Latest News | British Games Club, Tenerife

Games Club dominant in international fixture

December 3, 2018

The two dozen or so players who lined up for the third staging of British Games Club’s annual match with Tony’s International team.

Games Club vice-captain Victoria makes sure the trophy stays well out of the reach of International team captain Tony.

THE third staging of the British Games Club’s tennis tournament against Tony Connolly’s international team saw the hosts romp away to victory by the impressive margin of 119-71 points.

The Games Club were dominant in all three of the disciplines, men’s, ladies’ and mixed doubles, winning all eight rounds of half-hour matches.

The men’s line-up of Geoff, George, Des, Nigel, Georgio and Ken won their matches by a combined tally of 45-26, the ladies team of Monika, Nena, Moira, Janet, Victoria and Melissa by 42-28 and the mixed pairings by 32-17.

The day’s first round of matches saw the Games Club men post a 15-11 winning margin. They were followed by the girls, who were even more dominant, returning a 15-8 scorecard. The third round saw the Games Club stretch their lead even further, as the British men dominated the round, with a winning total of 15-6.

The fourth round was a much closer, but still finished in the Games Club’s favour as the girls shaded it 15-13, before the boys once again dominated the last round of men's doubles with a 15-9 scoreline.

The last round of ladies’ doubles finished 12-7 before two rounds of mixed doubles ended 14-13 and 18-4 to the hosts.

The day’s events unfolded under glorious sunshine as the bad weather that had plagued us through most of November finally disappeared.

This relatively new fixture in the Games Club calendar grew out of the long-running twice-yearly tournament against the Dutch Club, which folded back in 2015.

Some former Dutch Club players still play for the international team, though with players from Britain, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Spain sprinkled through the two teams it was truly an international occasion.

As is traditional on these occasions, the two teams sat down together together for lunch in the clubhouse afterwards, ably prepared and served as usual by Cheo and his team.

Pairs Cup added to list of elusive trophies for Mags

November 27, 2018

Bowls captain David White (centre) presents the Pairs Cup to Stan Cuoulthard and Ken Sheldon (right) with runners-up Brian Cundall and Mags Bennett looking on.

MAGS BENNETT fought her way to yet another British Games Club bowls final, her sixth in little more than 12 months, only to end up on the losing side for the fifth time.

The Pairs Cup is run on a seeded basis to ensure that all members get a chance to compete for trophies on an equal footing. In this year’s final, both Mags and one member of the winning team from last year, Stan Coulthard, had new partners to aid them in their endeavours, with Ken Sheldon, a winner of this competition two years ago, partnering Stan and Brian Cundall in Mags’s corner.

The final was another close run affair, with Stan and Ken building an early lead, which Mags and Brian chipped away at to reduce to just one shot with two ends to go. However, Ken and Stan drew away again in the 13th end and consolidated their win with additional shots on the last end of what had been an enthralling contest.

Mags gets one more chance before Christmas to claim some elusive silverware in the next of the section’s annual competitions, the Captain’s Handicap, which begins in the first week of December.

The bulk of the section’s competitions take place in the New Year, with the Ladies and Men’s Championships, together with the over Club Championship and the Captain’s Salver all up for grabs.

New members are always welcome. We offer free taster sessions and free coaching to anyone interested and we provide all the equipment you need to get started. Should you decided to join us, there are a range of club membership packages available from one to seven months, depending on your length of stay on the island.

We’re a friendly bunch and in addition to playing sessions we organise regular informal dinners and social get-togethers.

For more information about the club and its activities, contact captain David White on ‭664 104 760‬ or vice-captain Chris Baker on ‭633 789 990‬.

First tournament washout anyone can recall

November 16, 2018

*ON REFLECTION: Nearby palm trees are reflected in the large pools of water covering the tennis courts and forcing the cancellation of the first tournament of the season.*

THE traditional first event of the tennis season at the British Games Club, the Angels and Bandits tournament, fell victim to the weather, producing the first tournament washout within the recall of any current member.

Tennis captain Maxine said: “It was my first ever tournament to be rained off in all my years as captain, not only at Alvaro’s but also at the old British Club.”

Maxine has vowed never again to arrange a tournament on Tuesday the 13th (mates trece), a date in Spain – in fact in all Spanish-speaking countries – that carries with it the same connotations of bad luck and misfortune that Friday the 13th does in the UK.

