Several BLBC members bowled well in the PIMD Australian Pairs tournament in Sunnyvale on August 2nd:
Mario Galletta and BLBC’s Phil Grattan placed second.
BLBC’s team of Robin Hoey and Shawn Roney placed third.
Larry Collaco and BLBC’s Bob Schwartz placed fourth.
Well done guys!
Twelve bowlers signed up for the annual two-bowl singles tournament. It was a very tough field: Shawn, Cathy, Cris, Robin, Frankie, Des/Susan, Millard, Ted, Ray, John, Ann and Erwin. The combatants bowled two 14-end games in the morning, took a lunch break, and then bowled two more 14-end games. The top four bowlers would move on to the semi finals.
Shawn Roney, a mighty fine bowler!
Except, we had a tie for 4th place. Robin and Ray played a seven end tie breaker. Ray won. So, Ann, Shawn, Millard and Ray moved on to the the semi finals. Ray bested Ann and Shawn bested Millard, so the stage was set for the final game. Ray took an early lead, but Shawn fought back. At the end of six ends, the score was tied 4 to 4. Shawn squeaked by with a 5 to 4 win. Well done Shawn! We ended the day with a “spider”; John was the happy winner. All in all it was a fun day of bowling.
Huge thanks to Cathy, Susan and Sarah for setting up a lovely breakfast spread and for providing lots of treats throughout the day.
Congratulations to Shawn Roney, 2014 two bowl champ.
Eighteen bowlers showed up on time and ready to bowl in the club triples match today. The format was random draw with three fourteen end games.
The team comprised of Frankie Napoli (skip), Ted Crum (vice) and Cris Benton (lead) finished the day with three wins and 23 plus points. They had a perfect record for the day and this was a repeat for Cris who was on the winning team in 2013. Our forever young Ted Crum was declared the team’s MVP
Dave Rockhold (skip) with Xian Zhi Luo (vice) and Andy Stapleton (lead) finished in second with two wins and 16 plus points.
It was indeed a beautiful day with a refreshing breeze to moderate the expected hot weather.
.
What an accomplishment! Berkeley’s own Rob Hoey went into the PIMD Open Men’s Singles as a bona fide novice.
All he had to do was beat Larry Collaco in the opening game. And he did! I think many of us have had a taste of what Larry can bring to a match.
OK, let’s move on. It’s Rob vs. Fred Anast in Game 2. Game on, Rob wins again.
So, if you’ve made it this far, facing Jerry Knott in the championship game shouldn’t be much of a hassle. Rob brought his A-game once again and surfaced as the 2014 Men’s Singles Champion.
Yours truly simply dropped the ball on posting this important bit of Berkeley LBC news. I’ve got excuses, but that’s all they are. What needs to be said to the world and to Robin Hoey is this – CONGRATULATIONS ROB ON A JOB WELL DONE!!!
Sixteen bowlers signed up for the BLBC Draw Pairs tournament. Two ‘no shows’ put a kink in the schedule. However, all the bowlers were good sports and remained flexible. Thanks to unscheduled bowler Susan Jamart for stepping up and bowling lead in two games. Jerry Ridley (skip) and Millard Long (lead) won two games on the green and won a third game due to one of the ‘no shows’ on the opponents team. They were the only team to score six game points. Well done Jerry and Millard!
The team of Reggie Banares (SCD, skip) and Bob Schwartz (BLBC, lead) continue to amaze. They placed second in the PIMD Mixed Pairs tournament at Sunnyvale.
Congratulations to Reggie Banares (SCD, skip) and BLBC’s Ann Brillhart (BLBC, lead) for winning the Women’s Pairs at SFLBC. Despite two days of freezing cold wins, Reggie and Ann prevailed. They were the only team to win all six games. This was Ann’s first PIMD 1st Place win!
Congratulations to Cathy Dinnean (skip), Ann Brillhart (second) and Sarah Allday (lead) for placing third in the Women’s Triples at Rossmoor. Well done ladies! In addition, BLBC’s Bob Schwartz (lead) and OLBC’s Jerry Knott (skip) placed 1st in the Flight C of the Men’s Pairs. Good going guys!
BLBC Singles Tournament Goes Down To The Wire
Saturday, May 17 was a fine and a pleasant day for bowling and saw 14 members turn out for the highly competitive annual singles tournament. Ably directed by Ann Brillhart in her first venture as Tournament Director, the preliminary round consisted of three 8-end games, randomly drawn. At the end of the morning, only Jim Corr and Ann herself had won all three of their games. They were joined in the semifinals by Cris Benton and Erwin Vista, who topped the 2-game winners on points differential.
Semifinalists Erwin Vista and Jim Corr
Semifinalists Ann Brillhart and Cris Benton
In the Corr-Vista match up, Erwin won a close victory 7-5, while the other semi was an even tighter game. Tied 6-6 after 8 ends, Ann came out on top of a sudden-death 9th end to head into the final. The excellent bowling she had shown all day was evident as she raced into a 5-0 lead after the first four ends. But the unflappable “Mr.” Vista kept his cool and pulled it back to 5-5 going into the last end. Three great bowls on or within a foot of the jack by Erwin were enough to lay claim to a superb come-from-behind victory and the 2014 BLBC Singles title. Congratulations to Erwin and thanks to all participants!
Singles champion Erwin Vista .
A few items have ocurred during the past month which you may be of interest Neil Levy and Phil Grattan represented the BLBC at a meeting with the Berkeley Parks and Recreation Department regarding renewal of our lease with the city, which expires in December of this year. The city has retained an outside contractor to evaluate and recommend needed capital improvements on all of their leased properties as the leases come up for renewal. Also the city, while maintaining they value us as a tenant, wants to reduce the already limited support they provide BLBC. I will keep everyone apprised of the progress of these negotiations.
Ray Francis has requested I include the following regarding poker night:
“They some times say, ‘Unlucky at bowls, lucky at cards.’ Come try the adage out by attending our monthly poker game on May 18 at 5:00. Games include Texas Hold’em, 5 Card Draw (real poker, as some might say), 7 Card Stud, Follow the Queen, No-Peeky,, Concentration. We are a patient group and are happy to teach new-comers. Let Ray Francis know if you are coming by sending him an email at: [email protected].”
I can only assume Ray needs new blood at the table to maintain his lavish lifestyle.
The greens committee is evaluating capital improvements to the green and surrounds which hopefully will be completed this year.
We have committed to the Solano Stroll in September as an opportunity to recruit new members. Don’t be surprised if you are approached to volunteer your time to man a booth.
Because May was a slow month for births we will combine the May and June birthday parties. The combined birthday party will be held the last Sunday of the June. The birthday group is John Spiers, George Steedman, Erwin Vista, Jim Corr and Andy Stapleton. The club will provide coffee and dessert. Bring your own lunch at noon to be followed immediately by bowling.
