****** LATEST NEWS 2020 ******

​

****** Facebook ******

Social media update: We are now on Facebook - we have been for a number of weeks. This will give us a greater presence on social media, especially locally, with a view to attracting more new members locally. Click the Facebook logo opposite >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

****** Generous Donation Helps Club Finances ******

Saturday 3rd October:The club is very happy and grateful to have this week received a very generous donation from Carpet Services (Cardiff) Ltd from whom we have enjoyed fantastic and continued support over the years through Peter Mynett and his family. The donation of £380 will cover this year's membership of the Pentyrch Sports Association (£200) and our utility bills (£180). Such generosity will help our financial situation in what has been, and unfortunately, continues to be a a very trying time due to Covid-19. Thank you everyone at Carpet Services.
Added to the recent grant from Sport Wales, the club has received over £1,000 which will help us to be in a stronger situation when we return to playing next season!

****** End of Season Green Maintenance ******

Although the green has seen little action this year due to the outbreak of Covid-19, regular maintenance has been vital and has continued to be done throughout the months by Bill Malcolm. Recently, Bill organised one of the significant events in the maintenance calendar, preparing the green for winter closure. He was ably assisted by some helpful volunteers, namely, Ian B, Bernie S, Jim M and Jeff T who amongst many tasks, spread several tonnes of topsoil and fertiliser over the green surface. A day of suuny weather helped them along. Thanks to them all. 

****** Successful Sport Wales Grant Application! ******

Brian Ilbery recently made a successful application to Sport Wales's  Be Active Fund. The club has been awarded £645 as a contribution to running costs, such as insurance, utility bills and fertilisers and chemicals for green maintenance. Thanks to Brian for securing more vital funding for the club.
The award was mentioned in a press release in the South Wales Echo and Bronte Howard, a reporter for Wales Online and In Your Area, recently interviewed Brian about the award and its importance to the sustainability of the club for the future.
You can read the full text of the press release here.
Click here for the link to Bronte Howard's report about our successful application.

****** Summer Edition of Community Link ******

​
​Friday 14th August 2020: As stated yesterday, the article about encouraging ore people to take up bowls before the end of summer and beyond would soon be published in the Community Link - only online currently due to Covid restrictions. You can see the whole publication here . Our article is on page 19 or you can read it here.
​

****** Playing Bowls in Pentyrch ******

Thursday 13th August 2020: In normal times we would be thinking of playing our last league matches of the season and looking forward to the club's Finals Weekend. Times are not normal and our season has been very short. As a club, we are still desperate for new players as we look to next season. There is still time available to recruit new players, even though time is short and we need to take to opportunity to get as much local support as possible. Below is the text of an article submitted to the Community Link for the summer edition. It is not known if or when it will be published.  It carries an important message to the local community and members of our club about our survival:

Play Bowls at Pentyrch


"Pentyrch Bowling Club is working hard to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and is looking for new members for 2021. The Welsh Government has suggested that lawn green bowls is an excellent way to get out in the fresh air, to exercise and to have some fun. So, why don’t you come along and have a go at this fun sport, for free, in what is left of this summer? No equipment is required, other than flat-soled shoes, and qualified coaches will be available to show you the basics of the game. If you fancy a go on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoon (3-7 pm), then please contact either Ian Broxton (02920 843896 or 07966 424614) or Brian Ilbery (02920 891814 or 07979 658481) to arrange a specific time. Social distancing will be practised, along with other COVID-19 measures, and so  you will be able to enjoy the outdoors quite safely.
 
This is an ideal opportunity to come along and try lawn green bowls. It will also mean that you are up and running, ready to play bowls at the start of the 2021 season! We at Pentyrch Bowling Club want to ensure that this community facility is here for all to enjoy over the coming years and we need your support."
 
Brian Ilbery and Ian Broxton

****** Hard Work! ******

 Week ending Friday 30th July: Club members have been volunteering again in keeping the grounds looking good and under control. The latest project has been to cut back the tall conifer hedge that separates us from the tennis club at the West side if the green. Thanks to a local man, Ted who has kindly given us use of the scaffolding tower to reach the most inaccessible parts. Huge thanks to Jim Martin for scaling the tower, with a decent head for heights and strong arms for cutting the branches. Thanks to Ian Broxton who has laboured carrying away much of the cut vegetation and thanks to John Eagle and Jeff Tarr for their help too. Cider refreshment at the end of each shift helped to soothe aching muscles. The last picture shows Jim and Ian looking pleased with their work and thinking of that cider.

