I am very proud to be your President for the year 2010/2011, and I am very well aware of the heavy responsibility this places on me. Bowls has been a very important part of my life, and I have played the game for over 50 years, gaining my indoor badge in the 1970’s. I will do my best to carry out the duties of President and will be supportive of the County, Officials and Players in all events. I would like to thank my own indoor club Royal Tunbridge Wells, for putting may name forward in the first instance to serve the County of Kent. I wish my predecessor, David Conde a well earned ‘retirement’, and thank him for his efforts in his year of Presidency.

I would also like to thank all the clubs in the County for inviting the County Association to play at their centres, and also allowing us to use their facilities for inter County matches etc. I do hope that as many club bowlers as possible will put their names forward to play in County matches, as continued support in these games is vital. I am looking forward to visiting all the clubs in the County of Kent and meeting old friends and forming new friendships. For those players in the Liberty Trophy, Home Counties League, the Under 25’s and the Over 60’s competitions, I wish them all success, and I know that on their form they are capable of winning all of these.

Indoor bowls is going through a difficult period at the moment, with increased expenses and the constant battle to keep membership at a satisfactory level, and it is down at all of us  to put that little bit of extra into the sport that we love. It is with this in mind that we owe a great deal to the Officers of the County for all the hard work that they do, and also the work done by our own Clubs Officials.

My County Tour in 2011 is to Bournemouth and staying in the nice Elstead Hotel, and we have games against Loddon Vale (Basingstoke), Moonfleet (Weymouth), Dorchester, Bannister Park (Southampton), Riverside (Winchester), Bournemouth and a County match against Dorset CIBA and I am sure that everyone will have a good time.

To all bowlers who have entered County and National competitions, I wish them all good luck and success and we hope that those reaching the National Finals go that “extra” mile and bring some titles back to Kent.

To our sponsors I thank you for your support of Indoor Bowls in Kent.

I would like to congratulate Malcolm Wimshurst, our President in 2005/2006, in being selected as president of the Home Counties Indoor Bowling Association for this season.

I wish everyone the best of health in the forthcoming season and a successful and enjoyable bowling in 2010/2011.

Lionel Hanmore

County Finals Day Results