Eyre's Close Skittles and Croquet Club (ECSCC)
Back in 2009, this was the initial call for participants.
As you know, a new season of the Oxfordshire Floodlit Skittles (Ewelme Rules) League is upon us again. You are invited to the inaugural home match at the newly formed Eyres Close Skittles and Croquet Club on Sunday 5th September 2009 at 3 pm. Membership is free (for the first year). Inter-match refreshments will be available on the Croquet Lawn throughout and after the event (BBQ food and bits will be available), and welcoming drinks will be provided. Thereafter, a cash bar will be available in the pavilion (unless you bring your own!).
The Club is open to all ages, and the rules are as follows:
Each player will have 3 balls with which to attempt to knock down as many of the 9 pins set up at the end of this standard length alley (unfairly nicknamed ‘The Wheelie-Bin Deck’).
If during the first two throws, all pins are knocked over, they will all be reset again. Therefore, the maximum number of points attainable will be 27 points. (N.B. Amended in 2011)
Skittles and balls will not be moved until the end of a throw, or that all pins have been knocked down.
The adults pitch includes the traditional Oxfordshire Skittles obstacle (oddly called ‘chimney breast’), where if a throw is hindered by hitting this in any way, is counted as a throw. Of course, balls are allowed to rebound off the sides of the alley.
Balls must be rolling on the pitch before the end of the first ‘deck plank’ (a skittles technical term), from the throwing line.
Those who regard themselves as children can throw (roll) from the first deck line beyond the breast.
A match will consist of 3 rounds (rubbers). The winner will receive a prize.
Players will be expected to take a turn in setting up the skittles and returning the balls.
In any dispute, the referee’s decision will be final
Here is the original scorecard.
N.B. The pictures below are designed to be viewed with the Internet Explorer 8 browser, where mouse rollover captions can also be seen.
The History of construction:
Some pictorial memories.
| The 2010 'Open' On Sunday 5th September the 2nd Skittles event was held. with an expanded entry. The official score card is shown below. |
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When comparing with last year, there was a significant improvement in the scores, where multiple 'resets' were seen. As can be seen, Chris J obtained the highest score, but was disqualified by the Match Committee as being ineligible to take part, and by the Ethics Committee for being suspected of being involved in a spot betting scam. There were four players who attained 31 points. The Match Committee therefore declared Joseph as the winner of the competition having attained the highest score in a single rubber. He was presented with a bottle of champagne, which was immediately taken charge of by his father Tim Wilson! However, Joseph was really pleased to be the first recipient of the newly donated 'Greg Warland Cup' (to be returned next year). There was no runner up last year, and it was very difficult to decide who to declare in second place, until an approach was made to the Match Committee to point out, that one name had not even been mentioned as also obtaining a score of 31 (Methinks the lady doth protest too much?). After closer scrutiny, it could indeed be seen that Sue Humphrey had obtained the most consistent scoring over three rubbers and was therefore declared runner up, winning a quite passable bottle of Claret. Perhaps we should mention that Tom and William also scored 31, but following some quite complex mathematical analysis, which only the Match committee could really understand, these guys were told that they would have to try a bit harder next year!
3:30 pm Saturday 10th September 2011 - "Grandpa, Daddy says you should have a junior competition, so we get the chance to win a prize". - Prior quote from Maisie Croft, aged 7, who by 5:30 became the new Eyresclosian Open Skittles Champion 2011!! This 3rd Open competition was held following much concern throughout the previous week regarding an expected semi-hurricane and deluge! However the gods were kind to us, and apart from a strong but warm wind, not a drop of rain fell during the event :-)
Sadly, some regular members were unable to attend this year, and we also missed our newly moved in neighbours. Still, a pleasant afternoon's sociable, well fed and not too serious competition was hopefully enjoyed by all, which by all accounts from the 'vox populi', seems to generally express some expectation of a another replay!
Here are the results, and a few instant memories. Conspicuous by his absence while continuing to BBQ, is any indication that Tim Andrews was ever there at all. Please refer to one of the photos of him from a previous year, since he hasn't really changed a bit! Luckily the 'Greg Warland Cup' and the runner up trophy were returned from last year, but because Maisie chose a box of 'Celebrations' as her preferred 1st prize, meant residents of No.2 Eyre's Close took home another bottle of Champagne for the second year running!! A motion has already been tabled for the next committee meeting, that perhaps such a currently valuable commodity also ought to be returned annually, duly polished rather than polished off!
The ECS&CC Committee
An increasing number of 3 ball 'Strikes' are being attained now. This year the rules were amended with the approval of the the World Eyresclosian Skittles Federation (WESF), where following the skittling of all 9 pins, they will be reset and three balls returned. This means that an unlimited score is now possible, rather than the original restricted 27 per rubber. Exciting times eh?
