, runner up: Pat Young. 101 Competition: Kath Hillman & Graham Walkington, runners up: Chloe Holmes & Dave Hill. Anne Wilkinson Memorial Trophy: Jane Hand, Nora Holmes & Brian Holmes, runners up: Lynn Frampton, Sue Eastell & Dave Hill.

Highest winning rink keyrings - Norwest A v Keynsham B 41 - 7: Aaron Delamont, Mark Skehan, Nigel Vine & Steve Reynolds.

The Briggs Crate Annual Challenge Cup, which is played against Yeovil on a two-game, home and away basis was presented to club captains, Paul Hill, Aaron Delamont & Andy Walker after their win this year.

Another new award this year was our ‘Work Party New Recruit’ trophy which went to Nigel Vine. Nigel joined our work party this year and has been working like a Trojan all year. He’s been invaluable for the ‘high up’ jobs which some of our chaps were struggling with. Well done Nigel.

Club Person of the Year 2022 went to one of our unsung heroes, Martyn Hunt, who works away behind the scenes all year sorting out all our mens and mixed fixtures, our away days and numerous other things to keep us on track. It’s no easy task especially when some fixtures are changed at the last minute which means lots of reshuffling. Well done Martyn- brilliant job.

A special ‘Life Membership’ award went to Mary Harston. Mary has worked tirelessly over the years for Norwest. She has been our treasurer for many years, she organised several Club tours and has undertaken many other roles. This year Mary has decided to take a step back and has handed on the treasurers job to Sue Eastell - good luck Sue... it’ll be a hard act to follow! Mary says she will still be an active member of our club, but at a more leisurely pace. Congratulations Mary and a big thank you from Norwest.

We also had some County awards to present: our youngsters have been doing brilliantly in the Somerset competitions. In the Under 18’s Tournament Chloe Holmes won the singles competition while Jack Vine along with Katie Taylor from Conglesbury Bowls Club won the pairs. Chloe also scooped the ‘Somerset Youth Girls Player of the Year Trophy’.

After the excitement of the presentation, members had built up quite an appetite, which was just as well as we then were treated to a fish and chip supper which went down very well.

Overall it was a brilliant evening enjoyed by all. This leaves me with just a few thank you’s to give out. First, a huge thank you to Trophies of Radstock for their excellent service and endless patience. I know I’m not an easy customer but hopefully the mince pies will help! Thanks to Whitestones for our fish and chips… delicious. And last but not least, thanks to all club members who helped in any way and to those who turned up to make the evening such a success. NH