An early morning meet in the breakfast lounge to discuss tactics and then it was off to the hotel Otium gym for a serious worlout in preperation for our first tour game against Somerset county patron, (ok then, two of the tour members went for a swim and Jacuzzi)

The bus picked up the bowlers for the half hour drive to the Bath Bowling Club. After a very warm welcome onto the green from club President Mike Rixson, the green was handed to the patrons Captain David Wedderel. A hard fought match then took place on the green before David gave us a very warm welcome back into the clubrooms & made a superb speech but, alas, for him. it wasn't a winning for his county, as the visitors Captain for the day, Garry Harrison, had the honour to deliver the first tour winning speech as the NORTHERN triumphed by a narrow margin in a very tight and most enjoyable game

The trend was now set for the weekend ahead

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY THREE - Saturday 10/05/08

Day three of the tour and day two of the bowling, started off with the usual warm up and stretching exercises in the commercial rooms!  The bus headed off with the usual good natured banter and jolifications about the team, full of optimism, with a good tour victory already behind us, it was onwards and upwards to St. Andrews Bowling Club of Bristol.

Captain for the day was Roy Campbell, and he was met by club President and Captain, and was given a very warm welcome.  We had another glorious day and for the second day running, the Northern Captain gave a winning speech in his own inimitable way.  All the players from both teams took part in a group warm down session in the clubrooms and this led to to us drinking the host club almost dry, another success!!!! Stan Christie and playing partner Geoff Anderson then took on Gary Largue and Willie Rae in a grudge match of personal pride, you can ask them who won!!!!

DAY FOUR - Sunday 11/05/08

Bowling day three was another early start for the athletes, at 11.00am, so we had to leave the gym out of our preparations for today. As we headed out on our way to the Bridgewater Bowling Club, tour organiser Bob Lee, decided to pass the Captaincy onto Davie Dewar, (Dudley) one of our invited guests, it was a very amiable gesture.  Captain Davie took to the green with much pride and determiniation and as a Northern tour veteran, skipped not only his rink to a grand victory, but much more importantly, the team to its third and final tour victory.

Quite a few thanks go out to everyone who made this tour such a resounding success, and these are namely,

Davie Dewar, Graeme Flight, Stuart Hawthorne and John Ranaldi, all members off Dudley Bowling Club.