****** All our yesterdays ******

Tim Morgan, former member, player, Club Secretary, Club Captain, photographer, tour organiser, and many other roles and all round good egg, has very kindly sent in some archive photos of the club's genesis (beginning). Thank you, Tim. Mainly photographs of the club's opening day in 1991. Perhaps you can recognise some of the people in the pictures? It's interesting to note how open the green was before the now familiar conifer hedge grew up. In the background you can see the cricket club before it expanded and the tennis courts and rugby club posts. And how the clubhouse that originally was our home served us well and was replaced by the pavilion three years ago.  The aerial view of Pentyrch shows the rugby club in the foreground on the left, the tennis courts in the middle and the rough patch of land and rock where the green and pavilion now sit.Click on the picture to see enlarged. Enjoy.

****** The Green really is open! ******

Monday 29th June: So, after two and a half months of not being allowed to play on the green we finally got the season underway. Under strict Covid-19 rules and restrictions four intrepid players got things going on a cold, blustery and autumnal day. Well done, Jan, Kath, Mel and Ian. So ironic that in the months of lockdown the weather had been superb but the feeling of going out to play was positive and sunny. Remember that if you want to follow their example, you must follow the strict rules and book a rink in advance. See the two links below for booking arrangements and rules. Have fun and keep safe!

****** The Green is Open! ******

Fantastic news! The Welsh Government has recently announced that outdoor, non-contact sports can be played again.  It has been decided that we will open the green to play from Monday 29th June from 1.00 pm. Play will only be permitted under strict Covid-19 rules. These were recently sent out to members. Copies will be available  on the pavilion door and links on this website. If you decide to play, you MUST follow the rules and use the booking system to pre-arrange your playing partner, time and rink. Details of booking officers can be obtained from committee members. 
​
Rink booking arrangements
​
Covid-19 Rules

****** Looking Good ******

Friday 26th June: Brian and Bernie have worked very hard during the mini heatwave to finish off the hedge cutting and clearing. The gardens look great for players when bowling begins again next week.

Tuesday 23rd June: The club and grounds look great in the sun today. Thanks as ever to Bill for the green work and surrounds helped by Jeff and John, Ian and Jim for cutting back trees and Bernie and Brian for hedge cutting.  See below.

****** Our Wonderful Club ******

Saturday 30th May: I visited the club today, the first time for several weeks because of the Covid-19 restrictions. I knew that Bill had been keeping the green and garden maintenance going and most recently that Brian, Jeff and John had been working on the garden and general maintenance too. The green is looking in superb condition.  (See below) The recent absence from the club, the beautiful weather and the stunning looks of the place all helped bring it home as to what an amazing club and setting we are blessed with. It really is a wonderful haven and a place to relax and just soak it all in. I'm sure that many residents of the village are still unaware of its existence. Of course, being able to play bowls there is our main reason for being and hopefully, we'll all be able to get back to the club, play, relax and socialise again very soon. It's great news that members have agreed and sought to keep the club going, despite the difficulties of the last few months but there is also a reminder that we desperately need new members, especially players! The recent lockdown weeks have seen a great increase in local people taking regular exercise and trying to keep their mental health in a positive state. How much easier that will be once we're back up and running. If you are local to Pentyrch and you are reading this and you want to continue your fitness after lockdown or look for some diversity in your fitness and relaxation, come along and see what we have to offer! Members, look out for family, friends or neighbours who could give us a try!      MK

****** Men at Work! ******

Friday 29th May: Brian was at it again. This time painting the north elevation with preservative. Thank you.

Thursday 28th May : Well done, and thanks to Brian Ilbery who singlehandedly painted the south elevation of the Pavilion with wood preservative today. Even though the pavilion is not in use due to the Covid-19 outbreak, maintenance has to go on, especially with the prolonged spell of dry and warm weather. A mention of thanks, too, to Jeff Tarr and John Eagle, who, as part of the maintenance team, have been helping Bill Malcolm to keep the grounds and gardens looking well for when we are allowed to play again  - hopefully before the end of the summer - England have started again and it looks as though Scotland will be starting next week. Watch this space...

****** Green Maintenance Continued ... ******

Friday 7th May: The playing season should now be well underway. Sadly, because of the Covid-19 outbreak we will be very lucky to get to play this season. However, maintenance of the green and gardens has to go on and we are very lucky in having Bill Malcolm to keep that all going. Well done Bill, diolch yn fawr iawn. You are the superhero of our green. Thanks for the photos too.

***** Green Maintenance *******

Thursday 9th April:  Even though there is no play on the green during the Covid-19 outbreak, the maintenance of the green has to be done.Today, Bill spent four hours cutting the green and borders.No treatment planned until decent rainfall is forecast. Our gratitude, as ever, to Greenkeeper, Bill Malcolm, but especially now given the difficult times we are living through. Thanks, Bill.

