PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CORONATION CUP, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 4th MAY, HAS BEEN RE-SCHEDULED DUE TO AN EVENT TAKING PLACE AT THE HESKETH ARMS ON THAT DAY. THE NEW DATE IS SHOWN ON THE LIST BELOW. WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT THIS MAY CAUSE.
Dates have now been set for all our internal competitions, apart from the Floodlit Trophy. A date and format for that competition will be decided later in the season.
Sunday 1st June – Blowick Cup Champion of Champions – invitation singles for competition and merit winners from the 2024 season
Saturday 7th June – Coronation Cup –singles handicap with plate
Saturday 28th June – Club trip to the Black Horse, Croston
Sunday 13th July – Ladies’ Championship – ladies’ singles
Sunday 3rd August – President’s Cup – singles handicap with plate
Sunday 17th August – Chairman’s Shield – non-random doubles – enter as a pair, no plate
Sunday 14th September – Championship Cup (PROVISIONAL) – men’s singles played off scratch with no plate
Sunday 21st September – Last Chance Cup – random doubles with plate
TBC – Floodlit Trophy
The next club competition will be the Rose Bowl on Saturday 24th May. This will be a singles handicap, with a plate competition for those losing in their first game. To enter, please register at the green by 11.45am for a prompt 12 noon start.
Away Day at the Croston Black Horse – Saturday 28th June 2025
The Committee have for some time, been wanting to arrange a day out for the club, where people can experience another green, in the company of fellow members.
A maximum of 32 bowlers has been set so book early to ensure your place.
The cost for the day has been set at £30.00, which would include a lunch and two course evening meal. ( 3 courses available at a £4 supplement).
Greenage and entry to the competition are also included in the price.
Pairs will be drawn at random on the day and a plate is included so that everyone has an opportunity to play throughout most of the day.
An 11.00 start should ensure we complete the competition at a reasonable time.
There is a prize pot of £250.00, consisting of
£100 to the winners
£50 to the runners up
£20 to the losing semi-finalists.
A plate competition has prizes of
£40 for the winners
£20 for the runners up.
To keep costs down, there will be no coach transport, but it is hoped that between us, car sharing can be arranged for all who want to attend. ( I have three seats available)
Members are reminded that our annual Open Doubles competition will take place this Saturday, 26th April, starting at 10.00am.
If anyone can spare some time on the day to assist with making drinks and selling pre-made sandwiches, this would be greatly appreciated. If several members were able to help, we would be able to spread the workload. If you are able to help, even for a short time, please get in touch with Mike Milne or Chris Harding.
Spectators for what should be a great day of bowling will also be very welcome, as will help with marking cards and measuring.
It is with deep regret that we inform you of the passing of Ray Sutton, who died peacefully at home on Monday afternoon.
Ray was a life member of the Hesketh Arms Bowling Club and was esteemed for his skill as a bowler and his gentlemanly nature, always offering kind words to everyone.
Ray will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Details regarding the funeral arrangements will be provided in due course.
Our annual Open Doubles competition will take place on Saturday 26th April, with the first session starting at 10.00 am. This competition is held annually to acknowledge the generous support of our late Honorary Vice-President, Mr. Bernard O’Malley and Nationwide Produce.
Prize money for the event totals £900, with the winners receiving £320 and the Bernard O’Malley Trophy. Special thanks go to our competition sponsors, Birkdale Insurance Group.
Spectators on the day will be very welcome, for what should be a great day of bowling with players coming from Preston, Kirkham, Rossendale and Wigan to join bowlers from the local area to take part. We would also appreciate members’ help on the day with marking cards and measuring.
Finally, if any member would be willing to help out with making hot drinks and selling pre-prepared sandwiches, please speak to Chris Harding or Mike Milne. If we get a number of volunteers, we would be able to make out a rota to spread the workload.
GREEN BOOKINGS
Please note the following dates when outside events will be taking place at the club. The green will therefore be unavailable for use by members :-
Thursday 15th May – Southport Ladies’ League Knockout Cup match (afternoon)
Wednesday 21st May – Private Booking (evening)
Thursday 19th June – Ladies’ Pairs (morning and afternoon)
Saturday 21st June –Churchtown Conservative Club – B.J.P.O’Malley President’s Trophy(afternoon) – any bowling club member who is also a member of the Conservative Club is eligible to take part in this event.
Sunday 20th July – LV Individuals – Final Day (afternoon) – spectators welcome.
Sunday 10th August – Private Booking
2024 CLUB MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Kez Adams, our 2024 Club Member of the Year, is pictured below being presented with his award by Chairman Chris Harding before a recent league match.
