FOLLOWING the opening last year of their new clubhouse and six-rink green in Chawton Park Road, Alton Social Bowling Club are already well into a hectic schedule of league and county competition.

A successful Open Day attracted newcomers to try their hand at the game, while the outstanding new venue will host several significant fixtures. These include a ladies’ county match between Hampshire and Sussex on Wednesday, June 21, and fixtures against The Friends of Bowls England on Sunday, July 23 and against Bowls England on Friday, July 28.

The Bowls England match will be particularly significant for Alton Social member Hazel Marke who earlier this year was installed as Bowls England junior vice-president. She will be president in 2019. Gary Johnson will host President’s Day on Sunday, July 30.

Alton Social will be hard pressed to match the great success of last year.?Highlights were Adam White, Dick Holden and Mark Fyfield winning the Hampshire Triples and Margaret Holden becoming County Champion of Champions and a singles finalist.

In addition, an Alton Social team won the County Mixed Top Club competition, while the men lifted the Hants & Berks Cup, beating holders Basingstoke Town in the final. Gary Johnson was runner-up in the men’s Champion of Champions.

In North Hants Women’s BA competitions, Hazel Marke won the singles, while Lesley Johnson, Doreen Clarke, Marjorie Rowledge and Caroline Goodeve took the fours. Alton Social ladies won the North Hants Gazette Cup.

This season, Social men are early leaders in the Basingstoke & District Fours League after a home win against Kingsclere.

The Hampshire club competition threw Alton Social and Alton BC together for the third, but not the last time this season and the usual close contest ensued, with Social getting home by nine shots.

The County two-wood singles was a bit of a disaster, with only Adam White surviving from an entry of seven. There was a better return in the four-wood singles, with six men men making progress, while Dick Holden, Mark Fyfield and Adam White defeated Headley 22-4 as they opened their defence of the Hampshire title.

In the County ladies pairs, there was success for Flo Ward/Caroline Goodeve, Hazel Marke/ Margaret Holden and Doreen Atkins/Marjorie Rowledge. Margaret Holden’s rink won at Whitchurch in the fours and Doreen Atkins and Marjorie Rowledge defeated St Mary Bourne in the Golden Girls.

For further information about Alton Social BC, contact club secretary Richard Holden on 01420 88383, or view the website altonsocialbowlsclub.co.uk