17 Sep CARL BURGESS NOTCHES 90

Today I had the pleasure of presenting an ex-teammate his Certificate of Achievement from the HVBA for reaching 90 and still bowling competitively. Many bowlers will know Carl not as a bowler but as a fearsome footballer and later both a football and bowling referee. My friendship with Carl goes back forty years or so to when we both bowled for ICI, the forerunner of Huddersfield Recreation who now ply their trade at the Moldgreen Conservative green.

Carl has been a one club man but I’ve moved on to Thongsbridge but both my former club and current club were playing in the fourth division clash that Huddersfield Rec won 6-3. I presented Carl with his certificate but told him I couldn’t wish for a victory for him, but he did have a very competitive game with his partner Geoff Price just losing 21-12 to Chris Washington and Ken Whittaker.

Both teams congratulated Carl and shared birthday cake at the half-time interval.

Carl epitomises all that is best in veterans bowling. He’s still fiercely competitive, not just out for a pleasant afternoon bowling and a cuppa but to help his team to victory and a mid-table position in their first year in Division 4. His last match was won 21-1!

This picture shows Carl with his daughter Rochelle enjoying the sunshine and watching the singles on the green whilst the photo below show’s the cockerpoos of Jim Sykes, another nonagenarian playing for Thongsbridge who received his certificate in June.

Photos courtesy of Bob Haigh.