THE curtain has begun to fall in the 2016/17 indoor bowls season for Windsor Bowls Club at the Sully centre.

The Championship there provided good hunting for the Windsor Bowls Club, of Penarth, with no less than six titles coming to the picturesque Robinswood Club.

As is so often the case, the lady bowlers led the way, cementing their position as the premier ladies’ section in the Vale.

The World Cup silver medallist, Emma Woodcock, claimed the ladies pairs with club mate Chris Gunter, whose trophy cabinet is bursting at the seams. If ever husband Paul should be lucky enough to add to it a larger one would be needed - Chris is not holding her breath.

The wonderfully talented Emma, along with journeyman Matthew, also won the mixed pair’s tournament and both were fulsome in their praise of coach and mentor Eddie Thorne, whose input is so vital in their bowling careers.

In the veterans’ triples, Windsor’s Mike Lloyd-Jones, Rod Hudson and Ken McLeod were worthy winners. Matthew was also a member of the victorious men’s fours side and Rod was a very gallant runner-up in the main event of the men’s championship, losing to international player Chris Ackland.

Last but far from least, the competitive Lona Thomas won the ladies’ novices title, quite obviously benefitting from the tutelage and advice she has received under county lead Charles Burton.

With the club’s opening day only two weeks away, it’s all systems go at the Windsor complex and already the two greens are looking magnificent.

The members’ hopes are extremely high for 2017, what with its first ever female president, Veronica Flitney and captain's Joy Stockton and Matthew Woodcock determined to bring Windsor into today’s world.

To that end, the oil and paraffin lights, plus the coal fires, have all been replaced much to Austen’s disgust and of these new television sets catch in, agreement had been given to install one by 2020.

The club’s new fixture secretary, Brian Rogers, has arranged a very full fixture list, including visiting touring teams and Sunday mixed fixtures for Windsor members.

It must be noted that Brian has taken the position due to the retirement of the doyen of club fixtures, Trevor Warburton. It is impossible to show just in writing the enormous amount of work that Trevor has done on behalf of the club and its members over the last 20-odd years, so God bless you Trevor, and along with your mainstay Barbara, have a very well deserved retirement.

Prospective new members, men and women, are most welcome to join the team at the clubhouse from 10am on April 1, to enjoy tea, coffee and hot cross buns. In doing so, they may have questions answered and can revel in the legendary atmosphere that pervades in the most friendly of bowls clubs.