HESKETH ARMS BOWLING CLUB
SEASON REVIEW 2019
Welcome to the Hesketh Arms Bowling Club Season Review 2019. The Club has enjoyed another successful year, with both the Eagles and the Owls again winning their respective championships.We were again able to complete a busy programme of internal club competitions, as well as staging open singles and doubles events. Membership remains strong and we look forward to another enjoyable season of bowling in 2020.
SOUTHPORT LV LEAGUE
Premier Division Pts
1. Hesketh Eagles 216
2. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘A’ 171
3. Scarisbrick NSC ‘A’ 146
4. Mere Brow 145
5. Victoria Park 133
6. London Tigers 125
7. Zetland ‘B’ 116
8. HeskethHarriers 114
9. London Lions 105
1stDivision Pts
1. Zetland ‘A’ 182
2. Sandbrook Park 168
3. Crowlands 147
4. Hesketh Falcons 146
5. Scarisbrick B.C. ‘C’ 139
6. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘B’ 138
7. Zetland ‘D’ 131
8. Scarisbrick NSC ‘B’ 108
9. Tarleton 102
Congratulations to the Eagles on convincingly retaining the Premier Division championship they had won in 2018. Losing only two games, they finished a clear 45 points ahead of runners-up Fleetwood Hesketh ‘A’.
Having won the 1st Division the previous season, the Harriers were playing in the top division for the first time and competed well, eventually finishing in 9th place. Special mention must go to Jim Halsall, who topped the divisional merit with 14 wins and an aggregate of +134.
In the 1st Division, the Falcons had a good season, winning 10 games out of 16 to finish in 4th place.
Eagles Merit Winner :
Kevin Leddy – 14 wins
Harriers Merit Winner :
Jim Halsall – 14 wins
Falcons Merit Winner :
Peter Jozwik – 13 wins
SOUTHPORT PARKS LEAGUE
The Kites continued under the captaincy of John Unsworth andenjoyed another good season in the 1st Division of the Southport Parks League. Last season they finished in 4th place but this year went one better to end the season in 3rd place. Hopefully, 2020 will be the year the Kites finally gain promotion to the Premier Division after several top four finishes.
Congratulations to Kez Adams, who was the Kites’ team merit winner with 17 wins out of 20 games played.
1st DIVISION Pts
1. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘A’ 186
2. Tarleton 159
3. Hesketh Kites 137
4. Zetland ‘A’ 136
5. Scarisbrick NSC ‘B’ 127
6. Fleetwood Hesketh ‘B’ 112
7. Crowlands 111
8. Holmeswood ‘B’ 103
9. London Sphynx ‘A’ 101
10. Ainsdale ‘B’ 95
11. Scarisbrick B.C. ‘B’ 85
KitesMerit Winner :
Kez Adams, 17 wins
BURSCOUGH LEAGUE
Having only been formed two seasons ago, the Vultures were competing in the top division of the Burscough League for the first time, having gained back-to-back promotions in 2017 and 2018. This is one of best divisions in the area and the team did extremely well to finish in 4th place. They will now look to challenge for a top three position in 2020.
1st Division
1. Banks St. Stephens 173
2. Burscough RBL ‘A’ 149
3. Bretherton 146
4. Hesketh Vultures 127
5. Fleetwood Hesketh 118
6. Zetland ‘A’ 115
7. Longton VM ‘A’ 110
8. Croston Subscription 104
9. London 97
10. Crossens ‘A’ 79
11. Mawdesley ‘A’ 75
12. Holmeswood ‘A’ 72
Merit Winner :
Chris Porter, 14 wins
In the 2nd Division of the Burscough League, the Ospreys enjoyed a much-improved season, winning eleven out of their 24 matches to finish in a respectable 10th place.
The team was pleased to welcome Kevin Leddy back into the fold after a break from bowling and Kevin won 16 games to claim the team merit award.
2nd Division
1. Mere Brow 194
2. Croston Black Horse 154
3. Longton VM ‘B’ 153
4. Zetland ‘B’ 150
5. Hoole Village Hall ‘A’ 146
6. Tarleton 134
7. Mawdesley ‘B’ 127
8. Burscough RBL ‘B’ 124
9. Hoole Village Hall ‘B’ 107
10. Hesketh Ospreys 101
11. Holmeswood ‘B’ 82
12. Botanic Gardens 76
13. Crossens ‘B’ 66
Merit Winner :
Kevin Leddy , 16wins
SOUTHPORT VETERANS’ LEAGUE
In 2018, the Merlins finished in 4th place and it was hoped that they would challenge for promotion in 2019. They very nearly achieved this, finishing in 3rdplace, just six points behind runners-up Formby Park ‘A’. Maybe next season will be the year the Merlins make it to the 1st Division.
The Hobbies were also competing in the 2nd Division and they finished in a comfortable 7th place, winning nine of their matches.
