January 1925

History > 1920s > January 1925

January 1925

Second Annual Report

On 30th January 1925, The Consett Guardian printed the Club's second annual report, then on 6th February 1925 reported on the second annual meeting.

The club champion in 1924 was Mr J Heatley and the runner-up was Mr Geo Eustace jun. Mr Eustace jun. was described as "one of our younger members", but does not reveal his age. If anyone has any information about Mr Heatley or Mr Eustace please let us know.

Transcriptions of both articles are below, and contain lots of interesting information, including a new rinks competition, social events, the Club's finances, committee appointments and a rule change.

CONSETT PARK BOWLING CLUB-------EXCELLENT YEARS WORK-------A POPULAR PASTIMEThe annual meeting of the above club was held on Wednesday night in the P.M. School-room, Park Road, Consett.The annual report was presented as follows:-In presenting to you the second annual report of the club we can safely say that the past season has fully justified all our hopes and anticipations. The cordial spirit of good fellowship which has prevailed amongst the members has made the season very enjoyable (although the weather was not always kind) and has emphasised very clearly that in the game of bowls we have opportunities for getting to know and to understand each other better than in most other games. In every direction much progress has been made but especially in the play of the members. As recommended in our last annual report our club is now affiliated with the County Bowling Association and the English Bowling Association thus providing opportunities for our members to qualify and compete in the highest class of bowls.The opening day of the season was on Easter Monday 31st April 1924* the ceremony being performed by our president Mr George the General Manager of the Consett Iron Co. The opening game was between sides of six rinks chosen by the President and the Chairman and resulted in a victory for the President by 88 shots to 42. After the game the players and friends partook of tea which was very kindly provided by the Consett Iron Co. The County Association were good enough to offer to send four representative rinks to play our club on 31st May but unfortunately the weather was so bad on that day the game had to be cancelled. This was a great disappointment to our members but we look forward to the time when it will be possible to have such a match.As a result of the alteration of rule 9 our membership could be increased to 200. As the additional names were already on the waiting list the limit was again reached when the season opened and another waiting list commenced which now consists of 20 names. With such a large membership the capacity of the green has been fully taxed and although on several occasions some members were disappointed in not being able to get a game it was taken in a good spirit and without any sign of unfriendliness. This difficulty is now removed for a second green has been laid down by the Consett Iron Co. and will be opened for play next season.In the season 1923 we had one competition, the Club Championship, for the trophy presented by our esteemed President. This year we had an addition in a Rink Competition and we are indebted to our enthusiastic Chairman Mr Alsop for a handsome Challenge Cup to be played for. Both competitions have been most successful. The club championship was won by Mr. J Heatley who played consistently well all through the competition and is well worthy of the honour of being the club champion for this year. We extend to him our hearty congratulations. The runner up was Mr Geo Eustice jun one of our younger members. Our congratulations are also extended to him. He has made his mark early and his future career in the bowling world should be a very successful one. The rink competition was won by the following Messrs T. J. Reed, C. Fox. T.W. Lake and A Mangles (skip), who showed excellent combination to which their success can be attributed. We offer them our hearty congratulations on being the first winners of the rink cup. The spoons competitions, four of which were held during the season, were again very popular.Club matches were played against Chopwell Officials, Hign Spen Institute, Langley Park, South Moor and Heaton Casuals.The Club took part in the County Championship Competitions when we were represented in the singles by Mr Heatley, in the pairs by Messrs. Tate and Davidson, and in the rinks by Mr Wilson’s rink. In all, 13 matches were played and resulted as follows:- Won 9, lost 4; total shots, for, 1069; against 886.In the C.I.C. competition the club finished second to Langley Park. On the occasion of each home game the members of the visiting team were entertained to tea by our players.The following were the skips selected, together with the results:- ShotsP W D L F AMajor Mangles 9 8 2 0 190 121 Mr. R. Wilson 8 7 0 1 199 111Mr. J. B. Richardson 5 2 1 2 107 84Mr. R. Alsop 4 2 0 2 70 79Mr. D. Reed 4 1 0 3 68 79Mr. J, Stockdale 3 3 0 0 61 38Mr. R. Park 3 1 0 2 46 82Mr. E. Tindle 2 2 0 0 52 82Mr. J, Walters 2 2 0 0 45 30Dr. J. Murray 2 2 0 0 45 31Mr. G. Eustace 2 1 0 1 41 33Mr. J. Heatley 2 0 0 2 38 44Mr. H. Elliott 2 0 0 2 24 34Mr. J. S. Kirkup 1 1 0 0 16 13Mr. D. Davidson 1 0 0 1 19 22Mr. M. Hobday 1 0 0 1 9 31Mr. R. Nettleton 1 0 0 1 8 31
The experience gained thereby will be of much value in the future, and, with the continuance of the improvement shown this year bids us look forward to the time when we shall provide players of sufficient ability to bring one or more of these championships to our club. The following members were nominated by your committee for county honours R Wilson, J. B. Richardson, J. Healy and Major Mangles. Of these Mr. Wilson and Major Mangles were selected for the county trial match at Durham and the last named was selected for each of the county matches as well as for the North team versus the Canadians. At the annual general meeting of the County Bowling Association Major Mangles our hon. secretary was elected a member of the County Committee.We desire to place on record our appreciation of the help given by the members in accepting the duties of umpire and scorer in the Club Championship. In many instances the members concerned forfeited their turn for a game and very unselfishly gave their services as umpire, etc. To these good sportsmen we offer our best thanks.Very successful whist drives and socials have been held - the first one at the commencement of the season on the 7th March and another at the close of the season on the 31st October. Both were well attended and very much enjoyed by all. Prizes for the whist drives were kindly given by several members, to whom our thanks are due for their generous support. In conclusion we trust the members will by their frequent presence on the greens continue to maintain the very excellent and friendly feeling which has prevailed amongst us since the Club was formed.

