Latest club news
WILSON PAIRS WINNERS
Congratulations to Huggie Gibbs and Ruth Mixer, who beat off tough competition to win the Wilson Pairs match on April 26th. They are pictured receiving the trophy from chairman Stuart Elliott
BBQ DATES AND REQUEST FOR HELP
This year's BBQs will be on:
Saturday, May 31st
Saturday, July 5th
Saturday, August 2nd
All are 1pm for a 1.30pm start of play
The fees for the afternoons are £7 for the BBQ and £2 to play.
We already have a number of volunteers for making salads for the BBQ, but still need someone to make the hard boiled eggs. You don't need to supply the eggs as they are donated from the farm - you just have to boil them. If you can help please contact Stuart on 01493 740909.
As usual we will need help putting out/putting away tables and chairs, and with the washing up.
And don't forget to bring anything that might make a good raffle prize!
RITA WOODS
We are sorry to inform you that Rita Woods, a former member of the club, has died. Rita was the partner of Ron Clay, also a long time member of HBC. Her funeral is at 2.30pm on Tuesday, April 29th at the St Faith's Crematorium. There will be a reception afterwards at the nearby Black Swan pub.
WINNER OF MARJON TROPHY
Congratulations to Richard Colman, who won the Marjon Trophy at the opening of the green for the 2025 season.
TIME TO PAY ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
If you are able to pay online, please pay your annual subscription of £30 before the opening of the green on April 12th.
Please also include any fee for any Norfolk Bowls Competitions you have entered. If you cannot remember how much extra you owe please email our treasurer Helen Miles (helen.miles5@btinternet.com)
The club's bank details for a BACS transfer are:
Bank - Santander
Account name - Hickling Bowls Club
Account No - 27076508
Sort Code. - 09-01-52
Please add your name as a reference.
2025 SEASON UPDATE
The season gets underway with the opening of the green and the Marjon Trophy match on Saturday, April 12th - 1.30pm for a 2pm start. That is followed by the Wilson Pairs Trophy on Saturday, April 26th, also 1.30pm for a 2pm start. Club shirts to be worn for both matches.
Before the opening we are organising two working party mornings to do some light maintenance around the green, including removing some old matting from the gutters. These will be on Saturday, March 29th and Saturday, April 5th, both starting around 9.30am. Please come along and help on these days if you can.
The season itself starts with a North Walsham Triples match away to Aylsham. Full details of the all this year's fixtures will appear on the website in the next day or two.
You will be able to play roll-ups once the green is opened, but please check the green-cutting rota (on the notice board in the club house) if you are planning to play in the morning. If you have any further queries please call Terry Smith on 07721 420008.
As decided at the AGM, all members will be entered into all in-house competitions (Singles, Pairs and September Cup). If you cannot, or do not want to play in a competition, please remove you name from the lists on the large notice board at the back of the club house. The match fees for the in-house competitions will be £1 for each round of the Singles and Pairs and £2 for each round of the September Cup.
If you have any further queries ahead of the opening, please contact Stuart Elliott on 01493 740909 or John Parsons on 07717 683741.
MEMORIAL FOR ERIC LOCKE
There will be a memorial gathering for Eric Locke, who sadly died just before Christmas aged 86, at the Runham Village Hall between 12 noon and 3pm on Sunday, February 23rd. Refreshments will be provided.
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SEPTEMBER CUP SURVEY
If you haven't yet responded to our September Cup survey, please take a moment to look at the proposals for the 2025 competition here, and send an email to this address to say whether you approve or disapprove.
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AGM VOTES TO STAY WITH THIS YEAR'S LEAGUES
The club's Annual General Meeting voted overwhelmingly to keep in the same leagues as this season. Although a survey of club members showed a preference for playing in 3-wood leagues, County Bowls captain Richard Colman said there were not enough players available every Tuesday to opt for restarting the 3-wood 'B' team.
Among other changes agreed at the meeting, Helen Miles becomes Treasurer, Terry Smith becomes the green keeper liaising with a group of volunteers to look after the green. Richard Colman and Harvey Gibbons will be joint captains of the Broadland, Yarmouth and North Walsham teams.
Chairman Stuart Elliott reported that a private firm had undertaken a major project to improve the green for next year, including scarifying and levelling out the surface at a cost of around £1600. However, thanks to a generous grant of £840 from the Phoenix trust and other savings the work has only cost the club between £200-£300.
It was also decided that all club members will be included in next season's singles competition, but there will be no obligation for people to take part if they don't want to.
There was considerable discussion on how to bring back the September Cup, which was cancelled this year because not enough people signed up for it. It was decided that John Parsons and Ian Smith would produce a list of specific proposals for this year's competition, which will be emailed to members so they can decide how to proceed.
ANNUAL DINNER REMINDER
Remember that the HBC annual dinner is being held at the Pleasure Boat Inn on Saturday, December 7th - 6.30pm for 7pm.
GREEN CLOSURE AND NIGEL BARBER
The green was closed last Saturday (September 21st) with the singles and pairs finals and the Greyhound Cup. In the singles Richard Coleman beat Sarah Smith in a closely fought contest, and Doreen Beales and Helen Miles beat Harvey Gibbons and Dave Strover in the pairs final.
