John Wilcockson - Bowls Chairman

This year has been an excellent Crown Green Bowling Year.

The season was preceded by winter Friday nights quizzes which boost sectional funds and provide superb entertainment for many - as well as putting a smile on club manager Simon's face behind the bar! The green has once again proved to be one of the best in the North of England as supported by the visiting team's comments. My thanks go to Alan our groundsman and Jim Wilde, Ground Chairman. At one stage during the long dry spell I received many worried comments from members "we are going to lose the green etc...." but faith in Alan's advice proved conclusive! I do hope my extra green cutting on Tuesdays assisted the prestigious Stockport League teams.

Vandalism and wanton litter spreading continues unpunished at our club. It seems it is now an accepted disease in society but my wish is still to apprehend these brainless idiots and point out to them the anger and distress it causes to constructive people. I understand that CCTV is shortly to be installed to catch and prosecute. Unfortunately I have needed to erect gates at entrances to the bowling green to hopefully hamper access and deter damage.

I am still fully committed to providing Junior Bowls Coaching and a future for youngsters at Poynton Sports Club. We have this year upgraded four of our own coaches to ensure that youngsters can be fully catered for in 2011. Negotiations are to proceed to introduce Crown Green Bowls in our local schools curriculum. 

As a compliment to the small revered band of "vets" - who were able to coach youngsters in bygone days without silly Government legislation - our Stockport League 1st team are the youngest ever to win the coveted Bill Adshead Shield and finish 3rd in the first division! In 2010 we now have 18 league teams with 18 captains who work extremely hard running and selecting players to appear each week.

My personal thanks and appreciation goes to them all and they know that they have my full backing. We have won two league titles indoor in winter. In summer, two players played for Cheshire. The Alderley League Mens Vets A won the 1st Division for the seventh consecutive year - an all time league record and are in the final day of the league cup. We have already won 3 league titles and 2 runners-up. My personal thanks go to all the Bowls Committee who through their volunteer dedication keep the well oiled wheels turning.

The 125th club anniversary was celebrated with a village drawn pairs bowls tournament. The weather was wet but did not prevent all participants enjoying themselves and enhancing village harmony.

Lastly, our Club President and good friend is retiring from office after seven magnificent years and I wish him and his wife Norma a healthy and happy future.  

John Wilcockson - Chairman