Annual General Meeting 2011
Saturday 19th November 2011 at 2pm
Venue: Solihull Indoor BC, Brick Kiln Lane, Solihull, B91 3LE
Warwickshire County Bowls Association held their Annual Meeting at Solihull Indoor Bowls Club on Saturday 19th November. This years minute silence for bowlers no longer with us had extra meaning after the loss of the Under 25s Manager Bob Taylor earlier in the year.
Departing President Robert Maries thanked all the members who had played this season as well as all the people and clubs who work hard behind the scenes to make the matches possible. In 1977 another Maries held the mantle of County President, by following his father Rob helped Warwickshire claim an unbeatable accolade. Warwickshire is the first English County to have had a father and son as its President.
Gareth Willcock (Three Spires) took on the mantle of President, in a heartfelt speech Gareth thanked the people that have helped him during his time in bowls and thanked Three Spires for their nomination in what is their centenary year. He promised to do his best to uphold the traditions of a great County, to build on the success the County has had this year and to improve on its short comings.
Lillington's Mike Brayne moved from Junior Vice President to Senior Vice President and Graham O'Donohue (Wolvey) becomes the new Junior Vice President.
After five years as Competition Secretary Mike Caldwell is stepping down. The position was filled by the new Immediate Past President Robert Maries (Fenny Compton). Mike followed Jeff Green in the position, when Jeff stepped down then President Ian Wilkins said that he would be a hard act to follow. New President Gareth Willcock said that Mike had kept up the standards set by Jeff and improved on the overall efficiancy of the County Competitions.
The remaining officers were re-elected – Secretary Arnold Goad (Southam), Treasurer Michael Jackson (Stoke), Assistant Secretary Aubrey Brookhouse (Norgren), Match Secretary Graham Taylor (Wolvey), County Coach Mal Raper (Jaguar), Publicity Officer Alan Jackson (Stoke) and Greens Administrator Idris Elms (Avenue Leamington). Andy Smith (Avenue Leamington) will be continuing as Under 25s Manager and the new Senior Squad Manager will be a joint effort between Francis Fletcher (Solihull Municipal) and Jim Freeman (Kings Heath) who hope to improve on team unity and discipline.
The area representatives on the Executive are as follows:
- Birmingham – Bob Morris (Blossomfield) and Bob Smith (Sherwood Park)
- Coventry – Boris Boulstridge (Nuneaton), Chris Gitsham (Highway) and John Williams (Corley)
- Rugby – Dave Cooke (Southam United) and Roger Sirett (Grange)
- South Warks – Roger Powell (Bidford-on-Avon), Derek Wattison (Stratford-on-Avon) and Ian Wilkins (Stratford Police)
The County enjoyed one of it's most successful years, a surprise result saw the Bears claim the Midland Counties League after a heavy defeat against Worcestershire looked to have scuppered their title hopes. County Champion Phil Green (Norgren) also became the Midland Counties Single Champion. At Worthing Steve Taylor (Avenue Coventry) reached the semi finals of the Over 55s Singles while his club colleagues Dave Jones, Greg Sampson and Colin Jacox reached the semis in the Triples. Rugby nearly completed back to back wins in the Top Club but lost in the final to Worcester BC.
The Junior Team proved that the County has a strong core of youth players, in the White Rose Trophy (two fours) at Worthing. Success against Northumberland was followed by a thriller against Yorkshire, a strong Bears fightback forced an extra end which Warwickshire claimed. Essex in the semis proved to be another tense and tight encounter but this time Essex were the victors. The Under 25s conduct both on and off the green earned them a complimentary letter from the Bowls England Chief Executive.
The star of Worthing, from a Warwickshire perspective, was Rugby's Graham Ashby. In one of his Top Club four wood matches he came from 17-0 down to win 21-18 with an amazing display of bowling. In the Champion of Champions Ashby marched through to the semi finals before losing to the eventual winner, while in the Singles he reached the final but went down to a narrow defeat.
The County is financially secure despite the extra expense of the White Rose trip to Worthing after the change in format but the meeting charged the Executive with raising the required funds through other means such as a levy, sponsorship and look to setting up a fund to cater for the development of bowls within Warwickshire.
