August 2026

August 1st

John Townley stepped up as Captain today in a friendly match against Wargrave. This match was reduced from 5 rinks to 4, as Wargrave did not have the numbers. As it was so hot, there were no trial ends and only 1 shot on the first 2 ends.It was a good result for Shiplake, winning 3-1 on rinks and 88-48 on score.

The highest winning rink  for Shiplake was Rink 6. Neil Warley, Laurie Mowatt and Sue Pitcher started well, with singles on the first 3 ends. Wargrave responded well with a pair and a four count, to lead 6-3. Shiplake then galloped into a comfortable lead, scoring 1,3,3,2,4,and 1, with only a single from Wargrave in response. With 12 of the 18 ends played, Shiplake held a 17-7 lead. Wargrave scored a single on end 13, but Shiplake were flying and scored a pair, an amazing 8 count and a single. They were now 28-8 ahead with 2 ends to play. The final 2 ends were shared, a single apiece, and it was all over. Shiplake were runaway winners by 29-9.

Next best for Shiplake were Barrie Jones, Sue Reid and Damien Cleary on Rink 1. They won the first 2 ends for a 2-0 lead, then lost the next two to singles and it was level pegging. A run of 4 winning ends, scoring 7 shots, pushed them ahead. Wargrave interrupted the flow with a single, but Shiplake were soon back in motion, with another winning run (3,2,2,3,4,1) and it was 24-3 in their favour, with only 3 ends to play. A single and a three restored a little Wargrave pride, but Shiplake had the last laugh with a single on the final end and a 25-7 success.

Rink 5 was another success story for Shiplake. Chris Emmett, David Lloyd and Ruth Copp lost the first end to a single, but scored singles on the next three. The pattern repeated itself over the next 4 ends, before Wargrave scored a pair and a single, to make it close at 6-5 in Shiplake's favour after 10 ends. End 11 gained Shiplake 4 shots, followed by a single on end 12. The response from Wargrave was a pair and a three, leaving them still just one shot behind. Shiplake rallied and finished well, scoring two 4's and a single against a single from Wargrave. At the end of the game, Shiplake were winners by 20-11.

The only loss for Shiplake was on Rink 2. Wendy Cross skipped Dave Ward and Marilyn Mowatt against tough opposition, losing the first three ends to singles. A single and a 3 put them in the lead, but Wargrave restored their advantage with their own single and 3. Shiplake scored a single on end 8, but Wargrave scored 2 and 4 on the next 2 ends. After 10 ends Shiplake trailed 5-13. Three shots on end 11 and 2 on end 13, split by a single from Wargrave, brought the score closer at 10-14. Ends 14 and 15 put the game beyond Shiplake's reach, with Wargrave scoring 3 and 4 to lead 21-10. A brave finish from Shiplake, with 2,1,1 was not enough and they went down 14-21.

August 5th

Tonight, we had a return visit from Watlington. We had suffered a heavy defeat on our visit to their green, so we were keen to redress the balance. This we managed to do, winning 3 of the 5 Rinks and securing 8 Plomer Cup points. The overall shot count was 81-70 in Shiplake's favour.

It was a close match and all of the rinks were hard fought. The best result for Shiplake was on Rink 5. Jean Buckett, Alan Gough and Damien Cleary started well, winning 5 of the first 6 ends and leading 6-1. Watlington then scored two singles, but Shiplake were soon back in the driving seat. Three pairs and a single established a clear 13-3 lead, but Watlington were not beaten yet. They won 5 of the remaining 6 ends, scoring 6 shots to put themselves in with a chance at 9-13. Shiplake made sure of success, with 3 shots on the final end; one from each of the players in the triple. Shiplake 16, Watlington 9 and 2 points for Shiplake.

Next door, on Rink 4, Ruth Copp, Mike Lovejoy and John Townley were 1-2 behind after 3 ends, but soon stormed ahead, scoring 3,2,3,3,1 to lead 13-2. Watlington then got in on the act, scoring 2,1 and 5 to get within 3 shots. A single and a pair opened a 6 shot gap in Shiplake's favour. Two pairs from Watlington beat Shiplake's solitary single and the score was poised at Shiplake 17, Watlington 14 with 2 ends to play. Shiplake held their nerve, scoring a single and a pair, for a 20-14 win and 2 more PC points.

Shiplake's third winning rink was Rink 1. Wendy Cross, having a break from Skip, Pete Leverett and Jane Ward started with 3 shots and added another single, to lead 4-0 after 2 ends. Watlington hit back with a pair and a single, then Shiplake scored 2 singles and it was 6-3 to Shiplake with 6 ends played. A run of two singles and a 4 from Watlington pushed them into a 9-6 lead, but Shiplake then took over the running. Two pairs, a single and a 4 put them in the lead 15-9. Watlington then scored a couple of singles, which Shiplake cancelled with a pair. With a 6 shot lead and only 2 ends to play, Shiplake looked comfortable, but Watlington finished well with two pairs and failed by only 2 shots. 17-15 and 2 PC points for Shiplake.

There was a very close result on Rink 2. Janet Townley, Keith Walters and David Challis swapped singles on the first 2 ends, then scored 6 shots in 3 ends to lead 7-1. A single apiece and 4 shots from Watlington and Shiplake held an 8-6 lead after 8 ends. Two more singles were cancelled by a pair from Watlington, then a single from Shiplake was hammered by a single and a 5 from Watlington. With 13 ends played, Shiolake now trailed 11-13. They won 3 of the final 5 ends with singles, but 2 singles from Watlington saw them home by 15-14.

The final rink was also close. Sue Pitcher, Elaine Robinson and Jim Bland won the first 2 ends with singles, then conceded a single and a 3. A single on end 5 was beaten by a pair and a single from Watlington. Four shots and a single put Shiplake narrowly ahead 8-7 at the halfway stage. Watlington scored a pair on ends 10 and 12 and Shiplake scored three and a single on ends 13 and 15 and the gap remained the same. Watlington then set off on a 4 end run of wins: 1,2,1,2 and Shiplake were in trouble; 12-17 behind with one end to play. A pair on the final end was not enough and they lost 14-17.