12 Nov TROPHY TIME AT GREENHEAD PARK

On Tuesday 7 November our President Frank Greenwood was invited to the Junction Inn at Gledholt for the annual prize presentation for Greenhead Park Veterans Bowling Club. Unfortunately Frank couldn’t attend for health reasons and the writer deputised at a very hospitable gathering.

Greenhead Park have 1 x 6-man team and 1 x 10-man team plying their trade in the lower echelons of our leagues but the trophy cabinet belies their lowly status. The club have obviously seen better days judging by the photos in the pavilion and the trophy cabinet. Indeed Greenhead Park were the first ever champions of the newly inaugurated veterans league in 1970.

Richard Pearcey started the proceedings by welcoming me to the event and giving a revue of the season. The 6-man team had finished a very creditable 3rd in Division 3 whilst the 10-man team improved on 2022’s lowly finish in Division 5. The club have recruited well over the last couple of years and are considering entering another team in our leagues to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to play competitive bowls. There were certainly plenty of trophies to present and lots of hands to shake at a packed room at the Junction.

One trophy that they kept until last was the first ever Fight Back of the Year trophy from the association, sponsored by Well Bowled, This was presented to John Topham, a new bowler who had fought back to beat one of my Thongsbridge team mates. John also received a £50 voucher which he generously donated to the club.

It certainly looks like a club on the up which is good news for bowling in general as Greenhead Park is seen by many non-bowlers visiting the park. If they could see more activity on the green it would surely lead to more recruitment. Wouldn’t it be good to see the guys competing in other leagues with ladies and younger people enjoying our sport? It’s a tragedy to see any bowling green disappear so it’s incumbent on anyone interested in the future of bowling to get behind Huddersfield Bowls Development in promoting our sport at this venue.