Rothleybowls

Rothley & Syston Bowling Clubs 2008 Bowling Tour

Arriving in the Costa del Sol to wall to wall sunshine after leaving a cold and snowy England got the tour off to a very good start. One of the tour members did have a rather traumatic introduction to the Costa del Sol but the ever-helpful Bob (tour guide) soon sorted the matter out and the bowls club tour began.

Our first game was with Benalmadena Bowling Club. The sun was shining but the gusts of wind were so strong that some of the Rothley bowlers were nearly blown off the green. However, after a while the wind died down and a most enjoyable match was played. The host team won 4 rinks and Rothley won 2. Benalmedena presented Rothley with a small memento of our visit.

The next day we travelled to Santa Maria Bowling Club. Although the green was not the best of greens the weather and the camaraderie more than made up for this. The number 1 green was being used for the Champion of Champions matches. Once again the hosts were triumphant, but, there seemed to be a dynamic duo emerging with Brian Saunders and Dennis Roe once again being on a winning rink!!! After the bowling we visited Puerto Banus to walk around the harbour and drool over the boats and the array of designer shops ( Brian kept a tight hold on the credit card!!). A very enjoyable day was had by all.

Sunday was a rest day for some, whilst others went off to visit Ronda. This is a very interesting town set in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, with a very impressive viaduct bridging the gorge that separates the old and new town. The bullring offers a chance to walk round and see the inside of a working bullring. If anyone does visit Ronda and is a chocaholic! Then you must pay a visit to Sven the Master Chocolateria at his shop you can sit in the café and drink 'chocolate caliente' whilst trying to decide which of the handmade chocolates you are going to try next!!

Waking up to another wonderful sunny, warm day Monday saw the tour playing at Miraflores, this bowling club is set on a leisure complex with tennis courts and a bowling green. Prior to the bowling there was an enjoyable trip to the pueblo of Mijas. From anyone of its photo balconies you can see a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding countryside down to the sprawling coastline. This delightful white town nestling on the side of a mountain has a wealth of shops selling a variety of goods from objet d'art to leather jackets and handbags, and an abundance of superb tapas bars and restaurants, not to mention ice cream parlours. Anyway to get back to the bowling! Yet again the hosts were the victors but we did have two triumphant teams and although the dynamic duo were on different teams this time their individual teams still managed to fly the Rothley and Syston flag. Once again we were presented with a memento of our visit.

Tuesday dawned to yet another blue cloudless sky and off the bowlers went to Santa Maria Bowling Club. A few of the bowlers (myself included) did not bowl this match, and as this was to be the hottest day of the tour I personally was relieved to be staying back at the hotel. This time the bowlers were able to play on the number 1 green, and by all accounts this was the best green of all. To our surprise when we arrived at Santa Maria we were playing another touring bowls club from Essex. This match took rather a long time to organise the teams and Mavis coped admirably, once again we had to call on Bob to make the numbers up, and a big thank you goes out to him.

That evening saw Ladies President Mrs June Kemp perform her first official duty presenting Mavis with a pamper gift set as a small token of our thanks for all her hard work in organising the tour and the teams. A trophy was given by Bob for Rothley and Syston to play for as a perpetual trophy, this game will be arranged between the two clubs on an annual basis. This was Bob's last tour as a representative as he is retiring and in thanks for previous and present tours where his expertise in providing an enjoyable bowling experience he was presented with his favourite tipple!!

On a personal note I would say that this was an extremely enjoyable tour with good weather, good bowling and most of all the company of good friends all of this made this bowling tour one to remember.

Bring on 2009 Tour!!!!

Di Webster


Here are some of the photos taken. Double click the thumbnails to enlarge