OpenCRM Bowling Match Report

17 Oct 2014

It was a cool crisp rainy evening in Stockton. As the Teams were arriving at Hollywood Bowl, there was excitement in the air and nobody knew quite what was going to happen at what could be the most prestigious sporting event to hit the North East since…ever!

The evening started well, with the athletes warming up, stretching those Biceps and Triceps, eating a healthy array of ‘Bowling Snacks’, getting ready for what could be the most important 2 hours of their lives. Their whole sporting careers hanging in the balance, tonight was the night reputations were to be made or broken. They were all in it to win it, tension was high. It was always going to be an emotional affair, but the Teams we’re ready and raring to face the challenge that was – OpenCRM Bowling.

Game 1

It was a strong start across the board, the weeks of training had paid off. Team spirit was at a high, lots of encouraging banter amongst the lanes to each other while we all measured each other up in anticipation of the scoreboard statuses. From the sidelines, coaching (/heckling) could be heard from newbie Justin and the crowd was going wild.

We had some strong players in the first Game, projects pioneer Ly managed some smooth strikes and top scores, not far behind her was her, operations kingpin Paul Ryder who was showing that he had some skills not to be messed with when it came to bowling.

Keeping a strong par were the middle weight masters, Helen maintaining a respectable score, vivacious Victoria showing that she was also a force to be reckoned with, not to mention Smashley Tallyn – Smashley by name, Smashley by nature.

Last minute stand in, Team member Emma from the Parker squad was showing that the women of the family had resilient roots in bowling alley culture.

Simon from Parker Squad 2 and dev dynamos Gary and Allen were also holding strong, calling upon some concrete strategic and lateral thinking forces.

Squaring off in the lower division, defending their position from bottom place was Abi, Jamie, and Claire. Eventually though they – kindly through their courageous comrades ‘taking one for the team’ – were able to avoid that wooden spoon position, by the noble James P, Newbie Gemma and Ethna P beating them to the post on that one.

As expected, Director of Determination Graham was playing a strong game, knocking down spares and strikes left, right, and centre. All were convinced he would indeed be the champion of Game 1 for sure. But then, Dark Horse Stephen Shutt came flying ahead, steaming through the rounds, consistently knocking those pins for six – or should I say 10 – to be the overall individual winner of Game 1, leading his Team to an overall Team victory of Game 1.

Game 2

After a short rest to regroup, discuss team tactics and consume energy foods, the Teams were back fighting fit and ready for more. One substitution made in Team 3, Support extraordinaire Ethna P took some time off, on the bench to nominate team players to play in her place.

After a shaky start for a few in Teams 1 and 2, the Game started picking pace up again, with strong shots from some of the established favourites from Game 1. The Directors were playing to win and Newbie Simon was starting to make his presence known in Team 1. Team 3, starting as they meant to go on, hit the ground running, with Top Dogs Gary and Claire sparring well, clinching points consistently.

Many people were falling short though, being teased by those 9 pin shots, foot fouls and gutting gutters. You could read the tension in their faces… (apologies for phone photo quality, could not resist posting these bad boys!)

There was something occurring though, whispers were being heard that there was a new kid on the block. With some training from the mighty Shutt, James P was on a comeback…from zero to hero, his simple but effective technique was powering the mighty James up the scoreboard. He managed to rebuild his ‘sporty’ reputation finishing up with a respectable third place podium position in Team 2.

Keeping up the rear this time, Abi and Victoria, though determined, could be said to be having a bad day, ‘Sm-’Ashley had also seemed to lose pace, in what was a very tough and testing race to the finishing line. Jamie B though was excelling by summoning some truly supportive grit determination to make some moves and steal his way up the scoreboard, this time finishing up in fourth place in Team 1. Also with will power of an angel, Gemma the Gem, was sneaking past Jamie to establish a very impressive second place finish in Team 1.

Team 3 were again blasting past the competition, with three sets of treble figure final scores and one just shy of a century from Claire (96), they were again solid overall winners of Game 2.

Individual podium places were closely fought for, with Phil M and Simon P sharing first place for Team 1. Top of Team 3, Gary B fought to the end with close overall Game 2 second place – Dark horse Shutt nowhere to be seen. But the CRM champion and bowling big-gun Graham clinched top spot in the last round to take individual Team player top place and bring what was a brilliant evening of sportsmanship, team spirit and entertainment to a committed and memorable close.

The Results:

Team 1	G 1	G 2	Team 2	G 1	G 2	Team 3	G 1	G 2
Ashley	84	64	Paul	90	98	Ly	104	86
Gemma	49	78	Graham	122	136	Claire	88	96
Helen	65	65	Victoria	91	61	Ethna (Sub)	51	101
Jamie	61	68	James	32	82	Stephen	166	101
Simon	88	92	Abi	74	76	Gary	93	132
Phil	119	92	Allen	98	95	Justin/Emma	112	71
	466	459		507	548		614	587