SOUTHPORT FEDERATION
Southport’s first fixture of the season in Division 5 of the National League resulted in a 27 points to 5 defeat, when they took on a strong Chesterfield team. There were, however, excellent wins in the home leg at Tarleton Bowling Club for Andy Draper (21-20) and Kez Adams (21-19).
The team will be looking to bounce back in their next match, which will be against Cheshire Parks, on Sunday 11th May. Details of the home venue and team selections will be posted when available.
The first club competition of the season took place on Sunday, when we played for the Spring Pairs on a fine, sunny day. The Spring Pairs is a random doubles, with pairings drawn on the day. It was pleasing to see a couple of our new members taking part in their first Hesketh Arms competition.
The top half of the draw saw John McCabe and Steve McManus progress through to the final, having had a narrow escape in their second game when they had to come from behind to beat Mike Burrill and Chris Harding 21-20. John and Steve then went on to beat Sue Andersen and Christine McManus in the semi-final, the score being 21-7. Their opponents in the final were Alan Lloyd and Club President, John Unsworth, who had wins against Sue Davies and Tony Wakefield (21-12) and Pat McArthur and Alex Rimmer (21-15).
The final looked like being a close contest as the first few ends were shared to leave the scores level at 5 across but John and Steve were able to win five consecutive ends, scoring 12 chalks to establish a 17-5 lead. Although Alan and John Unsworth were able to regain the block, John McCabe and Steve McManus won the next three ends to run out 21-6 winners. Congratulations to both players but especially to John McCabe on his first Hesketh Arms competition win.
The plate competition was won by Noreen Lewis and Jim Halsall with a win against June Miley and George Hitchmough in the final.
WINNERS
RUNNERS UP
SEMI FINALISTS
SEMI FINALISTS
PLATE WINNERS
The next club competition will take place on Sunday 4th May when we will be staging the Coronation Cup. This is a singles handicap with plate. To enter, please register at the green on the day by 11.45 am for a 12 noon start.
SOUTHPORT FEDERATION
Southport’s first game of the season in the Federation National League is this coming Sunday, 13th April, when they take on Chesterfield in a Division 5 fixture.
The home leg is being held at Tarleton Bowling Club and the Hesketh Arms will be represented by Kez Adams and Andy Draper. The away team will be travelling to Staveley King George Bowling Club in Chesterfield and will include Colin Edge, Darren Edgerley, Mike Milne, Mark Wilde and Fergal Wright.
The match starts at 2.00 pm and support for the home team at Tarleton would be very welcome.
The first club competition of the season will take place this coming Sunday 6th April, when we will hold the Spring Pairs. This will be a random doubles event, with pairings drawn on the day and there will be a plate competition for pairs losing in their first match.
To enter, please register at the green by 11.45 am for a prompt 12.00 noon start.
ADVERTISING BOARDS
Many thanks to the Churchtown Conservative Club for their continued support of our bowling club through the renewal of their advertising board. Any bowling club member who might be interested in joining the Conservative Club should speak to George Hitchmough, Chris Harding or Mike Milne.
We currently have two advertising board spaces available. If anyone knows of a business which would like to advertise at the club, they should again speak to George, Chris or Mike.
LV HANDICAP SINGLES
The qualifying rounds for the LV League Handicap Singles will take place on Tuesday 13th May, at various greens, with the finals being held at Scarisbrick Bowling Club on Sunday 18th May. The entry fee is £6 and any of our LV League players wishing to enter should notify Mike Milne as soon as possible.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Many thanks to all those who have paid their 2025 subscription. Members are reminded that payment should be made as soon as possible.
The Annual General Meeting set the following subscription rates for the 2025 season :-
Standard membership subscription – £30.00 ; Team players’ subscription – £50.00
Payment can be made online directly to the Club’s bank account :
Sort Code : 30 97 88 Account number : 01007849
If paying by bank transfer, please notify Mike Milne by text (07752352065) or email (michaelmilne66@outlook.com)
Alternatively, subscriptions can be sent to Mike Milne (Treasurer) at the following address :-
Mike Milne, 20 Coudray Road, Southport PR9 9NL
OPEN DOUBLES – BERNARD O’MALLEY TROPHY
Our Open Doubles competition, being held on Saturday 26th April and sponsored by Birkdale Insurance Group, is now full. However, anyone who would like to go on the reserve list should contact Chris Harding (07761733024) or Mike Milne (07752352065 / michaelmilne66@outlook.com )
The entry fee is £20 per pair with starting times at 10.00 am, 10.45 am, 11.30 am and 12.15 pm.
Total prize money will be £900.00, paid out as follows :-
