Page 29 - Winter 2018 19

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Toddington
Toddington
29
Carpet
Carpet
Bowls Club
Bowls Club
The suggestion to set
up a carpet bowls club
in Toddington (Bed-
fordshire) was made
during a Millennium
Committee meeting in
1999.
Leaflets delivered around the village resulted in a surprising number of people attending a meet-
ing at – in fact, filling - the Village Hall lounge. The Club’s first session was held on 6 September
that year in the Village Hall, where the sessions are still held. By the following August it reached
a maximum of 64 members and had 4 carpets, one of which (together with associated equip-
ment) was later passed on to help a club which was being set up in a neighbouring village.
In its early years our Club was greatly helped by funding (notably a South Beds Community
Chest Grant and a County Council Millennium Fund Grant) from a number of local organisations.
At the time of writing membership is at a currently agreed maximum of 70 and we again have
four carpets.
Soon after its inception the Club joined the Bedfordshire Carpet Bowls Association (BCBA),
being awarded the 2001/02 League wooden spoon! – but it has had better success in the League
in subsequent years. The other teams currently in the Bedfordshire League are Barton, Clophill,
Colmworth, Cotton End, Haynes, Maulden, Renhold, Slip End, Turvey and Westoning. The
BCBA holds Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours competitions the winners of which go forward to
the English Carpet Bowls Association (ECBA) Champion of Champions event held each June.
Individual members have had some good results playing in these County competitions.
Some members also belong to the Bedfordshire County team, playing in the Eastern Coun-
ties Carpet Bowls Association (ECCBA) League against Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire,
Norfolk and Suffolk and also taking part in the ECBA 6 Counties Team Bowl in September and
in the ECBA championships held at Potters in November.
Every year our club holds its own competitions - previously singles, pairs and either triples
or fours, but in 2018 for the first time all four competitions were held. Since around 2003 numer-
ous members have enjoyed going to Potters not only to play in the May ECBA Festival but also
to enjoy the numerous pursuits and entertainment which that resort offers.
Ours, like most others, is a very sociable club. Every year members visit a local venue for
a Christmas meal, and then in January enjoy solving table quizzes and playing bowls-based
games at a New Year fish & chip supper held in the Village Hall. Latterly a summer event - such
as an Afternoon Tea or a Jazz Cruise on the river Ouse – has been enjoyed. Also, a sponsored
bowls day has been held to raise money for the local Pasque Adult Hospice and Keech Cottage
Children’s Hospice, and members of the public have taken part in several quiz nights held by
the Club.
Gill Whitfield, Toddington Club Secretary

HOT SHOT BADGES - I have had a problem with the new badges. There
was a long delay in obtaining the new badges and the badge makers forgot exactly
what I wanted printed on them. I was looking for a badge for use in both Short Mat
and Carpet Bowls. Instead of asking me when the Badge blanks finally arrived,
they put in “Short Mat Indoor Bowler”. They did offer to re-make them but as they
are only a very small company, I agreed to accept them. They are useable for Short
Mat but if I get a Carpet Bowls claim, I will have a re-think!