Bungay Bowls Club’s season starts a bit earlier this year with an open drive on Sunday at 2pm followed by a triangular charity match between Bungay, Earsham and Mettingham on Saturday, April 30.

This year Earsham will nominate the charity.

Competitive matches start on the following Monday.

Roger Bullen returns as club captain after a year’s sojourn and is backed up by the experienced Derek Hinsley as vice-captain.

They have a rather large shadow over them as the last club captain Ian Gosling led the club to winning both the Custom Kitchen Cup and Area A Benevolent Cup as well as to an appearance in the Area Finals of the EBF Senior Cup.

Of the cup competitions drawn so far Bungay will start the defence of the Custom Kitchen Cup with a match against Sole Bay and have drawn Lowestoft Railway in the first round of the Senior Cup — a club they beat on the way to the semi-finals last year.

In the Bowls England County competitions the club face Felixstowe and Suffolk in both the Millennium Trophy and Edwards Cup, with Melton in the Norton Cup.

The club was also very successful in the local leagues.

Barbara Wortley’s Halesworth Three-Wood League title defence starts with a “derby” match against the club’s B team on May 6.

The B team just failed to take the Division Two title last year under Roger Bullen’s captaincy and he hopes to keep them in the first division this season.

Les Knowles continues as captain of the Beccles League A team after winning Division Two last year and getting promoted, unlike in 2009. Arnold King captains the B team in Division Two.

Ian Gosling’s successful 2010 campaign as captain of the Benacre League team continued as he returns Bungay to the first division of the league. Roger Bullen returns to captain the Men’s Bowls England Lowestoft Triples League A team whose late good form last year ensured that they remained in the highly competitive first division. Arnold King captains the B team in Division Two.

The four open tournaments are a major contribution to club funds and this season all four have sponsors.

New sponsor J Wightman’s of Bungay sponsors the triples on Sunday, May 15; long-time sponsor John Groom sponsors the pairs on Sunday, June 19; another newcomer, the garage across the road from the green, R Charlish, sponsors the triples on Sunday, July 17 while Waveney Windows continue their sponsorship of the triples on Sunday, August 14. If you would like to enter these tournaments contact Ian Gosling on 01986 892982.

In the individual county competitions the club is well represented by entrants Arnold King, Richard Brinded, Stephen Church, Ann Swanston, Roger Bullen and Richard Allen.

The popular club competitions are once again sponsored by the Three Willows Garden Centre and is open to all club members.

The club welcomes new members whether they are experienced or novice bowlers and, depending on numbers, tuition and training can be given.

Adult membership is �30 per season, Under-18 Juniors �18 and Associate membership just �5.

The latter is popular with non-playing partners of bowlers who would like to attend events and make use of the facilities. Further information on the club can be found at http://tesco.net/~bungaybowlsclub

Finally the club would like to thank all the members and non-members that assisted with the monthly jumble sales during the close season and those people that attended the events. The 10p sale on April 9 raised �175 for club funds.