Bowling: Club hosts event to honour Bob (109)

Jul 1 2009 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

IT WAS a day to remember on Saturday at Overtoun Park Bowling Club.

For the members turned out to play for the Bob Taggart Trophy and then enjoy the traditional fish and chip tea.

This popular, annual event always takes place around Bob’s birthday, June 28. Older than the club itself, Bob this year is celebrating his 109th birthday - which makes him the oldest man in Scotland!

Overtoun is proud to have Bob as a life member of the club where he played regularly until he was a centenarian.

Known as Wicky, Bob was a skilful player, even after his eyesight and hearing failed him. He also was famous for his ‘wickies’ which earned him his nickname.

Appropriately, the competitors in the balloted pairs competition saw plenty of wickies during the tournament and games were won and lost in true Wickie style.

Altogether, there was a happy, celebratory atmosphere during the whole competition and the greens resounded with laughter, whoops and cheers all afternoon.

There were some new faces competing in the nip and tuck final; George Buchanan and George Lappin put up a hard fight but eventually were narrowly defeated by Margaret Maguire and Barbara Drummond.

It was a great day and a great way to wish Bob a very happy 109th birthday.

Other bowling successes during the week were the two wins on Tuesday in the RDA Gents’ Triples, when the Overtoun teams beat Whitefield at home and away, and on Wednesday when the senior fours won at Cambuslang.

The ladies too had a marvellous victory on Wednesday in the first tie of the Cambuslang and District Top 10 when the team won all their matches to win maximum points.

Meanwhile, Overtoun members were saddened to receive word that, after a long illness, Dougie Cutt, well-known in Rutherglen for his work in bowls, had passed away.

Dougie was well known in the bowling circuit and at the annual men's day

At the club, he was remembered in a minute's silence.

Men's day was certainly a highlight of the year when, after a snack brunch, the contest began.

There were four sections with four teams, each battling for points and shots over four games of six ends (with a few breaks to cool down and enjoy some refreshments).

In the semi-final, strong contenders Colin Harvie and George MacDonald Snr and internationalists Malcolm McManus and Eddie Thomson were defeated.

Everyone retired indoors for a wonderful buffet tea before going back out to watch a very exciting final in which family team, John Taylor and his son-in-law, Douglas

Baillie, met James Lynch and Joe Paul. After an extra end, James and Joe emerged as worthy victors.

As well as some great bowls being played, the day will be remembered for the wonderful atmosphere of friendship in the club all day.

Joe Paul's words on receiving the Jim Allan Trophy seemed to sum up the mood of the day: '“At the start of the day, I said we'd win it for wee Dougie - and we did.“