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Night Owls skippers' superior skills, Tuesday 9 December 2025

Skippers at Night Owls need exceptional skills to manage and lead their team.

First, the range of abilities in their team may range from highly experienced to absolute beginner.

Second, some team members may regularly disappear during play, to obtain refreshments.

Third, with some team members, a rush of blood is common and the use of the 'drive', normally reserved for the third or skip, is often deployed by an excitable lead or second.

The photos show a range of skills used by the skippers to manage this unpredictable situation.

  • As in the feature photo of skip Fiona Mansfield, some skippers use very distinctive sign language to provide explicit instructions.
  • Other skippers use humour, applause, flattery.
  • To retain their composure, some skippers stay fairly quiet and work at remaining calm.
  • Many skippers use the opportunity at the changeover of ends to coax, inspire or beg their team to lift.

See Photography Here