A dry but chilly morning saw six member couples  arrive at the boules pitch today so an easy division of teams.

Ladies kicked off the first end conceding 3 points to the gents but they must have eaten two Weetabix each for breakfast as they romped  through the next four ends to gain the required thirteen points to win (including a magnificent 6) much to the exasperation of their opponents.  Scores Gents 3, Ladies 13. 

The game having only lasted about 20 minutes another game was on the cards and the ladies - being the current champions - started end one but lost it and the next by 2 points each but won the third with a single. 

Gents then reached their stride and retaliated with a 4, two 1s and a 2.    The ladies came back with a 3 and a 1 but then lost the last end by a single point.  Scores 13 to  5 in favour of the Gents.    A satisfactory ending. 

There’s another opportunity to play  this month at 10.15am on the 30th on the pitch behind the library.      Do join us for a laugh or two.      Ken. 

 What a remarkably sunny morning I woke to today after yesterday’s bit of a washout.     It was ideal weather in which to play our first game of 2026.    Five members came together at the boules pitch to start off our new season.     The playing area was in pretty good shape considering that I doubt anyone had touched it since last November

However we were two gents and three ladies and that’s how we divided into teams with the ladies kicking of the first end  which they lost to the gents by two points.    Repeated in the second end and by 1point in the third but, undaunted, they grabbed a point on the next.    End five scored 2 for the gents but their opponents took a 1 in the following end.   

Ends 7& 8 scored 1 and 2 points to gents and ladies respectively before the ladies equalised the scores with a magnificent 4 points.      But that was their high spot as the gents finished the final three ends with 1, 3 and another 1  to reach the winning score of 13.  

Thanks to those who joined in today and I’m sure we’ll see more of you as the weather improves further    So mark your diaries for 16th March at 10.15am  and be on the pitch behind the library then.   

 It may have been bitterly cold last week but Monday (24th) dawned with a lot of welcome sunshine so although only two pairs of members arrived at the boules pitch it was enough to make a game worthwhile.   

So it was Farleighs -v- Benfields and Farleighs kicked off but it was the Benfields who dominated the early ends and by the 5th one they lead by 1point to 6 though several close calls had to be carefully measured.   

Continuing the game the Farleighs gradually recovered to reach 5 points to 6 before the Benfields bounced ahead with another point but it proved to be their last as their opponents steadily gained the necessary points to reach the magic 13. 

Handshakes all round and we look forward  to the 2026 season probably starting on the first Monday in March.      Thanks to all who joined in this year and hope that they and more will appear then. 

In the meantime you’re wished a Happy Christmas, Happy New Year and Valentine’s Day.

Ken

who dominated

 Bright sunshine greeted us this morning (27th) when 8 members came together for the last boules game of the season.    Easily dividing into teams of Ladies and Gents we were soon into play.   

Gents won the first two ends with a 2 and a 1 and feeling a bit smug but the Ladies came back extremely strongly by scoring 10 more points over the next four.

The Gents then managed 2 more points but then their luck ran out as the Ladies finished the last 3 ends by adding a further 4.      Final score Ladies 14, Gents 5.      Many congratulations Ladies - a fitting final. 

The weather being so unpredictable we may try to play again in two weeks (10th Nov).    If it seems feasible I’ll remind members during the week before.

Thanks to everyone who has joined in this year: it’s been a lot of fun.    Ken

 A not too promising start to the weather this morning but it didn’t stop 12 members appearing on the pitch eager to play,  An equal number by gender which made the teams easy to sort out 

Gents won the “toss” and started play and it seemed that the sun miraculously appeared and put fire into the ladies’ team which won the end with the first point.

Alas, it was not to continue as, despite some very close calls at times, it was the Gents’ team that managed to come out on top over the next nine ends finishing 1 point to 16.

Not disheartened, the Ladies have a further chance to wipe the floor with their opponents when we next play at 10.15am on 27th  October on the pitch behind the library.    Come on,  ladies you know you can do it.    Depending on the weather conditions it could be the final game of the season so what a great ending that would be.  There is an interest in continuing play into November, if possible.   

Ken. 

 sunny morning today which brought out all the fair weather players but that was good.

9 eager members divided into two teams, 4 for the Gents (including one honorary male) and 5 Ladies with the latter kicking off with one point on each of the first ends and the Gents retaliating with 6 points over the next four.    The Ladies then walloped the Gents by scoring 9 over the final 5 ends thus achieving the magical 13 points to win though theiro final point was an own goal by the Gents.    Several very close calls at times which increased the tension.    Plenty of camaraderie and laughter throughout which made the morning even more enjoyable.

Congratulations, Ladies.   

It’s boules at the ready again in a fortnight (29th) at the usual time of 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.    Can’t be there myself as on vacation so there will be no reminder.      Put the date in your diary NOW!    Make sure that a rake is available and also some means of keeping score.   

Enjoy yourselves.    Ken. 

 Just four of us on the boules pitch this morning.    Just getting ready to start when the heavens opened but we sheltered beneath some trees and a couple of large umbrellas for about three minutes when the rain ceased as quickly as it started.

We divided into two teams- the Benfields -v- the Farleighs, and spent the next 3/4 hour in the sunshine enjoying an almost nail-biting game with each team leading the score almost alternately.    The Benfields were the masters over the first few ends and by the 10th end were leading 9-7.    The Farleighs then gained 5 points in the following 3 ends but their opponents then scored two separate ones.

So we went into the final end with scores standing at 11-12 and it was the Farleighs who scored that magic 1 point giving them the match.    It was a strong game and we were glad that we had waited that 3 minutes for the black cloud to pass over.

We’re back again in a fortnight being the 15th at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.    We look forward to seeing everyone there.  Ken