However, undaunted by this major setback, the tennis section nevertheless went ahead with the day’s planned Clubhouse lunch, which was its usual resounding success.

During the course of the afternoon a glass of cava was raised to toast the health of long-term member Albrecht, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Albrecht reciprocated by treating every to apple strudel and coffee.

Though it wasn’t be possible to stage the Angels and Bandits event on another date, the effort that went into arranging the pairings for the tournament will not be wasted. Instead the planned pairings will be carried over to another tournament later in the season.

Another bridesmaid day for Mags

November 14, 2018

The scoreboard records a narrow Duckworth Cup triumph for Ray Blair, beating Mags Bennett 13-11 after the 14-ends final.

MAGS Bennett began the 2018/2019 competition programme of the British Games Club bowls section pretty much as she left off last season, by earning a place in the final of the Duckworth Cup.

Last season she featured in four of the five finals she was eligible to enter, winning just one of them, the Ladies Championship.

And sadly for Mags she again missed out on claiming the cup as she lost a keenly fought final to Ray Blair, who regained the prestigious trophy he won two years ago.

Mags held a narrow lead through most of the 14-ends final, until Ray managed to get his nose in front by taking four shots in one end. Even then, Mags was within a whisker of forcing an extra end, with Ray needing to bowl tight to the jack to secure victory.

In battling her way to the final, Mags gained semi-final revenge for defeat at the hands of Ken Sheldon in last year’s final. Ray reached the final with a semi-final victory over Richard Anderson, another

As is customary for the Duckworth Cup, the trophy was presented by Jenni Duckworth, daughter-in-law of former member Jim Duckworth, in whose memory the competition is played, at the annual Duckworth Dinner, held at the Petit Los Angeles restaurant in Puerto de la Cruz.

Mags will get the chance to add another final appearance to what is an extraordinary run when she, together with the rest of the bowls members, compete in the Pairs Cup.

Tennis players step up to two days a week

October 6, 2018

BEAUTIFUL EARLY AUTUMN weather greeted the small number of British Games Club members participating in the first playing session of the new 2018/2019 tennis season.

Playing numbers will swell as the month progresses as more of our swallow members return to the island ready to join in what promises to be a busy programme of tournaments and general playing sessions.

Members will need to get into their playing stride quickly, with the first in-house tournament scheduled for November 13, the traditional Angels and Bandits team event. It will be quickly followed on November 25 by the first inter-club tournament of the new season when BGC takes on Tony’s International team.

The tennis section meets all the year round, on two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, between October and April but on Tuesdays only during the quieter summer months. Playing sessions run from 10am-1pm, though these times are occasionally varied during particularly busy times.

The section operates under the umbrella of the British Games Club but its ranks are swelled by players of many nationalities, including Spanish, German, Italian, Austrian, Canadian, Norwegian, Finnish, all bought together by their love for the game.

For more information about the section, contact captain Maxine Self on 619 370 597 or email dvsmjs@hotmail.com

See https://britishgamesclub.es/tennis/ for subscription details and further information.

Bowlers kick off 2018/2019 season

October 6, 2018

British Games Club members gather round to watch as Bowls captain David White prepares to deliver the first wood of the 2018/2019 season.

A SMALL BUT HARDY GROUP of British Games Club members kicked off the 2018/2019 bowls seasons promptly on the first day of October under gloriously warm and sunny skies.

The north Tenerife club’s winter season runs from the beginning of October to the end of April and though there were only eight members present for the first session, many more will join them over the next few weeks as our ‘swallow’ members head back to warmer climes for the winter.

The club’s Bowls Section always welcomes new members, even if you’ve never played the game before. We offer free taster sessions and free coaching to new players, providing all the equipment you need to get started.

We play at Alvaro’s Club de Tenis in the El Botanico area of Puerto de la Cruz on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, meeting at 1.40pm to enable a 2pm start.

There’s a full programme of competitions, both for men and women, and in addition to the playing side the section also runs a number of social activities.

For further information about bowling with the British Games Club, see https://britishgamesclub.es/bowls/

David is pictured delivering the first wood of the new season, watched by a small group of early arrivers and players who live here permanently.

Marilyn secures first singles title

March 18, 2018

Marilyn Bimpson receives the Captain’s Salver from bowls captain David White.