* The correct date is Easter Monday 21st April 1924

CONSETT PARK BOWLING CLUB.

SPLENDID SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP

INCREASED BALANCE.

As we stated in our last issue, the annual meeting at the above club was held in the P. M. Schoolroom, Park Road, on Wednesday night of last week, when we also published a copy of the yearly report presented by the Management Committee which was of an eminently satisfactory character.

Coun. R. Alsop presided, and was supported by Major Mangles, Dr. Murray, Messrs J. Turnbull, H. P. Robinson, G. H. Walton, J. T. Symington, Jos. Walton. H. H. Wattsford, Coun. W. D. Reed, M. Hobday, J. Stockdale, J. E. Park, W. Charlton, J. W. Lake, Coun. R Clough, H. Adams and many more.

The Chairman said that, in the absence of the President, it was his pleasure and duty to move the adoption of the second annual report. There were occasions, humorously remarked the Chairman, when one attended annual meetings with a certain amount of trepidation, but that did not apply to the annual meeting of the Consett Park Bowling Club. (Hear, hear). Ever since its inception the club had been most successful, and had gone on from success to success in such a manner that it was a pleasure to attend the annual meeting and hear the report of progress. (Applause). During the second year they had found the same good fellowship on the green as they found during the first year. They found the green an ideal spot on which to spend an evening. The interest in the competitions had been even greater than during the first year, and all had been keenly fought out, but in a friendly and sportsmanlike fashion. (Applause.) The committee had found, towards the close of the season, when the various contests were at a critical stage, that there was a lot of excitement about. He could definitely promise that the second green would be ready for use during the coming season. Major Mangles and Mr. Henderson (architect) had advised that, so far as they could see, the green would be ready for play in the coming season. (Applause.) In spite of their greatly increased membership they hoped to be able to give full facilities for all players. He thought that they would agree that, from a progressive point of view, they must congratulate Major Mangles on his report. (Applause.) Without further words he would formally move that the second annual report be adopted, with the hope that the third season would be even more successful than the first and second. (Applause.)

Mr. G. H. Walton seconded, and the motion was adopted.

INCREASED BALANCE.

Mr. J. Turnbull, the hon. treasurer, said that they commenced the year with a balance in hand of £3 9s 6d. After meeting all liabilities the balance to the credit of the club now stood at £9 18s 7d. (Applause)

The Chairman thought at the point they had to specially notice was that they began the year with a balance of £3 9s 6d and finished up with a balance of £9 18s 7d.

Mr H. P. Robinson moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. Jos. Walton, and carried.

OFFICERS RE-ELECTED.

Mr. Robinson proposed the re-election of the officers ”en bloc”, and said he thought he was expressing the sentiments of all the members when he stated that the work of the officials had met with every satisfaction. (Applause.)

Mr. Park seconded.

Mr. Turnbull said he would be compelled to retire from the position of hon. treasurer.

The chairman said that he was very sorry that Mr. Turnbull, owing to ill health, was leaving the district and would not be able to continue to act as hon. treasurer. He was very sorry that they were losing Mr. Turnbull, who had been associated with sport ever since he came to the district, and it had been a pleasure to have him as their hon. Treasurer. (Applause.)

Major Mangles moved that Mr. J. Stockdale be elected honorary treasurer.

This was seconded by Mr Jos. Walton and agreed to.

Mr Stockdale, in returning thanks, said he took a very keen interest in the club and would do what he could to further its interests. (Applause.)

The other officers elected were:- President Mr. E. J. George; chairman Mr. R. Alsop; hon. sec., Major Mangles; assistant sec., Mr. J. W. Lake; Management Committee, Dr Murray, Coun. Reed, Messrs M. Hobday, and J. Simpson; auditors Capt. Barrow and Mr. A Simpson.

The chairman, on behalf of the officials and committee, remarked that he would like to say how much they appreciated the confidence reposed in them by the members in being re-elected “en bloc”. In addition to the success achieved, all felt that there was such a spirit of good fellowship shown on the green that it was a pleasure to be associated with the Bowling Club. (Applause.)

ALTERATION OF RULE.

On the motion of Coun. Reed, seconded by Mr. Hobday, it was resolved that the rule fixing the annual meeting for January be altered to October.

The Chairman explained that this was done to bring them in line with the rules of the English Bowling Association.

At the conclusion of the business a general discussion took place upon several topics. It was decided to have further social gatherings this year, the first to take the form of a whist drive and concert.