IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2025
Please make a note of the following dates in your diaries. More details will be sent out in due course.
SATURDAY 18th JANUARY 2025 – AWARDS EVENING FOR THE 2024 SEASON – TO BE HELD AT THE CHURCHTOWN CONSERVATIVE CLUBMONDAY
MONDAY 17th FEBRUARY 2025 – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
LEAGUE SEASON REVIEW 2024 INTRODUCTION
At a time when many clubs are struggling for numbers to field teams in local leagues, it was pleasing that we were still able to enter 11 teams into 7 different leagues for the 2024 season. Several of our teams had a successful year, with one championship and two promotions being achieved, as well as a knockout cup win and a top division runners-up placing.
Please see below for further details. As a club, we are hoping to enter a second team into the Southport LV League for next season. Several members have expressed an interest in playing in this league, which takes place mainly on a Tuesday evening.
We will need to inform the league by January if we wish to put a additional team into this league, so if anyone is interested, please contact a member of the committee as soon as possible.
SOUTHPORT VETERANS’ LEAGUE
Last year it was reported that the Merlins would be confident of making an immediate return to the 1st Division of the Southport Veterans’ League, having suffered relegation to Division 2. This proved to be justified as they dominated the division to finish as champions, losing just two out of 22 fixtures. Congratulations to the Merlins, who will now be looking to establish themselves in the top flight.
As the start of the season approached, it was looking very likely that the Hobbies would be unable to raise a team and have to withdraw from the league. However, several of the team were determined that the Hobbies would carry on and enough players, some completely new to league bowling, were recruited to keep the team going. Although they only won three league games and finished in 11th place in the 2nd Division, the Hobbies ended the season is style by winning the Dick Wareing Trophy, with a convincing win against Hoole Village Hall ‘B’ in the final, played at Tarleton Bowling Club.
Special mention must be made of John Hughes and John McCabe, along with all those have helped to keep this team going. On an individual level, Jim Halsall had another outstanding year, finishing the season with a 100% record, winning all of the 21 league games he played and finishing top of the divisional merit. Well done Jim !!
Merlins Merit Winner – Jim Halsall (21 wins) Hobbies Merit Winner – Alex Rimmer (15 wins)
SOUTHPORT LV LEAGUE
The Club was honoured to hold the Presidency of the Southport LV League for the 2024 season and ran a successful President’s Day at the beginning of June. The competition was won by Steve McManus, representing Scarisbrick NSC, who defeated Mike Whiteley (Tarleton B.C.) in the final. Once again, our thanks go to the Churchtown Conservative Club for allowing us to use their facilities for hosting the buffet lunch.In the league season, the Eagles again competed strongly at the top of the Premier Division, finishing as runners-up to Scarisbrick NSC ‘A’.
Eagles Merit Winner – Mike Milne (13 wins)
AUGHTON SENIOR CITIZENS’ LEAGUE
The Club continued to run two teams in the Aughton League on a Wednesday afternoon, with George Hitchmough captaining the Hawks and the Kestrels being led again by Mike Burrill. The Kestrels had maintained their place in the 1st Division whilst the Hawks were playing in the 2nd Division.
The Kestrels were unlucky to finish in 9th position, just 4 points behind Aughton Institute ‘A’ and could be relegated, subject to the structuring of the league in 2025.
The Hawks had an excellent season, winning 14 of their matches to bounce straight back to the top division. Well done to George and all the Hawks players
Kestrels Merit Winner – Jim Halsall (12 wins) Hawks Merit Winner – Terry Corfield (14 wins)
MAGHULL LEAGUE
We continued to have two teams playing in the Maghull League on a Monday evening. The Owls (“A” team) were competing in the strong 1st Division and for the third consecutive season finished in 4th place. In the 2nd Division, the Sparrowhawks (“B” team) were again captained by John Townsend and they enjoyed an excellent season. Winning 15 out of the 20 league fixtures, they finished in 2nd place to secure promotion to the 1st Division for 2025. Congratulations to John and all his team.
Owls Merit Winner – Andy Draper (15 wins) Sparrowhawks Merit Winner – Alan Hatton (14 wins)
BURSCOUGH & LATHOM LEAGUE
We again had two teams competing in the top division of the Burscough & Lathom League, one of the strongest leagues in the area. The Vultures again performed well, winning 12 out of their 16 games to finish in 3rd place. They had another good run in the Knockout Trophy to reach the final, where they lost out to champions Bretherton ‘A’.
The Ospreys, under the captaincy of Mark Rowlinson, had done well in 2023 to maintain their top division status but this time struggled for wins and ended the season in 9th position.
Vultures Merit Winner – Andy Draper (12 wins) Ospreys Merit Winner – Jim Halsall (6 wins)
SOUTHPORT LADIES’ LEAGUE
After two successful seasons in the Southport Ladies’ League, the Buzzards were again competing in the top division of the Ladies’ Afternoon League. In the strong 1st Division, the Buzzards finished in 7th place. The Committee would like to thank Debbie Barnes and her team for organising another successful doubles competition, which they ran for the second time in 2024. A great day was had by all who attended and proceeds on the day of £250 went towards club funds. Many thanks to all involved.
Buzzards Merit Winner – Noreen Lewis (8 wins)
SOUTHPORT PARKS LEAGUE
The Kites, having narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier Division due to league re-structuring, again struggled for wins and won just three of their sixteen matches to finish in 9th place. Should relegation to the 1st Division be confirmed, they will be looking to bounce straight back to the top flight in 2025.
Kites Merit Winner – Kevin Leddy (8 wins)