Harrogate Bowling

I do not post on here regularly, but I should just like to clarify one or two points after it was reported to me that our honorary vice president, The Blue Topped Gribben, and indeed various other members of our club have been subjected to quite outrageous intimidation from creatures from other clubs regarding a supposed influx of new Penguin members to our brood.

At the start of the year a very old bird, Philicus returned to our shores, it was a significant return, he was an old, admired and decorated bird from years previous. He brought back tales of his travels, this was obviously of great interest to some of our younger brood members, he spoke of other colonies and of their weird and wonderful selection policies, in particular the wasted talents of some creatures left out of combat and left stood shivering on the sidelines and not been fully made available for secondary combat, a waste of a good competitive creature.

Anyway Philicus was selected for combat in Monday evening skirmishes. He is a Penguin warrior of old and has now chalked up 204 Monday night skirmishes for the Penguins in his two spells with the brood.

Most creatures involved in the said skirmishes are very old and experienced Penguins who have remained loyal to the Penguin cause for years Rowsicus 25 years and 408 Monday night skirmishes, Hemsicus 21 years and 369 skirmishes, Chazicus 16 years and 237 skirmishes, Whiticus 15 years and 229 skirmishes, The lesser Spotted Hebblington 8 years a Monday night combatant and now 128 skirmishes.

All those creatures are loyal 100% Penguin, Hemsicus had a brief spell in early life at another breeding ground, but he is now one of the leading lights in the Penguin brotherhood. The Left Sided Birt was a nomadic bird but now he has chalked up 179 Monday night skirmishes.

The list goes on. Anyhow this year in our Monday evening skirmishes only 10 birds have been involved, and one of those birds, The Wandering Greatly Nacicus has appeared only once, but he has been doing a lot of damage to other creatures in Tuesday night skirmishes.

So the outrageous suggestion that we have had a vastly new influx for Monday evening skirmishes is greatly exaggerated. But alas our Tuesday evening skirmishing crew will be joining us for Monday evening skirmishes next year, they were successful last evening in their battle at Collingham Bridge, Bazza Bird, Barker,Gribben and all the other Blue Tops march on unbeaten.

I have visited and now I am away to the outpost that is Staveley, my fishing implements, supplies and wriggly things await, I have leave to go and attempt to catch the finned creatures from the depths, goodbye and happy skirmishing

I bet you did'nt catch as much as the young rowson's at knaresborough with three jam jars and a pickle jar - young jamie had his wriggly thing in the water too at one point - you'd get banned at staveley for that though me thinks

Well done to all the Swan teams this season.

Special notes of praise for Capt Charleton leading us to a treble and driving the team on from the front with a long unbeaten run. The returning Phil English who had an excellent campaign and Hodgy although out standing due to his blue top at home also bowled very well in wining his first Harrogate league title in the team.

Well done Bazza taking second team unbeaten through the season in Div 2.

Ian Morrell who delivered the most important result getting our 4th Div team up and onto a Tuesday so we can look at entering another team on a Wednesday if required.

5th Div team improved from second bottom to lose out in league and cup final so excellent effort and with mainly same players as year before.