Croston Black Horse Away Day – Saturday 28th June 2025
There are 22 members attending the first “Away Day’ trip to the Black Horse pub in Croston. Unfortunately no further applications can be taken due to having to inform the venue in advance of meal choices. Players will be competing for the Vice Presidents Cup and there will also be a plate competition.
It is requested that all those attending should arrive by 10.45am for a prompt 11.00 am start.
To allow for everyone to participate throughout the day, the competition will comprise of an initial round robin format, followed by semi finals and finals in both the Cup and Plate competitions. Thank you for your support. Bill Bloor
On Thursday 19th June the Club was pleased to host a Summer Pairs Competition for bowlers from the Southport Ladies’ League. This has become a regular and popular fixture on the local bowling scene. On behalf of the Committee, many thanks to everyone who helped out to make this event a success. Below is a report on the day from Noreen and Sue.
20 pairs entered the Hesketh Arms Summer Pairs Competition, we welcomed members from Ainsdale, Botanic, Crossens, Hesketh Arms, Mere Brow and Victoria Park. Once again, we were so lucky to have fabulous weather, the sun was out and some very competitive bowling took place.
The Hesketh Arms is a challenging green and there was some excellent bowling all day. Some games were nearly 2 hours long. Our semi-finalists were Irene Kermode & Pat Lough v Sue Andersen and Pam Allen and Lorna Simpson v Pat McArthur and Sue Davies.
However, due to the heat and the length of the games one match was not played so the final was between Pam & Lorna v Pat & Sue.
Some very competitive bowling in the final but Pat & Sue won through 21-17.
Congratulations to our 2025 Summer Pairs Winners Pat McArthur and Sue Davies.
WINNERS SUE DAVIES & PAT McARTHUR
We would like to thank all the ladies who supported this event and the Hesketh Arms who once again put on a very enjoyable and well-run competition. They look forward to seeing you all next year.
Noreen and Sue
OPEN SINGLES 2025 – SPONSORED BY BIRKDALE INSURANCE GROUP
The Club’s annual Open Singles competition will take place on Saturday 30th August, with the first session starting at 10.00 am. There is total prize money of £570.00, with the winner taking home £220.00. We are grateful for the generous sponsorship of Birkdale Insurance Group.
Although all the places in the competition have been filled in record time, we have started a reserve list in case we have players dropping out. For further information, please contact Mike Milne (07752352065) or Chris Harding (07761733024).
Spectators will be very welcome on the day, for what should be a great day of bowling and any help with card marking, measuring or assisting with refreshments would be greatly appreciated.
CHURCHTOWN CONSERVATIVE CLUB – B.J.P.O’MALLEY PRESIDENT’S TROPHY
Congratulations to Alan Lloyd and Alex Rimmer on winning the Conservative Club’s B.J.P.O’Malley President’s Trophy, hosted by our club on Saturday.
This trophy was presented to the Conservative Club by our late Honorary Vice-President, Mr. Bernard O’Malley and this was the first time the trophy had been played for since his passing last year.
Bernard’s successor as Conservative Club President, George Hitchmough, was on hand to present the trophy at the end of the competition. It is good to see the close links between the two clubs continuing.
WINNERS ALAN LLOYD & ALEC RIMMER
LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP AND FORTHCOMING CLUB COMPETITIONS
The next internal club competition will be the Ladies’ Championship, which will be held on Sunday 13th July, starting at 12 noon.
Dates for other club events are listed below :-
CLUB COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
Sunday 3rd AugustPresident’s Cup (Handicap singles with plate) 11.00 am start
Sunday 17th AugustChairman’s Shield (Non-random doubles – enter as a pair, no plate) 12.00 pm start
Sunday 14th Sept.Championship Cup (Men’s singles – played off scratch, no plate)
12.00 pm start
Sunday 21st Sept.Last Chance Cup (Random doubles with plate – pairings to be drawn on the day) 12.00 pm start
TBC Floodlit Trophy (date and format to be decided)
Five hardy bowlers turned up on a wet Saturday morning, Colin Edge, Jim Hallsall, Mal Green, Steve MacManus, and Fergal Wright.
In the top half of the draw the preliminary match was between Mal Green and Fergal which Fergal won.
The first Semi Final was between Jim and Fergal who were similar handicap, Fergal took an early lead to 8: 5. Jim caught up and got to 13 across but Fergal with the jack extended his lead finally winning 21:15
In the lower half of the draw the semi-final was between Steve and Colin. Steves Handicap was minus 3 but he managed to get back to 12:11 at the mid stage of the game. Having the jack was crucial in the wet conditions and Steve managed to bowl out to a 21:19 win against Colin who was playing in his first Hesketh Competition.