Before the Greyhound Cup match there was a minute silence in memory of Nigel Barber who died last week. Nigel was a real character and will be sorely missed by those who enjoyed playing alongside him.
CLUB ANNUAL DINNER 2024
If you are interested in coming to the annual dinner this year, please put your names on the list pinned up in the club house so we can get an idea of numbers. It has been suggested that we return to the Boathouse at Ormesby this year as both local pubs are both going through changes. However, the venue is still to be decided, so please put your choice under ‘venue’ on the club house list. The majority will decide where we end up! The date of the dinner will be advised later but is likely to be late November or early December.
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
If you are interested in entering the Norfolk County Champion of Champions competitions (Men and Ladies) please add your name to the list in the club house.
The competitions are run initially at club level. Once entered you need to be available for three weekend dates in June/July 2025 for area finals, county semi finals and the county finals. If you get that far, you progress to the national finals in Skegness in August 2025. The closing date for entry is Sunday, August 25th. For more information, contact Stuart on 01493 740909.
SEPTEMBER CUP CANCELLED
It has been decided to cancel the September Cup this year as there had been a poor response from members applying to take part. It is hoped the competition, also known as the Chris Nudd Cup, will return next year when members of other clubs will be allowed to take part. We are sorry to disappoint those of you who had been looking forward to the competition this year.
TREASURER VACANCY
After five years of great service to the club as Treasurer, Doreen Beales is standing down from the role at the AGM on October 23rd. Doreen says she is happy to show whoever takes over how she has been doing the books, and to help them in any way possible.
If you are interested please let our Secretary John Parsons know on 01692 584778 or email: johnandbridgetp@gmail.com
SINGLES AND PAIRS COMPETITIONS
The lists for this season's singles and pairs matches are now on the notice board at the club house. Please put your names up and arrange matches as soon as possible. If games are not played by the date on the list the 'winners' will be drawn out of a hat for the next round.
WELL DONE SARAH!
Sarah Smith, along with other members of the Norfolk Ladies team, have qualified for the National Federation Finals in Skegness in August. We wish her the best of luck! Meanwhile, commiserations to Stuart Elliott and Terry Smith who lost 15-17 in the Norfolk County semifinals on Sunday, July 14th.
​​​NEW JACKETS
New club jackets are now available to order. The price depends on which lining is chosen and whether you have a hood included, but full details are on the notice board in the clubhouse. In addition, Stuart has found a new supplier of club shirts. Some people have had problems with the original shirts fading after washing. If you are interested in replacing your shirt free of charge, please contact Stuart.
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SEASON GETS UNDERWAY WITH MARJON TROPHY
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Derek Miles was the winner of the Marjon Trophy, which took place during the green opening on Saturday, April 27th after being postponed for a week because of the effect of the earlier wet weather on the green. Derek is seen here receiving the cup from club secretary, John Parsons.
JOHN ELLIOTT
It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of John Elliott, who was a loyal and hard working member of the club for many years.
John died in the James Paget Hospital on 22nd December after a long battle with illness.
His funeral was held at the Potter Heigham church on Tuesday, January 30th.
CLUB CELEBRATES NORTH WALSHAM LEAGUE WIN AS 2023 SEASON ENDS
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Club members picutured with the North Walsham Triples Shield on the last day of the season. Hickling was top of the league, beating North Walsham New Road by two points.
CLUB SINGLES AND PAIRS WINNERS 2023
Mike Hodgson won the club singles cup and the pairs trophy was won by Huggy Gibbs and Dave Strover.
TEAM SUFFOLK WINS THE 2023 SEPTEMBER CUP
The September Cup was set up in memory of Chris Nudd and his grandson Danny is pictured presenting it to Doreen Beales of Team Suffolk.
WHISKY DRAW RAISES £200+
The 2023 whisky draw raised more than £200. The winner, Terri Smith from Hickling, is pictured after the draw with green keeper Dave Strover.
WILSON PAIRS
Congratulations to Jean Naylor and Dennis Smith - winners of the 2023 Wilson Pairs Cup.
Stuart Elliott and Jean Naylor were runners up in the mixed pairs final at Gt Yarmouth Festival of Bowls in 2022. Congratulations to them both. Stuart said: 'It was not too bad to come second out of 44 pairs - and we are £50 each better off'.
Dave Strover won the 2022 Greyhound Cup at the close of the season on Saturday, September 3rd. He is seen here being presented with the cup by Greyhound landlord Tony Woodman.
Alan Kimber (l) won the 2022 club Singles title and was presented with the cup by club secretary John Parsons
Sarah Smith and Stuart Elliott were the winners of the club pairs cup.
Congratulations also to Mike Hodgson and Dave Strover who won the 2022 Wilson Pairs Cup.
Please remember that the club's 2022 dinner is taking place on Saturday, November 12th at the Boathouse in Ormesby (7pm for 7.30pm). You can see the menu here. If you would like to come, please add your name(s) to the notice in the clubhouse and put your £10 per person deposit (in an envelope with your name on) in one of the letter boxes at the club. Please make sure your names and deposits are put in before September 11th.
The 'spider' at this years green opening
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