Page 16 - Winter 2018 19

Page 16_Layout 1 12/12/2018 12:40 Page 1

Great Houghton’s Comeback!
Great Houghton’s Comeback!
16
Great Houghton
SMBC, just outside
Northampton, was
formed in 2004, after
the purpose built Vil-
lage Hall was com-
pleted the year before.
At first it took the
Members a while to get
to grips with the va-
garies of Short Mat
Bowls, but gradually
their skill levels im-
proved and teams
were entered into the
NSMBA leagues.
As you all know
Winifred Knight, Sheila Evans, Gordon Watts, playing competitively
Winifred Knight, Sheila Evans, Gordon Watts,
Denese Watts, Sarah Watts, Andy Odell, and rolling up are com-
Denese Watts, Sarah Watts, Andy Odell,
Martin Watts, & Trevor Knight
Martin Watts, & Trevor Knight pletely different ani-
mals, and it took a while to get used to playing matches. Slowly but surely the league teams
improved their performances, the teams started to advance up the leagues & winning trophies,
until one team reached the NSMBA Evening Premier league!
There it stayed for three seasons playing a very good standard of Short Mat Bowls, but
then members started retiring due to old age, moving away from the local area, & leaving for
another club! Due to this the team fell down the leagues until there wasn't enough players to
make up a team to play in the leagues, and we were left with only four people rolling up on a
Monday evening.
So, the club set about trying to attract new members, by leaflet drops
So, the club set about trying to attract new members, by leaflet drops
and posters in local Shops and Post Offices! After a while a couple turned
and posters in local Shops and Post Offices! After a while a couple turned
up who were completely new to bowls, but after an hours practice they
up who were completely new to bowls, but after an hours practice they
were showing signs of being good bowlers! Then two weeks later their
were showing signs of being good bowlers! Then two weeks later their
son came along with a couple of mates, who again showed they could be-
son came along with a couple of mates, who again showed they could be-
come good bowlers! A few months later along came their daughter with a
come good bowlers! A few months later along came their daughter with a
number of grandchildren, and the atmosphere on the Club nights was a a
number of grandchildren, and the atmosphere on the Club nights was
buzz
buzz
They all had ambitions of becoming good bowlers, so I encouraged them to play bowls as
often as possible, in as many different venues as they could. Over the coming year we a entered
a team in a local Village League with only four team members required, a summer league with
only 5 in a team, Internal competitions, AND then the family members were asked to play for
the Northants County A Team!
The club then acquired a few more members, so we had enough for a team in the NSMBA
Evening league again, which we entered in at Division 2. It was all a learning experience for ev-
eryone, but the determination was there and we finished mid table. So, last season (2017 -
2018) all the players were up for it, and after a few close matches we were in a good position
for promotion at Christmas! But, three of our last four matches were away from home, which
made promotion a hard task.
We held a meeting in early January and everyone decided to give it a big push, and they
did! We won all of our last four matches, and not only did we gain promotion to Division 1 but
we won the Division 2 championship!