2024 Review

Another year at RSJC has flown by, and we certainly have a lot to talk about.

Short mat bowling at St Chads' Church

We knew we would be introducing a few new bowlers onto the crown, making the move from short mat bowling we had been running during the winter at nearby St Chads' Church. Around 10-12 people took part in the social short mat sessions, developing as a group that then kept together at RSJC to run ongoing crown social sessions on Monday and Friday nights, as well as taking part in our inhouse competitions. 

The green and sourrounds

Everyone who used our green this year commented on the quality of the surface, including many of our visiting bowlers. Thanks go to our greenkeeper Ivan Smout and the volunteers who swished several times a week during the winter, and helped with other work throughout the season. The surrounds were also well maintained and improved this year by additional colourful flower beds - thanks to Keith Moore, Pam and Nigel Bindoff, and Mike Perrot for their work there. 

Inhouse competitions

As ever, we ran various inhouse competitions. These suited our established bowlers, but also newer starters who appreciated the warm welcome into the fold and the advice they were offered, especially during the doubles and triples competitions. Winners were:

• Peter Bourne Doubles: Peter Dean and Keith Davies 

• Handicap Cup: Simon Roderick or Daryl Medd!

• Triple J, triples: Ellen Aindow, Daryl Medd and Keith Moore 

• J2O Newbies cup: Steve Moon

• Club Doubles: Simon Roderick and John Carter

• Club Individual: Keith Moore

• Consolation Cup: Peter Dean

Ladies success

After fielding RSJC's first ever team last year in Division 2 of the Dudles Ladies League, the ladies team earned promotion and similarly did well in Division 1. They held first or second place right up until the last few weeks, ultimately ending in a very respectable fourth, dropping only four matches. 

But the biggest result was in reaching and then winning the Ladies Handicap Cup against Coombs Wood 112-103, played on The George. We had a great turnout of around thirty RSJC supporters to witness some impressive bowling on a quick, running green - we will be looking to build on the success by running a second ladies team next season. 

Development 

This year most of our new bowlers came from the winter short mat sessions (see above). They were well occupied with Monday coaching sessions run by Robin McIver and Friday sessions by Ellen Aindow, our two newly qualified coaches. When these sessions ran their course, the group conitnued to meet socially on those nights, organising their own games. We also organised friendlies with other clubs, visiting (and hosting) Wootton Hall and Ye Olde Knowle's bottom green. 

With support from Worcester County Council and Rubery's Community Builder Angie Brookes, we were also able to run ten 'Bowls and a Cuppa' sessions. These offered an 'open door' session for community members who might like to try bowling, or who just fancied a social meetup over light refreshments, without the need to join as full members. 

League results - weekday teams

This year RSJC fielded 15 teams, so let's start with weekdays - finaldivision tables are shown below. The Tuesday Over 60s Southwest Birmingham league A team had a challenging season with many previous B teamers stepping up to the plate. However, they ultimately ended in a relegation place and will likely be in Division 4 next year. Well done to Roy Phillips, achieveing third place in the division averages. The B team fared better, ending middle of the Division 6 table, fifth out of ten teams. Special mention goes to Carol Comins for a very strong performance here, dropping only three games all season. 

As noted above, the Ladies team ended in an impressive fourth place in Division one of the Dudley Ladies league. Three of the bowlers were featured in the top ten division averages. 

Also in the Dudley league, this year we entered a new team for the over 55s on Wednesday. They ended ninth, with room to develop next year as they experienced some new and challenging greens and teams. Well done to Roy Peters, dropping just two games all season. 

This year marked a move from the Oldbury League to the Yardley Wood Superleague for Wednesday nights. Our two teams started out in the bottom division with the task of earning promotion, and the A team certainly took the bit between their teeth winning all 22 of their matches, and ending with an overall shot difference of +1,322. The top six bowlers ended up in the top ten of the Division averages, with Charlotte Richards, Keith Moore and Ellen Aindow ending first, second and third, respectively. The B team almost achieved second place to secure them promotion too, but finally ended third - well done to Ken Hatfield for earning a respectable 20th place in the division averages. 

Our Thursday evening Heart of Englands teams both ended mid table in their respective divisions. The A team did well to stay up this year in a competitive Division 2, and Peter Dean was on fine form, dropping only two of his games all season to come first place in the division averages. The B team improved on last year's position, introducing many of our new bowlers to league competition for the first time - well done to Robin McIver achieving third place in the division averages. 

The Heart of England over 60s teams bowled Friday mornings, as usual. The A team look set to drop down to Division 4 after a challenging year - well done to Fred Adey producing some great single figure wins to end up 22 in the division averages. The B team ended well, mid-table in Division 6 - well done to everyone, especially Mike Dodsworth, who dropped only two games all season. 

Weekend Teams 

This year we moved our Saturday lunchtime team to the British Parks league, but the bowling was no less challenging. Standout match of the season was a home win against Solihull Marsh Lane A, 143-141, at a time when Solihull were riding high in the table, and RSJC had yet to win a match. Well done to Steve Moon taking eight wins in this tough league. 

The Saturday WWCBA A team also had a tough season, but well done nonetheless to everyone, including Peter Dean and Ellen Aindow, ending with nine and eleven wins respectively. The B team earned promotion last year but due to the arrangement of divisions, found themselves in the bottom division with a lot of familiar teams, and a few new ones. There was some strong bowling from numerous people, but Nigel Phillips should be particuarly noted for his eight wins, before his A team call up for much of the remainder of the season. 

The Sunday Northfield A team were similarly challenged, like their Saturday counterparts. Well done to Simon Roderick, achieving nine wins, and the standout match was an away win against Kings Norton Ex which took two weeks, after being interrupted by rain. The B team were a new addition here, and did very well to achieve mid table, with captain Ian Lawson taking nine wins, and many other of our newer bowlers also achieving impressive results.