****** Coronavirus Update ******

Wednesday 8th April: please read the following points regarding the disruption to the bowls season and decisions taken by the Management Committee.
1. We aim to rearrange the Summer Quiz and Race Night for some time in September and October respectively. This will help to raise much needed funds and we trust that these events will have everyone's customary support. We will look to finalise dates as the national situation with the Covid-19 outbreak becomes clearer.
2. We aim to continue with preparations for the Annual Dinner  on 30th October, even if there are no trophies to present! It will be something positive to look forward to. Further details will be circulated in due course.
3. Brian Ilbery has contacted Sport Wales and the Welsh Government to apply for a share of their Emergency Relief Fund.
4. Maintenance of the green will continue.

Keep well and keep safe.

****** Coronavirus ******

The club Management Committee has been discussing the rapidly evolving situation over the coronavirus outbreak and how it may impact on our bowls club. The following decisions have been made:
1. The first Coffee Morning (27th March) has been cancelled and later ones may also be cancelled.
2. The Cheese and Wine, scheduled for March 29th has been postponed until a later date and may be cancelled if government measures go on for more than 3 months. Please retain letter and tickets until further notice.
3. Proposed Annual Tour to Weston-Super-Mare has been cancelled. We will most certainly be under national restrictions of some description.

4. The playing season will almost certainly be impacted. We are seeking guidance and clarification from the WBA and EWPGBA.
5. All of these things will impact us financially through loss of income. At the moment, we do not propose to reverse the recent decision to halve fees for existing of new members.

****** Coffee Morning Number 1 ******

The first Coffee Morning of the new year and season takes place on Friday 27th March, 10.30 am at the pavilion. Please come along and support these great social get-togethers meet old friends and new. Try and bring a new player with you too! It's hard to believe that this is already our fourth year of Coffee Mornings. The first was on Friday 26th May 2017. The Coffee Mornings have raised a considerable sum of money that has helped to keep the club going. Hope to see you there - with someone who would like to play bowls!

****** Storm Dennis and Floods ******

No one can have failed to have been moved by the terrible predicament of many people who have suffered from the recent flooding as locally as Taffs Well, Nantgarw, Wales and the rest of the UK. Sadly, our friends and fellow bowlers at Taffs Well also fell victims to Storm Dennis when their bowls pavilion was flooded and almost submerged. The damage also directly affects the local nursery that uses the building Monday to Friday. 

We wish everyone at the bowls club and nursery a full and speedy recovery in the coming months. It was notable that Taffs Well and Pentyrch rugby clubs rallied and generously helped their local communities in providing warm drinks, food and showers, not to mention essential donations of food, bedding and clothes. ​

****** Community Link February 2020 ******

​The latest edition of the Community Link has our latest recruitment advertisement on page 14 here Of course, advertisements are play a part in attracting new players. Word of mouth has proved to be the most effective. Please would all members make continued efforts in persuading friends, relatives and anyone they know to come along and join us this season. Thanks to the Community Link for publishing our advert.

****** Winter Quiz - Huge success! ******

The Winter Quiz was a huge success in terms of funds raised, (£725.20) people who came and supported and in people of the local community getting together and having a great time.We sold 100 tickets with over 90 people attending. The quiz was won on a tiebreak by the Siriol All-Stars (Iain & Fiona and Bernie & Val) who kindly gave their £30 win back to the bowls club. Second place and a box of chocolates went to Cardiff West Rotary, knocked off their previous winners' perch. 16 teams took part and only 15 points between first and last teams. 
Biggest thanks to the Social Committee for organising the event but also we are very grateful to everyone who supported the event by coming and buying tickets and to the Rugby Club for providing the venue. Mentions -  Brian, Eileen and Liz for an excellent supper; Jan and Mel raffle tickets; Margaret D for obtaining the raffle prizes; Howard, Dave A and Eileen for donating prizes;Lynne for the scores. 
The Summer Quiz will take place on Friday 12th June.
This positive momentum needs to be harnessed and transferred into efforts by ALL members in encouraging friends, family etc to join us as players. We have, potentially, seven new players joining already. 

****** Winter Quiz 2020 ******

The first social event of the year is the Winter Quiz which will take place at Pentyrch Rugby Club on the evening of Thursday 23rd January, 7.30 pm at the Rugby Club.

​Please make every effort to come along have fun and support the club. Great value at only £5 which includes a delicious supper Thanks as ever, to the industrious Social Committee for their efforts in organising the event.