🧭 On the Jack – Blog #24

“The Skip: Strategy, Steel, and the Spotlight”

Every team needs a leader. In bowls, that is the skip—the tactician, the motivator, and the one who must deliver when the pressure is at its peak. The skip does not just play the last bowl—they carry the weight of every bowl before it.

🧠 What Makes a Great Skip?

•         Vision. A skip sees the whole end before it unfolds. They read the head, anticipate the opposition, and chart the course.

•         Composure. When the scoreboard tightens and the crowd leans in, the skip must stay cool. Panic is contagious, calm even more so.

•         Execution. All the strategy in the world means nothing if the final bowl does not land. The skip must deliver, often under immense pressure.

A great skip does not just play bowls—they play chess with woods.

🗣️ The Skip’s Voice:

The skip sets the tone. They call the shots, encourage the team, and occasionally mutter, “I’ll fix it,” before attempting something heroic. They must balance confidence with humility, and authority with empathy.

They are also the ones who must own the outcome—good or bad. It is lonely at the back sometimes.

🎩 Etiquette Corner – Leading with Grace:

A skip leads not just with tactics, but with temperament. They thank the lead, support the two, and consult with the three. They do not bark orders—they build trust. A good skip knows when to speak, when to listen, and when to simply nod and let the bowl do the talking.

📜 Fun Fact – Skips in Bowls Lore:

In early club history, the skip was often the club most senior member—not just for skill, but for wisdom. They were expected to settle disputes, mentor newcomers, and uphold the spirit of the game. Some clubs even had ceremonial jackets reserved for skips, passed down like heirlooms.

✨ Final Bias – The Weight of the Last Bowl:

So next time your skip stands at the mat, surveying the chaos and calculating the impossible, remember they are not just playing a bowl. They are playing the moment, the match, and the memory. And when they nail it, it is not luck—it is leadership.

📌 Question for readers:

What is the most memorable bowl you have ever seen a skip play—and did it change the game? Let us celebrate the skips who make magic under pressure.

Thank you for reading the blogs, I hope they were both informative and enjoyable. Norman Deegan. MBE.

 THIS WEEK ON THE GREEN – Club News and Activities

🗞️ Marine Gardens Bowling Club Weekly Report

Week Ending Monday, 29th September 2025
By Alan Paterson, Press Officer.

Season Finale Report – Marine Gardens Bowling Club.

The final competitive league fixture of the season saw Marine Gardens secure a strong home victory over Maltravers in a Brodie Tray match. With a commanding 93–52 shot advantage, the team clinched a 3–1 win. A standout performance came from Alan Paterson, John Nettleingham, and Trevor Punnett, whose exceptional bowling delivered a resounding 43–4 triumph — a result that set the tone for the day.

Momentum shifted in the next outing against close rivals Goring Manor, where the opposition claimed three wins and a draw from the four rinks played. Thanks to the determined efforts of Jim Masters, Rob Hurst, Graham Ray, and Graeme Poole, Marine Gardens avoided a whitewash and held firm in a hard-fought draw.

The season concluded on a celebratory note with a friendly fixture at Tarring Priory. Consistent play across all four rinks earned Marine Gardens a clean 4–0 sweep and a 90–48 shot advantage. Top Rink honours — for the final time, this season — went to Clive Wootton, Patsy Nicholson, Leon White, and Duncan Gayler, who sealed a superb 29–8 win.

Congratulations to all who featured in dispatches throughout the season. Your commitment and camaraderie have been the backbone of our success. A heartfelt thank you also goes to Betty Stevenson for her tireless work in capturing a comprehensive photographic record of events both on and off the green — a visual legacy we will treasure.

Here is to a well-earned rest, fond memories, and the promise of another exciting season ahead.

Roll on next season!