For the summer 2026 social match season, the Club had 24 scheduled matches, (20 indoor and 04 outdoor) and all 24 were played, but results wise, a very poor return, saw the Club only win 06 matches and suffer 18 defeats, thus matching the dismal efforts of last year’s, 2025, summer season.  Despite results being very disappointing, (we certainly could and should have done better, especially at home, but not to be), the endearing, friendly and important social aspect of the season, representing and showing off the Club in a good light, was still very evident, so well done to all on that point.  It does count for a lot.  63 members played at least 01 match, with 29 members playing 06 or more matches, (a quarter of all the actual matches played) and hopefully all who played, enjoyed themselves.

The two Player Of The Season competitions, (which were retired last winter season, only to now come out of retirement!), are based on the total of a players best 06 scores, from all the scheduled club social matches played indoors, (so excludes the scores from any outdoor matches also played), they played during the summer season………it is not based on who has played the most matches.  Thus adding a competitive element, whilst not distracting from the social nature of the matches and season in general.  In both the “Player Of The Season – Total Shots” competition and “Player Of The Season – Total Shots Difference” competition, you had to play at least 06, or more of the scheduled indoor matches, actually played and then your best 06 scores were taken………fallen asleep yet?

We had a very worthy champion in both competitions, whose usual consistency and class, (yes, there is no denying, she is a very good bowler indeed!), over the season as a whole, meant that she performed well whenever she played, in whatever position and whoever she was playing with, accumulating big scores / winning margins, each time, so definitely no fluke and fully deserved, (although that massive win by over 40 shots in one match, certainly did help!).  Thus, many congratulations to Club Ladies Captain and local wildlife expert, Bill Oddie, sorry, I mean, Deidre Williams, who as we all know does not care about such matters, or for such trophies.

The battle for runners up spot in each comp., was a bit more open and both comps went down to the last match with 05 people all in contention in each comp.  Derrick “silverware” Small, had held second spot for so long in both comps that it was surely only his to lose and this is exactly what he did, when he was gifted tickets to a David Essex concert, (just how old is Derrick?….exactly!) and this meant he had to cry off the last match, at the last minute.  To say he was gutted is an understatement, as, with a hold me close trophy there for the taking, something which was gonna make him a star, he had to get on his silver dream machine and rock on, off to the lamplights of Brighton.  Oh, what a circus indeed!  And this decision cost Derrick, as Club Vice Chairman Marc Carr, (just how tall is he?, see pics), stormed into the runners up spot in the shots difference scored comp , whilst relatively new bowler and bowls-wear fashion icon, John Eaton, took second place in the shots scored comp.  So well done to both of them.

The pictures below, (kindly taken by Sue Smith), show the winner and runners up, with the silverware and both trophies now sit on display, in the trophy cabinet.  As such, this season’s top 05, for both comps., are listed below:-

SHOTS SCORED:- 1^st = Deidre Williams 163 / 44; 2^nd = John Eaton 141 / 44; 3^rd = Rose Gibson 139 / 44; 4^th = Derrick Small 128 / 28; 5^th = Marc Carr 127 / 27.

SHOTS DIFFERENCE:- 1^st = Deidre Williams 104 / 41; 2^nd = Marc Carr 74 / 20; 3^rd = Derrick Small 72 / 20; 4^th = John Eaton 64 / 41; 5^th = Rose Gibson 62 / 41.

(Note: First score shown is the total of the best 06 results, second score is the top score, of the best 06 scores).

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Page Last Updated on 15th Sep 2026