Fakenham’s Gallow Indoor Bowls Club’s finals night featured many fine contests but the highlight was the award of the Negus Personality Cup to Johnny Wright, one of the town’s most respected sporting figures.
He was chairman for 12 years from 1996 to 2008 and was deeply involved in all aspects of the running of the club, most particularly coaching younger members.
He turned to bowls later in life with the same enthusiasm for sport he showed when younger, having represented the town in football and cricket while also showing prowess in badminton, tennis and golf.
Marie Frost has taken over as ladies’ section president at the end of Maureen Leverett’s three years’ stint. Maureen, a club veteran, was presented with the Vera Wright Rose Bowl for her work. “It’s a great honour to take over from Maureen and she will be a hard act to follow,” said Marie.
Shannon Tucker was judged to be the Morrisons’ Young Achiever of the Year and Ben Hunter was awarded the Mervyn King Trophy for under-25 Achiever of the Year.
Danny Cawthorne won the English Bowls Federation national singles title in Newark the day after finals night and the club’s ladies’ pairs and triples teams and the men’s triples and fours featured all featured in this year’s county finals. Not surprisingly Cawthorne picked up no fewer than five club titles, was the losing finalist in two more.
Club international Mervyn King, often away on international duty, did not figure in the winners’ list this year but son, Sam, now an under-25 international, snatched four titles, the club singles, the open singles, the mixed pairs with Suzanne King and the Tartan Trophy with Emily O’Hanlon and Danny Cawthorne.
Pam Whitehead was a worthy winner of the ladies’ singles title and it was a good year for Louise Hannant. She was a member of the winning pairs and triples teams and a losing finalist in the fours. Pairs partner Coralie Bell replicated her achievements.
Richard Andrews, men’s president, said: “We are still one of the leading clubs in Norfolk, with an especially strong junior section, but we are always looking for more members of all ages.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here