Cebu Short Mat Bowls Club 2014 Annual Report

2014 was a record-breaking year for the Cebu Short Mat Bowls Club. We had more than 70 people join us on the mats over the 12 months. Some only played once and others were visitors to our island paradise. Fortunately the majority of people who tried our sport out enjoyed themselves so much that they have now become regular bowlers. Not only that, they have also become great friends and further established the Cebu Short Mat Bowls Club as one of the most social groups in the city.

Before reporting on the results and statistics over the past year, it is important that we recognize and thank our players and also those people who have made sure our Sundays have been, not only possible, but a day to look forward to.

When the Club started up again in earnest in early 2013 we were a small group, happy to occasionally reach double figures. In 2014 we regularly hit twenty bowlers on both social and tournament days. The primary reason for this is the friendly atmosphere and magnificent venue we are fortunate enough to have at the Emerald Isle Irish Bar. The extra touches, like cold towels for the players on scorching hot afternoons, refreshing beers for the winners after the games and, of course, the monthly steak dinners all help make Sundays at bowls so special. For all of their support we say a very big, “Thank You!”

And without the mats and equipment set up each Sunday we wouldn’t be able to bowl, so a very big thank you to Ronald as well.

There were many impressive performances throughout 2014. Our clubs first every victory in a Philippine National Lawn Bowls Championships match at the National Triples last March is one of particular note. Here are there the Cebu Short Mat Bowls Club’s winners and top performers for the 2014 season.

2014 Emerald Isle Bowls SeriesThe Emerald Isle Bowls Series is our premier event, with players earning points over the course of the entire year. There were many monthly winners, which just goes to show how the standard of bowling continues to improve and how competitive everyone is on the mats. There was lots of movement on the leaderboard all the way up to the final tournament in December.

2014 Emerald Isle Bowls Series Champion: Damien Allison

Runner-up: Neil Lindsay

Third Place: Andy WalkingtonFourth Place: John Rainey

Fifth Place: Rob Primm

2014 Club Singles ChampionshipsThe Club Singles Championships have been run every year, barring 2012, making it our second longest running tournament, behind the Cebu Bowls World Cup. In 2013 Damien Allison became the first player to win the title twice. 22 bowlers joined the 2014 Championships, with Bob Ward emulating Damien’s feat to become only the second two-time champion and Elsa Whiteway becoming the first lady to make the final.

This year Club Singles Championships also had the added spice of being the selection for the very first Philippine National Short Mat Bowls team. We have been invited to play in this year’s World Cup. Hopefully sponsorship will become available.

2014 Club Singles Champion: Bob WardRunner-up: Elsa Whiteway

Plate Winner: John Rainey

Bowl Winner: Lopez Farley

Shield Winner: Paul Whiteway

Spoon Winner: Kraidun Walkington

Philippine National Team: Bob Ward, Elsa Whiteway, Neil Lindsay & Damien Allison

2014 Club Pairs ChampionshipsWe were guaranteed new champions in the Pairs as both reigning title-holders, Kirk Bradley & Tom White, have moved back to Australia and the UK respectively. Unfortunately they couldn’t make it back to defend their titles, but we did see the return of the husband and wife pairing of Geoff & Annilou Thomas. Geoff & Annilou proved unbeatable from 2008-2010 as they took out three consecutive Club Pairs Titles. They were not able to recapture the form of old, however, as three Americans made the final.

2014 Club Pairs Champions: Damien Allison & Trey Bishop

Runners-up: Paul Bohling & Rob Primm

2014 Cebu Bowls World CupThis is the only tournament we have held every year since 2008. The Celtic Brethren have dominated the event, having won it four of the six previous occasions. This year they were looking for their fifth title and fourth in a row. The competition was fierce, but they managed to succeed.

2014 Cebu Bowls World Cup Champions: The Celtic Brethren (Neil Lindsay & Damien Allison)

Runners-up: USA (Bob Ward & Andy Walkington)

Plate Winners: Singapore (Lopez Farley & Kevin Farley)

Bowl Winners: Denmark (Claus Beck & Fleming Hansen)

2014 Bowler of the YearThis was a new award introduced this year. You will have seen the recipient’s name feature frequently in the stats above. He was also a member of the first Cebu team to win a match in a national lawn bowls event and was the most consistent bowler in terms of attendance throughout the season. His biggest victory however was not achieved on the bowls green, but in a hospital bed, fighting for his life against an illness that hit so suddenly and unexpectedly, we only suspected something was wrong when he missed two bowls Sundays in a row. Thankfully he won his battle and is back bowling even better than ever.

2014 Bowler of the Year: Andrew Walkington