ACLE Indoor Bowls Club became the first bowls club in the country to be awarded the coveted Clubmark. Clubmark is an award scheme operated by Sport England and is awarded to clubs who operate to a set of consistent, accepted and adopted minimum operating standards.

ACLE Indoor Bowls Club became the first bowls club in the country to be awarded the coveted Clubmark.

Clubmark is an award scheme operated by Sport England and is awarded to clubs who operate to a set of consistent, accepted and adopted minimum operating standards.

It is now universally recognised and is promoted and carefully branded by Sport England.

Acle had to demonstrate that they are a club, which develops high quality, and has a welcoming and safe environment for young participants.

Acle encourage young people to take up bowls, improve their talents and gives them the option to initiate and maintain life-long participation in bowls.

To obtain the award, Acle had to demonstrate it had a duty of care and safeguarded and protected children, it had a full programme of events involving children, enforced sports equity and ethics and had top-quality management.

“We have been working hard over the summer period putting together our application for Clubmark and putting everything in place ready for the inspection,” said Denis Goodley, manager.

“We have always encouraged youngsters into the club and have been rewarded with national championship appearances in junior events.

“It therefore seemed appropriate for us to apply for Clubmark which is recognised by all the main sporting, youth and education agencies involved in delivery of sporting opportunities for young people.

“This award is a fitting reward for all the hard work put in by our coaches throughout the season and to all those club members who assist with our junior bowls programme.” he concluded.

Acle Ladies played Beccles in the Vivienne Trophy, and away Pam Symes, Ethel Watson, Margaret Shields and Anne Drury were 5-8 down 10 ends, 10-11 at 15 and finished 13-18.

Edna Land, Janice Wilson, Pat Pegram and Jenny Kirby were 5-6 at 10 ends, 10 each at 15 and finished

12-14.

At home Betty Gibson, Dawn Horne Shirley Genery and Ros Myhill went 14-4 up at 10 ends, 17-9 at 15 and won 23-12.

Jean Ryan, Rose Yaxley, Amy Brooks and Pam Anthony picked up a six on the eighth end to go 12-4 up,

13-5 at 10 but stuck on 13 for six ends to go 13-16 down at 15 but rallied round to win 20-19.

A good result 68-63 and Acle now meet Shotford in the next round.

The men's A team at home to County Arts, a team with only nine points from three games, was encouraging for an Acle win.

John Colcombe, Arthur Jolliffe, Jamie Howlett and Patrick Willimott won the first eight ends to go 12-0 up, five shots on the 11th end helped them to a 21-3 lead at 15 ends, another five on the 20th as they went on to win

31-8.

Will Pitt, Wyn Willimott, Simon Elliott and Lewis Moore were all playing well and went into a 12-5 lead at 10 ends, 19-8 up at 15 and cruised to a 27-12 win.

Roy Himpleman, Bernard Willimott, Robin Norman and Captain George Tubby had a tortoise-like start going 0-10 after six ends, jumped onto a hare's back winning the next six ends to go 7-10. It slowed up from here and with four ends to play the score stood 9-18.

At this point George swooped like a giant wasp scoring a four, a three, a five, and a four scoring 16 shots in the last four ends and finished winning an extraordinary game 25-18.

Tony Dunton's rink had a frustrating afternoon going seven each at seven ends, 16 each at 18 and lost 17-21.

Result: 100-59 and 6-1 pts.