The Three Amigos at Clopton Corner

May 2012 will be the third year that the Suffolk Centre has held a Cheese and Wine Rally at the Village Hall & Playing Field in Clopton, Suffolk. The event includes the Annual Target Bowls Competition for the DerMic Trophy. This year it will be the 20th anniversary for the Target Bowls Trophy and one of the original team, Mick Prentice and his wife Eve will again be attending the rally.

Over the past two years Trev & Sue Smith and Joe & Sheila Holmes have been the main marshals. Last year, Nick and Carole and a few other volunteers helped with the preparation of the cheeses, biscuits, scones, cheese straws and home made cakes. It was a real team effort. The field can only take 35 caravans or motorhomes, so we always cater for about 90 people.

On Saturday morning, Joe got out the lawn mower and Trev marked the target areas with white paint and the draw was made for playing partners. The Target Bowls normally lasts for about three hours and Sue & Sheila make a brew of tea and coffee for the players and spectators while the challenge unfolds.

The evening on Saturday is started with Flagpole, including the handing over of the trophy to the winning bowls player and other notices and thank yous. Then the fun starts with Cheese and Wine followed by music and dance with Bryan Gordon, also a Suffolk Centre member and rallier. The Three Amigos in the picture are (left to right) Joe, Trev and Nick. The only time we were allowed near the kitchen !

The 2012 Clopton rally is fully booked already this year, so in 2013 we have decided to change the format and move he Cheese and Wine back to it's original, larger venue, Weeley in Essex. In 2013, the Clopton rally will be a first for the Suffolk Centre as we are introducing a "blues weekend" with a live band "Blues Situation" on Saturday evening.

I would like to pass special thanks to all the volunteers who have supported our events at Clopton and elsewhere, including Sheila & Joe, Nick & Carol and Bryan for making all our events a success.

It just goes to show that running rallies is not all work and no play. The team at Clopton all have as much fun as the ralliers and we even seem to get lucky with the weather. The Centre are looking for new Suffolk volunteers to help run more events in 2013 so please contact Trevor Smith or the Rally Secretary, Alan Green and we can add to the fun in 2013.

Trevor Smith Suffolk Centre