WILTSHIRE County Womens Indoor Bowling Association is 10 years old this month, writes DAVE EATON.

Although indoor rinks have been open in the county for many years - Melksham’s Christie Miller was the first in 1969, followed by Swindon Oasis (1976), Swindon Westlecot (1983), Five Rivers, Salisbury (1984) and finally North Wilts, Chippenham in 1996 - the ladies county association was surprisingly only formed early into the new millennium.

The Wiltshire CWIBA was launched in October 2001 by five ladies, three from North Wilts and two from Five Rivers, after they had held several meetings at the Chippenham-based North Wilts Club, drawn up a constitution and gained affiliation to the ruling body in this country.

And today despite there being five indoor rinks in the county only three of them, namely Five Rivers, North Wilts and Westlecot are members of the county women’s association.

To celebrate their 10th anniversary WCWIBA, under the stewardship of president Mrs Brenda Bowen (NW) invited neighbouring and nearby associations Somerset, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset and Berkshire plus a rink from the Wiltshire men’s indoor association including their president Alan Penfold, to play them in a special match to mark the milestone.

Unfortunately Berkshire pulled out but a last minute replacement rink was found from spectators attending.

Wiltshire Women celebrated their anniversary in style at North Wilts with a 15 shots success over the Invitation Side as they ran-out 131-116 victors taking the honours on four of the six rinks.

The biggest winning margin was recorded by Fizz Mace’s rink with a 13 shot victory but president Brenda Bowen missed out going down by three shots to Dorset.

“The match brought back many happy memories and friendships we have forged over the years,” said founder member and former Wiltshire county indoor president Jean Collier.

“The time has flown by since we first started in October 2001.

“The celebration proved to be a great day with much hilarity and a lot of good bowls played, with a good win for the WCWIBA which of course was a bonus.

“Everyone enjoyed a lovely meal after the game and our President Brenda cut a lovely Anniversary cake for everyone to share which was made by this years outdoor County President Mary Buckle (Amesbury) and was absolutely superb.”

RESULTS

All Wiltshire players from North Wilts unless stated

Rink 1: Doreen Gullis, Irene Wood, Rose Weston and Barbara Shepheard lost to Margaret Ryder (Somerset) 11-30.

Rink 2: Jean Harris, Jan Boden, Ann Roberts-Phare and Marian Menzies (Five Rivers) beat J Berry (Oxfordshire) 30-20.

Rink 3: Norma Rowden, Audrey Mitchell, Mary Ballard and Brenda Bowen (president) lost to J Griffiths (Dorset) 22-25.

Rink 4: June Coyle, Val Lucas, Pat Sharp (FR) and Jean Collier beat Don French, Jim Leekie (both NW), Alan Penfold (president) and Martin Salter (both Westlecot, Wilts Men’s IBA) 24-16.

Rink 5: Ann White, Irene Button, Jan Tombs and Janet Hardie beat Pauline Gunn (Gloucestershire) 21-15.

Rink 6: Mo Price, Gillian Lillicrap, Mary Buckle (FR) and Fizz Mace beat Carol French, Vic Price, Roger Harris (all NW) and Babs Salter (Westlecot, Friends of WCWIBA) 23-10.

Score: Wiltshire Ladies beat Invitation Side 131-116.

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