EBYDS Report 2015

Rugby Thornfield Indoor Bowls club hosted the Warwickshire region School of Excellence ran by the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme (EBYDS). The event sees 16 Seniors (Under 18s) and 16 Juniors (Under 15s) split into groups of four. Each player plays a game of singles against the other players in their group and then take part in four skills challenges. The total number of points gained determine who progresses to the National EBYDS School of Excellence.




Thornfield had five entrants in the Seniors section; Oliver Fowler (group 2), Sam Wilkinson, Tom Ward (both group 3), Ewan Mason and Cormac Sheehan (both group 4). Oliver scored the maximum 30 points in his singles with three wins and gaining a combined +24 shot difference. In group 3 Tom Ward also scored 30 points finishing with a +16 shot difference, Sam Wilkinson unfortunately lost all three of his games so finished with 0 points. Two wins and a loss gave Ewan Mason 20 points, while also in group 4 Cormac Sheehan drew one game and lost the other two to finish with 5 points.




Oliver Fowler had another good session in the skills section, increasing his point tally by another 65. Cormac Sheehan and Ewan Mason also performed very well scoring 45 and 44 points respectively. Tom Ward added 37 points to his total, while Sam Wilkinson scored 20 points. With both sections completed Oliver Fowler was in first place on 95 points, ahead of Andrew Bradley who scored 76 points. Third with 67 points was Tom Ward, Ewan Mason just behind in fourth with 64 points and Sam Wilkinson finished 15th.




In the Junior section Thornfield had three players, Tom Wheeler (group 5), Jordan Ward (group 6) and Alfie Knight (group 7). Three wins with a combined +13 shot difference saw Tom Wheeler secure 30 points in the singles. Alfie Knight also won all three singles to finish on 30 points with a +17 shot difference. Jordan Ward's group had a player missing so all players only had two games of singles with 5 points being awarded for the missing game, Jordan won both of his games bringing his total to 25 points with a +19 shot difference.




All three players also do well in the skills section, Jordan Ward gained another 50 points, Tom Wheeler 45 and Alfie Knight 36. Avon Valley's Hannah Smith claimed first place with 75 points and an overall shot difference of +20. Jordan Ward had to settle for second place, he also finished on 75 points with a shot difference of +19 but he was only able to play two singles due to the missing player in his group. Tom Wheeler also scored a total of 75 points, though his hot difference of +13 meant he finished third and Alfie Knight took fourth place with a combined score of 66 points and +17 shot difference.




Thornfield's Under 25 team manager Darren Ward said that he was proud of the performance of all of the clubs entrants. The event also helped the club raise over £200 for their under 25s section.