THE LAST competition of the 2017/2018 British Games Club bowls season, the Captain’s Salver, produced an all-ladies final for the first time in as long as anyone could remember.

Marilyn Bimpson and Grace Lorimer negotiated their way through to the final, successfully casting aside all the male participants in the process.

And it was Marilyn who emerged triumphant, adding a first singles trophy to the two Pairs Trophy successes she enjoyed last season and the season before.

The Captain’s Salver is open to all those members who have yet to win a singles title. The Salver always draws a line under the season’s competition programme as most of our swallow members get ready to go back home for the summer.

This season will officially drawn to a close on Friday, April 27. The 2018/2019 season will kick off on Monday, October 1.

Bowls will continue throughout the summer at the usual venue, Alvaro’s Tennis Club in the El Botanico area of Puerto de la Cruz, with playing sessions planned for Monday and Thursday afternoons.

We provide all the equipment you need to get started, with free taster sessions and free coaching also on offer. We ask you to arrive by 1.40pm so that play can start at 2pm prompt.

Visitors and beginners are always welcome, with the quieter summer months offering the perfect opportunity for new bowlers to get their eye in ahead of the season proper.

Contact David White on 922 575390 or Chris Baker on 633 789 990 for further information.

Chris takes the honours after a recount

March 18, 2018

Moira presents her trophy to Chris Rogan (right).

THE SECOND staging of a relatively new addition to the annual calendar of tennis section tournaments saw a new name added to the British Games Club honours board.

The destination of the Moira Tournament trophy was decided after a ‘recount’, with Chris Rogan’s score of 19 points enough to secure victory over joint runners-up Victoria Neilson and Ken Sheldon by one point.

The tournament was held for the first time two years ago as part of a farewell to long-time member and vice-captain Hara Davis.

It was called the Hara Tournament and the first winner was Lorna Hamilton. The day proved so enjoyable that it was decided to make it an annual event, with each year’s winner providing the trophy for the following season.

Last year members competed for the Lorna Tournament, with Moira Aungiers the winner.

This year, 27 members took part in the Moira Tournament, which saw four hours of intensely competitive but friendly doubles competition.

Lunch followed, with Cheo’s Clubhouse team serving up another excellent meal. Singer Louise provided the excellent post-meal entertainment, which encouraged plenty of dancing and general bonhomie.

Jim claims Club Champion title for third time

February 28, 2018

Jim Goodman receives the Club Championship trophy from bowls captain David White (left).

JIM GOODMAN is the British Games Club’s new bowls Club Champion, lifting the title for the third time thanks to a 13-7 victory over Chris Baker in the final of the competition.

His victory means that for the first time since 2014 – and despite there still being two trophies to be decided – each of the the bowls section’s singles trophies has had a different winner.

A combination of bad weather and a flu epidemic that decimated the club’s playing ranks had at one time threatened to derail the club’s tournament programme.

The Men’s Championship was particularly badly hit, with several players forced to withdraw because of the illness. Finally, two players were left to contest the final, Chris Baker and Richard Anderson. However, between the semi-final and final, only a matter of a couple of days, Richard was struck down by the flu and the final had to be postponed.

The Club Championship final saw a tight contest in which Jim built an early lead before Chris briefly fought back. But from then on Jim managed to keep his nose in front before finally sealing victory on the last but one of the scheduled 14 ends.

Jim is pictured receiving the trophy from bowls captain David White (right).

As another season draws rapidly to a close, there is still one competition to be completed, the Captain’s Salver, which is open only to those members who have yet to win a singles trophy.

The season will continue until the end of April, though it’s likely that many of our ‘swallow’ members will have returned to the UK by then.

Bowls will continue throughout the summer months, with sessions planned for Monday and Thursday afternoons at the Club de Deportivo y de Ocio – better know locally as Alvaro’s in the El Botanico area of Puerto de la Cruz.

Bowling starts at 2pm but please be there 30 minutes beforehand so we can provide you with suitable woods.

New players and visitors are always welcome, both summer and winter. We provide all the equipment you need to play and we also offer free taster sessions and free coaching for people who have never played the game before.

If you would like further information about the Games Club’s bowls section, please contact captain David White on 922 575 390 or vice-captain Chris Baker on 633 789 990.