The Final Was a great game of bowls with the weather having finally passed and was played on an increasingly drying green. Steve managed to get to 9:10 at the mid stage but Fergal with the advantage of leading the ends managed a 21:11 win.
WINNER FERGAL WRIGHT
RUNNER UP STEVE MACMANUS
Thank you to the players who played through some very wet weather.
Fergal was a worthy winner adding to his 2021 victory
BCGBA PRESENTATION TO LOCAL CLUBS ON WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE 7pm AT AINSDALE CLUB LIVERPOOL ROAD AINSDALE.
If you wish to find out more about the BCGBA the above meeting is free to attend. We have a great opportunity to hear all about the exciting new British Crown Green Bowling Association vision, structure and proposals to grow our game in the years ahead. Collectively we can develop Crown Green Bowling in the Southport and Formby/Crosby areas.
Join us at the Ainsdale Club, on Wednesday 11th June (7pm), for an inspiring evening dedicated to the development of your Bowls Club and the game in our area. Whether you’re looking to raise funds, apply for grants, grow or strengthen ties with your local community, this event has something for everyone. Steve Clamp, BCGBA Board Member and Ian Gill, Lancashire Development Officer will be on hand to share invaluable advice on these topics and more, including coaching and Club governance. You also can take part in a Q&A session covering the National Development Strategy, the new BCGBA website, and all things crown green bowls. Steve and Ian will be joined by a fantastic panel of experts from across both the County and the BCGBA, ensuring you leave with fresh insights and actionable ideas.
Please do not miss this chance to connect, learn, and strengthen your Club’s future. We can’t wait to see you there—come along and be part of the conversation. Plenty of car parking space and the bar will be open for ongoing chats after the formal meeting.
Sunday 15th June – LV pairs – Finals Day
The LV Pairs finals will be played at the Hesketh Green on Sunday the 15th of June commencing at 1pm.
Come along and see some good competitive bowling from bowlers around our local area who are in the Southport LV League.
The Blowick Cup was held on Sunday and in an extremely close final, Mike Milne won the title for the second time, with a 21-20 win against Steve McManus.
Winner MIKE MILNE
Runner up STEVE McMANUS
CORONATION CUP
The next club competition will be the Coronation Cup, which will take place on Saturday 7th June. This is a singles handicap with plate.
To enter, please report to the green on the day by 11.45 am, to ensure a prompt start at 12 noon.
AWAY DAY TO THE BLACK HORSE, CROSTON – SATURDAY 28th JUNE
Names are still being taken for the Club’s Away Day at the Black Horse, Croston on Saturday 28th June. Please see attached for details and notify Mike Milne (michaelmilne66@outlook.com / 07752352065) or speak to Bill Bloor if interested. A good number of members have already registered for this trip but we will need to know numbers well in advance in order to help with the catering arrangements.
This is the first time the Club has organised an away day for members and it should be a great day out at a superb venue. All are welcome, bowlers and supporters alike.
SOUTHPORT FEDERATION
Southport’s May fixture in Division 5 of the Federation National League resulted in a 19-13 defeat against Cheshire Parks.
In the home leg, held at Hesketh Bank Bowling Club, Southport won 8-4, with wins for Ray Atkinson (21-15), Kez Adams (21-8) and Andy Draper (21-20). The away team had three winners at Poynton Working Men’s Club, with Fergal Wright winning 21-16.
The next fixture will be in July, when Southport will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on Preston in a local “derby”. Details of the selection and venues will be published nearer the time.
CLUB COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
Saturday 7th June Coronation Cup (Handicap singles with plate) 12.00 pm start
Saturday 28th June Club trip to the Black Horse, Croston – details posted on website or request the e-mail to be sent if not already received.
Sunday 13th July Ladies’ Championship (Ladies’ singles) 12.00 pm start
Sunday 3rd August President’s Cup (Handicap singles with plate) 11.00 am start
Sunday 17th August Chairman’s Shield (Non-random doubles – enter as a pair, no plate) 12.00 pm start
Sunday 14th Sept. Championship Cup (Men’s singles – played off scratch, no plate)
12.00pm start
Sunday 21st Sept. Last Chance Cup (Random doubles with plate – pairings to be drawn on the day) 12.00 pm start
TBC Floodlit Trophy (date and format to be decided)
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 :-
Sunday 15th June – LV pairs – Finals Day (afternoon) – spectators welcome.
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.
