Margaret Catchpole Bowls Club

MCBC CLUB NEWSLETTER - 20th August 2026

PRE-AGM CLUB MEETING REMINDER:
Our important Pre-AGM club meeting will be on Friday, 21 August, 7.00pm in the Clubhouse. The prospects for the 2027 season will be the main topic of discussion. As the club has always run on an informal basis, this is an opportunity for everyone to contribute. PLEASE ATTEND!


CLUB COMPETITIONS:
Please see the posters on the Club Noticeboard and enter now! The competing triples will be drawn on a 'pot luck' basis on the day. The organisers will divide all the contestants into into leads, twos and skips, before making the draw.

* Over 55's Singles - Sunday, 23 August - 10.00am
* BE Triples - Sunday, 30 August - 10.00am
* EBF Triples - Sunday, 6 September - 1.00pm


RIVERS SHIELD:
* MCBC v Holywells - Friday, 28 August - 2.00pm
* Holywells v MCBC - Wednesday, 9 September - 2.00pm

12 players required for both games. Please enter your name on the list for selection on the club noticeboard.


ANNUAL PRESENTATION DINNER:
The poster is now available on the club noticeboard, so please enter yours and your guests names to the list. Saturday, 21 November, at Ipswich & District Indoor Bowling Club &.00pm for 7.30pm. Cost: £25 for the superb Carvery Meal. Full details are available from Anne Barber and Christine Cousins.


CLUB COMPETITIONS TROPHIES:
Please return the Club Competition Trophies to Malcolm Clarke before 31 August. He would appreciate it if they are clean when returned.

MCBC Newsletter - 12 August 2026

PRE-AGM CLUB MEETING:
Our important Pre-AGM club meeting will be on Friday, 21 August, 7.00pm in the Clubhouse. The prospects for the 2027 season will be the main topic of discussion. As the club has always run on an informal basis, this is an opportunity for everyone to contribute.

CLUB COMPETITIONS:
Please see the posters on the Club Noticeboard and enter now! The competing triples will be drawn on a 'pot luck' basis on the day. The organisers will divide all the contestants into into leads, twos and skips, before making the draw.

* Over 55's Singles - Sunday, 23 August - 10.00am
* BE Triples - Sunday, 30 August - 10.00am
* EBF Triples - Sunday, 6 September - 1.00pm

RIVERS SHIELD:
MCBC v Holywells - Friday, 28 August - 2.00pm
Holywells v MCBC - Wednesday, 9 September - 2.00pm

12 players required for both games. Please enter your name on the list for selection on the club noticeboard.

RIVERS MILLENNIUM TRIANGLE:
This enjoyable event played at Holywells BC last Saturday with the final scores being Holywells 73, EoE Co-op 67 and MCBC 62. Everyone enjoyed a super afternoon in which each club pocketed £85. Many thanks to all those who helped in making another enjoyable afternoon.

FUNERAL OF ALAN 'TED' HENDIN - Please be reminded that the service will be held on Friday 7 August at 2.15pm at Seven Hills, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, IP10 0FG.

The wake will be at St Johns Conservative Club, Kirby St, Ipswich, IP4 4PT.

MCBC members are invited to attend wearing their club shirts with pride as our beloved Ted will be wearing his.

If you wish to place flowers, you are welcome or as requested by Ted make a donation to the Kenyan School Fund. 🇰🇪 https://gofund.me/a1de27f16

Please feel free to share these details with anyone who knew Ted and may want to join us ❤️ ⭐"

Donate to In memory of Alan-Ted Hendin, organized by Sophie Hendin It was Ted’s heartfelt wish that, in his memory, donations would support the Kenyan School … Sophie Hendin needs your support for In memory of Alan-Ted Hendin

MCBC CLUB NEWSLETTER - 3rd August 2026

SUFFOLK BE NOVICE SINGLES: Martyn Alcock played his semi final at Borough of Eye BC yesterday against Andrew Gardiner (Sudbury BC). Andrew, who looked to be anything other than a novice, roared into a 6-0 lead before Martyn showing commendable calm, got going and gave his opponent a stern test, fighting back to within just two shots. At the end Andrew, holding his nerve, managed go through to the final 21-15. This game was way above the standard you would expect from novices. Well done Martyn, we hope there is more to come. Martyn would like to show his appreciation to the club members who travelled to support him.

MCBC RALPH GAGE SINGLES TOURNAMENT: This was played last Saturday, as an experiment, with a reasonable entry. A most enjoyable and hard fought competition was won by the ever popular Gavin Thwaite who defeated Mark Alcock in the final. There were many very close games and is was pleasing to see our newer members playing well. Many thanks to Chris, Anne and Delboy who provided the lunchtime refreshments.

