SUFFOLK COUNTY TEAM TRIALS 2011

The Suffolk Squad trials were held at Bildeston on Sunday 9 October.
There were a similar number of entries to last year and included all of last season's squad, some bowlers from previous squads and more importantly a number of bowlers who were at the trials for the first time.

Initially all of the bowlers were placed into rinks and each rink played two seven end games on different mats. Every bowl was scored on its accuracy relative to how close it finished to the shot they were asked to play. Whilst everyone was there to gain a position in the squad, all of the games were played in a friendly manner, with plenty of encouragement to be heard.

After a break for lunch all of the bowlers were then tested on their ability to play drawing bowls. Across three mats each bowler was asked to bowl four bowls (two forehand, two backhand) at first a middle jack, then a long jack and finally a short jack. Every bowl was scored on its accuracy relative to how close it finished to the jack.

Then three other shots were set up. Firstly the spring shot, bowling a wood on to another which was touching the jack to spring it to a designated area. The second shot was bowling to designated corner areas of the mat. Lastly the take-out shot, bowls placed on the end of a mat, to be taken off with the wood bowled remaining on the mat to secure a maximum score. Again all bowls were scored relative to how close they came to achieving the shot needed.

During the entire day there was a particularly high standard of bowling with impressive scoring from many bowlers. Whilst there was clearly tough competition for places in the squad, the day was also played in an excellent spirit.

The Selection Committee were grateful on the day for the assistance of Keith Armes, Keith Jolly, Trevor Cain, Jane and Richard Sago who between them marked all of the bowls and provided useful feedback to the Selection Committee.

After the trials the Selection Committee met to choose the squad for the 2011/12 season. This proved to be a very difficult task given the high standard of entries and bowls played.

Everyone's performance was discussed before a final squad of 26 bowlers was selected. The squad in full is:

Neil Jolly (Brockley) - Captain	Jim Goodrich (Claydon)
Sally Goodrich (Claydon) - Selector	Ellen Grube (Hundon)
Steven Cain (Great Blakenham) - Selector	Jon Jordan (Walpole & Cookley)
Don Allum (Great Blakenham)	David Mittel (Great Blakenham)
Trevor Bean (Stanningfield)	Andy Pooley (Great Blakenham)
Ali Cook (Walpole & Cookley)	James Rous (Walpole & Cookley)
Andrew Cooper (Hundon)	Peter Runnacles (Barking)
Paul Daniels (Kelsale)	Tom Runnacles (Barking)
Sue Davey (Cockfield)	Ralph Sadgrove (Hundon)
Colin Fellingham (Cockfield)	Neil Tuckey (Withersfield)
David Ford (Great Blakenham)	John Varden (Old Felixstowe)
Andy Gilder (Barking)	Mick Watkins (Barking)
Sue Gilder (Barking)	Ryan Willoughby (Walpole & Cookley)

The squad is now looking forward to their first Eastern Counties league match, away against Norfolk on Sunday 27 November.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)