Playing Bowls at Oyster

A ‘roll-up’ is bowls language for a casual game where a member can practice either alone or with fellow bowlers. It gives you the chance to hone your skills and understanding of the game. Please refer to the relevant winter/summer schedules on the website or the blackboard near the rink steward’s office for availability of casual rinks. You will need to pre-book a rink with the rink steward either in person or by phone. The current rink fee is £4 per bowler for a 2 ½ hour session.

New bowlers may wish to start by coming to our novice evenings on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. It is a safe place to settle into the club and improve your skills. You will meet other new players and get the chance to socialise. There is no need to book a rink; teams are drawn randomly from whoever turns up.

A day time roll-up session takes place on Wednesdays at 12.00 noon, where you get the chance to play with more experienced bowlers, in a relaxed atmosphere. Teams are randomly drawn (similar to Tuesday & Thursday novice roll-ups), so you will get to meet and play with new bowlers, pick up some tips and improve your game. No need to book - just turn up.

You can also join us on Sunday mornings at 9.30am for an ‘Allcomers’ Open’. This is a fun competition where a trophy is awarded at the end of the season. Again, the teams are randomly drawn and there is no need to book – just turn up.

The ‘Ken Morgan’ roll-ups take place on Mondays and Fridays at 2.30pm all year round, and are open to all. Named in honour of a former member, these sessions are very popular with many club members and again, teams are chosen randomly. These sessions are a good way to get to know and learn from more experienced bowlers. No need to book – just turn up. Points are awarded, resulting in some prize monies for the victors at the end of each season. The cost is £4.10 per session (the extra 10p going towards the prize money).

If you fancy a change from the TV on a Saturday evening, join us for a ‘Rollicking Roll-up’ at 7.30pm. All members are welcome with teams drawn at random. Just turn up. The cost is also £4.10 per session (the extra 10p going towards the prize money).

All members are welcome to participate in the club’s internal leagues which take place during both the winter and summer seasons. There are usually leagues for men’s, ladies’, mixed triples or pairs teams. You can form your own team(s) or add your name to a list (posted on the noticeboard behind rinks 2/3) where you will be included in a team if possible. There is also a mixed triples league for novices only on Thursday evenings. In an effort to encourage new bowlers to join the league and play alongside slightly more experienced bowlers, teams are randomly drawn.

Prior to the start of each season, league forms will be available in the rink steward’s area. All team members will be required to pay a £4 registration fee on submission of the form. A £4 rink fee is payable by each playing member at the start of each match – this should be collected by one of the team and paid to the rink steward.

For both the summer and winter seasons, the club runs knock-out competitions for all its members. Like the leagues, there are separate competitions for Men, Ladies, Novices and Open (open to all, regardless of gender or experience). All competitions cost £4 per person, per competition to enter, and the entry forms are available by Rink 1 at the start of each season. The entry sheets, along with a copy of the rules are then displayed on the noticeboard (adjacent to the male changing room). At the end of each playing season, the club will host a Finals Day / Weekend, culminating in the Final matches of all competitions held that season. Presentations are then made during a Presentation Evening, for the Ken Morgan, Leagues and Competitions. Another great social event, where we can all get together and celebrate the achievements of the victors.

All members are eligible to play for the club in both league and friendlies against other bowling clubs. Upcoming matches, both home and away, are written on the large chalkboard by Rink 1. If you wish to be considered, please add your name to the appropriate team sheet, which will be on the notice board by Rink 4. White sheets are home games and the away games should be on blue paper. If selected to play, please 'tick' your name on the sheet to indicate that you are still available to play. Please therefore check these lists regularly. You will be expected to wear an Oyster club shirt if selected to play.

Throughout the year, there are various ‘fun’ club matches which are open for all members to participate in. The ever-popular Presidents' Cup matches where the ‘ladies’ take on the ‘men’ usually occur 4 times a year – who said rivalry is dead? Other matches may include the Fantastic Fives and 4-3-2-1. Simply add your name to the match sheets on the noticeboard alongside rink 4.