MCBC CLUB SINGLES & OVER 55'S Pairs: Malcolm Clarke will be collecting entry fees (£3 for each comp) in the next few days. Incidentally, it would be nice to see our members playing in these competitions wearing their club shirts (either old or new) as it gives a good impression of the club to the adjacent pub customers. First impressions and all that!

MCBC CLUB NEWSLETTER - 29th July 2026

RALPH GAGE SINGLES CLUB COMPETITION: This competition will be staged on Saturday, 1 August with a 10.00am start. Derek Barber will be supplying his Bacon Baps at lunchtime. Everyone welcome. Note! If the tropical weather is still with us, we may postpone it to another date, when the weather has cooled down.

MARTYN ALCOCK: Congratulations and good luck to Martyn who is playing his semi final in the Suffolk BE Novice Singles Competition on 11.30am on Sunday, 2 August at Borough of Eye BC (IP23 7HW). There is a full programme of games throughout the day, which you can view on the club noticeboard from Thursday, Suffolk BE website or face book page. Hopefully we can all go along and support Martyn.

RIVERS MILLENNIUM TROPHY - MCBC v Holywells v EoE Co-op: Will be played at Holywells BC on Saturday, 8 August, 2.00pm start. The entry sheet and full details are on the Club Noticeboard, We require 16 players for this important money making event. Currently, we still need two or three players.

MCBC Samford 'Blues' League team

MCBC CLUB NEWSLETTER - 9th July 2026

ALAN 'TED' HENDIN: Sadly much loved and respected Ted passed away in the early hours of 3 July. After suffering a massive stroke in late August last year he had bravely soldiered on despite being wheelchair bound. Our thoughts are with his wife Josie and his family.

KEN GRAYBURN: Ken's funeral will be held at Seven Hills Crematorium, at 10.30am, on Friday, 24 July. It will be followed by the wake at Ipswich & District Indoor Bowling Club.

FIXTURES: The FIFA World Cup and current tropical hot and humid weather has meant that some games are being postponed and new dates are being fixed. Furthermore, there are now more changes to the original changes, which is making life complicated.

The Samford Millennium First Round Cup game scheduled for Friday, 10 July has been moved to Friday, 17 July. The 2nd Round will now be on Friday, 24 July and we are due to meet Hadleigh or California.

In the Samford League Cup, played on 3 July, we defeated California and we now visit Holbrook BC on Friday, 17 July. Our team will be notified by email in the next day, or so.

CLUB COMPETITIONS: The Entry Sheet is now available on the clubhouse notice board for the Men's BE & EBF Championship Singles and BE Over 55's Pairs. The Ladies Singles is also included, although they usually arrange to play their competition on a single day. Please enter now as the draw will be made shortly!

MCBC CLUB NEWSLETTER - 25th June 2026

KEN GRAYBURN: It is with great sadness that we report Ken, passed away on Tuesday, 23 June. Further details of his funeral etc will be available in due course. Quiet man Ken was well liked and respected by everyone who knew him.

FIXTURES: The current tropical very hot and humid weather has meant that some games are being postponed. The MCBC Club Pairs schedule for Saturday, 27 June has been postponed and played later in the season.

The Samford Millennium First Round Cup game scheduled for Friday, 10 July has been moved to Friday, 17 July. The 2nd Round will now be on Friday, 24 July and we are due to meet Hadleigh or California.

Please note! the Samford League Cup match v California on Friday, 3 July will still go ahead on that day. Our team will be notified by email in the next day, or so.

MCBC CLUB NEWSLETTER - 22nd June 2026

MID SUMMER TOURNAMENT: Yesterday's tournament, played on a glorious summer's day, was another outstanding success for the club. Many thanks to the superbly professional organisation by Martyn Alcock. Full praise to Chris Cousins, Anne & Derek Barber and their team of volunteers for the usual excellent catering. Also, appreciation goes to Ivan Smy and Gavin Thwaite for producing an almost perfect green. Thanks also to all the other club members who cheerfully assisted throughout the day. We also enjoyed a visit from Ted Hendin, whose family brought to the club to see his many friends. Many thanks also to Robin and Charlotte Wilkinson in the pub, their welcomely support was really appreciated. The tournament was won by our old friends Bob Cousins and Denis Lewis who beat Paul Cousins and John Bloomfield in the final. Whilst, Brian and Michael Rice beat Russell Garwood and Andy Noble in the third/fourth play off. All in all it was a great day and club funds have been boosted accordingly.

NEW MEMBERS: We are pleased to welcome Lisa, Lee and Declan Hutton to the club and we hope they enjoy their bowls. Young Declan, who is 13 years old, is really keen and we hope he follows in the footsteps of some of other young players who went on the gain county honours etc.

CLUB COMPETITIONS: The Entry Sheet is now available on the clubhouse notice board for the Men's BE & EBF Championship Singles and BE Over 55's Pairs. The Ladies Singles is also included, although they usually arrange to play their competition on a single day.