Individually, two players ended the season with 18 wins, Brian Sutton winning the Merlins team merit and captain Roger Van Beever leading by example for the Hobbies.
2nd Division Pts
1. Ainsdale ‘A’ 184
2. Formby Park ‘A’ 168
3. Hesketh Merlins 162
4. Freshfield ‘A’ 150
5. Hesketh Bank 150
6. Scarisbrick B.C. ‘A’ 130
7. Hesketh Hobbies 129
8. The Northern 128
9 Botanic ‘A’ 122
10. Fleetwood Hesk. ‘B’ 112
11. Our Lady’s ‘A’ 107
12. Hoole Village Hall ‘B’ 89
Merlins Merit Winner :
Brian Sutton, 18 wins
Hobbies Merit Winner :
Roger Van Beever, 18 wins
AUGHTON & DISTRICT SENIOR CITIZENS’ LEAGUE
We continued to run two teams in the Aughton and District Senior Citizens’ League on a Wednesday afternoon and in 2019 both our teams were competing in the 1st Division following the Hawks’ promotion from the 2nd Division.
The top division of this league is a high standard with some tricky away greens to be negotiatedbut the Hawks performed well playing in the top division for the first time, winning eleven games to finish in a decent 8th place. The Kestrels won eight of their games to end the season 11th.
Congratulations to Bill Bloor and Dave White who won the league’s end-of-season pairs competition.
1st Division Pts
1. Zetland 233
2. Burscough CC Vets 211
3. Mere Brow ‘A’ 210
4. Burscough RBL 157
5. Victoria Park ‘A’ 156
6. Hurlston Hall 148
7. Freshfield B.C. 133
8. Hesketh Hawks 129
9. The Northern 125
10. Stanley Arms 115
11. Hesketh Kestrels 114
12. Aughton Institute ‘A’ 108
13. Crossens 90
Hawks Merit Winner :
Peter Smith, 16 wins
Kestrels Merit Winner :-
Jim Halsall, 14 wins
MAGHULL BOWLING LEAGUE
Congratulations to the Owls on repeating the success of 2018 by winning both the 3rd Division Championship and Knockout Cup in the Maghull and District League.
Captained by Sue Davies, the team only lost two league games all season, despite playing in the higher division and completed the double by defeating Meadows in the Knockout Cup final, played at the Northern Club.
Individually, the team’s merit award went to Tony Wakefield, who went undefeated all season, winning all 14 games played.
3rd DIVISION
1. Hesketh Owls 142
2. Meadows 116
3. Brooke Hotel 2 104
4. Ormskirk B.C. 101
5. Formby Holy Trinity 97
6. Hightown 95
7. Netherton Park 2 80
8. Formby S & S 77
9. Dog & Gun 71
OWLS MERIT WINNER :-
Tony Wakefield
14 wins
The Club continued to run it’s programme of internal competitions for club members during the 2019 season and these were once again well-supported.
The successful competitors were :-
Winner(s) Runner(s)-Up
Rose Bowl Terry Corfield Peter Croston
Rose Bowl Plate Sue Davies Lynne Smith
Spring Pairs Mike Dunlop / Chris Harding /
Les Miller Dave White
Spring Pairs Plate Barry McArthur / Bill Bloor
Peter Smith Lynne Smith
Championship Cup Wayne Graham Derek Wignall
Ladies’ Championship Pat McArthur Lynne Smith
Championship Plate Peter Croston Roger Van Beever
Vice-Presidents Trophy Peter Croston / Sue Davies /
Norman Simpson Fergal Wright
Vice-Presidents Plate Mike Dunlop / Alex Rimmer /
Derek Wignall Roger Van Beever
Chairman’s Shield Barry Lowe / Jason Chapman /
Richard Rawcliffe Mark Rowlinson
Chairman’s Plate Sue Davies / Jeff Brown /
George Hitchmough Roger Van Beever
President’s Cup Bill Bloor Fergal Wright
President’s Day Plate Sue Davies Les Miller
Coronation Cup Jim Halsall Dave White
Diamond Jubilee Plate Roger Van Beever Sue Davies
Last Chance Cup Lynn Burrow / Alan Lloyd /
Mike Milne Fergal Wright
Last Chance Plate Laurie Townson / Peter Croston /
Roger Van Beever Barry Pursall
OPEN COMPETITIONS
The Club again ran two open competitions in 2019, both of which attracted entries from all over the North West, as well as local bowlers and our own members. The winners were:-
Winner(s) Runner(s)-Up
Open Singles Andy Draper Fergal Wright
(Fleetwood Hesketh) (Hesketh Arms)
Bernard O’Malley Ray Bevington& Alan Catterall &
V-P Trophy Paul Clegg Roy Webster
(Open Doubles) (Golborne Sports) (Scarisbrick NSC /Banks SS)