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NORTH CRAWLEY BOWLS CLUB (affiliated to the EBA & EWBA)From small beginnings and due in no small part to the hard work and efforts of local villagers and the Bowl Club Committees, North Crawley Village can boast a small but active outdoor bowls facility and a 6-rink green which has attracted praise from other larger visiting clubs. A Playable Bowls Green existed on the site from the beginning of the 20th Century, but shortly after the end of the First World War, the green was converted into two tennis courts. Over time, the tennis area fell into disuse and in the early 1970’s; a new 4-rink green was established alongside a single remaining tennis court. By 1986 the other court had fallen into disuse and in August of that year the remaining ground was taken over by the Bowls Club whose intent was to amalgamate both separate green areas into one full 6-rink square playing area which could be played in either direction. With a lot of hard work involved in clearing an area which had progressively become a wild and overgrown wasteland, the expansion commenced in September 1986. All the original wire fencing and posts once surrounding the tennis area was removed and the ground was re-dug, rolled and re-seeded. It is a credit to all those early Bowls Club members that the green was re-opened in time for the 1988 season after allowing one full year for the green to ‘rest’ It was then in much the same shape as is seen today and records at that time show a membership of 35 with a yearly subscription of £1.00 From 1988 onwards, the green playing surface has steadily improved with each year, due in no small part to the time and efforts voluntarily contributed by the Groundsman, Club Committee and Members. In 2001 the Club opened with a green surrounded by a stone retaining wall incorporating a newly installed computer controlled irrigation system and in 2002, the Club opened the season with the addition of their own mini-pavilion. All this, purely down to the time, efforts and contributions given individually and collectively by the Officers, Committee and Members of this small but dedicated Club. The Club colours are black, white and red, reflected in the badges and bowls transfers the Club use. As the Village has had a large colony of rooks since records began, this bird has been adopted as the emblem of the Club and justifiably appears in the centre of the Club badge and on the bowls stickers. The Club has its own seasonal competitions and trophies are awarded at the end of each season. The Club also enjoys the company of many of the larger EBA County Clubs, who visit each year for friendly inter-club matches and who also extend yearly reciprocal return invitations. The warmth and friendly hospitality the Club extends to all it visitors is renowned throughout the Bowling County and guarantees a full inter-club match fixture list throughout the season which extends from mid-April to the end of September. The Club also has a lively fund-raising social calendar with annual quizzes, raffles, treasure hunts plus they also arrange and host the annual Village Horticultural Show which is one of the biggest and most popular events in the Village Social Calendar. All the fund-raising undertaken by the Club throughout the year is invariably ploughed straight back into the maintenance and upkeep of the Village Bowls Green, which in turn gives the whole village community, young and old the opportunity to partake in this most social of sports. The Club is fully affiliated to the English Bowling Association and is recognised as such by the Bucks County Bowls Association and all the other Bucks County Clubs. The Club has a fully qualified County Beginners Coach, (who also happens to be the webmaster!!) and who is available at any time to introduce the Game to any new bowlers - and also to give more experienced players help and advice to improve their game. The Club is keen to welcome any new or potential members, irregardless of experience. Please contact our Club Secretary, Sandy Henry on 01234 391413 for further details. First-time bowlers new to the game having never even lifted a bowl before are especially welcome.
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