Over the last 9 months the Blue Heeler Pub in Soi Lengkee has attracted a good group of lawn bowlers who make it their sports days on Wednesday and Sunday each week, taking the bus from the pub at 10.00am on each of these days for a social day out at the indoor lawn bowls facility at Coco Club in East Pattaya.
They have also attracted a good deal of other friends who make their own way and a week last Wednesday there were some 28 players in attendance. On Sundays there are usually a few less.
(From left) Jeff, Cookie and Peter with the winners’ trophy.
The system is very simple, whoever turns up, seasoned players or complete novices, take a number and consecutive numbers are then used to make up a team, which is usually 3 or 4 players. If there is a newcomer, the team will help with tuition then they will have a game, some lunch and a beer and return at about 2.30 p.m.
Last week the Blue Heeler bowlers held their inaugural triples competition as an extra on Saturday. The organisers split the players into 3 groups – skips, seconds and leads and numbers were taken, this was to ensure that the players were more evenly divided and the results were to prove that.
After the draw round one commenced and there was a slight upset immediately in league A, with the team of skip Allan -playing only a year or so, with Kan and Les overcoming Peter, Jeff and Cookie 13-10. In league B it was Phil, with the Colonel and Graham upsetting Nid, Mickey and Dave 16-6. Round 2 saw Sandy, Jim and Billy overcome team Allan 17–2 and team Nid scraping an 11-10 win over Rick, Stewart and Colin.
The deciding round 3 saw the bigger guns start to play, with team Peter beating team Sandy 14-5, although both went into the semi-finals from league A and team Rick woke up with a 22-5 win over team Phil. The team of Tony, Kat and Glen meanwhile knocked out team Nid 19-4.
The semis left a big win for team Rick over team Sandy and team Peter just overcame team Tony 10-8.
The drama was not finished there, as team Rick and team Peter fought out the final and it was a fairly even affair before team Rick pulled out a 9-3 lead with two ends to go. Team Peter got their act together though, surrounding the jack and Peter drew one in to take 4 shots and bring the score now to 9-7 with one end to go. It was a repeat almost exactly of the previous end with Rick unable to split another 3 shots and for team Peter to take a brilliant comeback win 10-9.
There were cash prizes and drinks vouchers for all players and a very enjoyable day ended with a buffet.
Note: Anyone interested in bowls, especially someone with no transport, go along to the Blue Heeler on Soi Lengkee before 10.00 a.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays.
