News, Events and information about Hesketh Arms Bowling Club
RAY SUTTON
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.
NEWSLETTER – SPRING 2025
OPEN DOUBLES 2025 – BERNARD O’MALLEY TROPHY
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.
SPRING PAIRS
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.
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.
PRING PAIRS
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 :-
Winners – £320.00 ; Runners-Up – £160.00 ;Semi-Finalists – £90.00 ; Quarter-Finalists – £60.00
CLUB COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
Sunday 4th May Coronation Cup (Handicap singles with plate) 12.00 pm start
Saturday 24th May Rose Bowl (Handicap singles with plate) 12.00 pm start
Sunday 1st June Blowick Cup Champion of Champions (Invitation singles for club competition and merit winners from 2024) 12.00 pm start
Saturday 28th June Club trip to the Black Horse, Croston – full details to be advertised
Bowls
We have 3 sets of bowls for sale
2:10
2:8
5:4
Please contact George for further details
THE GREEN WILL OPEN FROM the 24th of March 2025
The green will be open from Monday the 24th of March for members.
Round Robins
Every Tuesday and Friday mornings at 10:00pm Please arrive at 9:45 for registration.
The first Round Robin will be Tuesday the 1st of April.
Please note the cost will be £2:50 per person, to cover increasing costs of Tea, Coffee, and biscuits. All members welcome.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Many thanks to all those who have paid their 2025 subscription. Members are reminded that payment before the season starts is preferred.
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
NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2025
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Many thanks to all those who have paid their 2025 subscription. Members are reminded that payment before the season starts is preferred.
The Annual General Meeting set the following subscription rates for the 2025 season :-
Standard membership subscription – £30.00Team players’ subscription – £50.00Payment can be made online directly to the Club’s bank account :Sort Code : 30 97 88 Account number : 01007849If 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
We are again running our open doubles competition, held in honour of our late Honorary Vice-President and generous benefactor, Mr. Bernard O’Malley.
The competition will be held on Saturday 26th April and we are once again indebted to our sponsors, Birkdale Insurance Group.Entries are still being taken and the 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 :-Winners – £320.00 ; Runners-Up – £160.00Semi-Finalists – £90.00 ; Quarter-Finalists – £60.00To enter please contact Chris Harding (07761733024) or Mike Milne (07752352065 / michaelmilne66@outlook.com )All games will be 21 up, with 3 on the card.
CLUB COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
Sunday 6th April Spring Pairs (Random doubles with plate) 12.00 pm start
Sunday 4th May Coronation Cup (Handicap singles with plate)12.00 pm start
Saturday 24th May Rose Bowl (Handicap singles with plate) 12.00 pm start
Sunday 1st June Blowick Cup Champion of Champions (Invitation singles for club competition and merit winners from 2024) 12.00 pm start
Saturday 28th June Club trip to the Black Horse, Croston – full details to be advertised
Further dates for the rest of our programmes of events for 2025 will be published as soon as possible.
The bench has now been installed in Churchtown Village
There is an article published on https://standupforsouthport.com/
Many thanks to everyone who made time to come and help with the green tidy up.
The green surrounds needed a lot of work this year due to the removal of some trees and other close season events.
Our thanks must firstly go to Bill Bloor our Vice President and Projects manager.
Bill has spent a considerable number of hours on his own tided leaves and other debris up and disposing of it.
Saturday, Our thanks must go to
Bill Bloor, Sue Wignall, Graham and Lesley Keith, David Hart, Pat MacArthur, Debbie Barnes, Lol Walsh ( A newly joined member), Pete Smith (Painted Clubhouse, Looks Great) Lynne Smith, Alex Rimmer, Chris Lancaster, and George Hitchmough.
Sunday, Our thanks go to
Bill Bloor, Lol Walsh, John Unsworth our President, Chris Harding our Chairman, Derek Wignall, Andy Draper, Debbie Barnes, Tess Newton, Alex Rimmer, Colin and Linda Edge, George Hitchmough
Thanks also go to Len Southworth and Brian Sutton who came done on different days to help.
We must also thank Graham Meadow and Mark Kitchen who have agreed to sort out the broken paving flags.
The green surrounds are now in good order.
DON’T FORGET
We have a green clean up weekend on Saturday and Sunday the 8th and 9th of March.
From 10:00am each day until finish.
Come when you can!
All help however small is appreciated
We have a significant amount of work to be done to get the Green Surrounds ready for the season.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
BILL BLOOR
Vice President
AWARDS EVENING
Many thanks to all those who attended the Club’s Awards Night on Saturday, held to recognise our members’ successes from the 2024 season.
As usual, our Chairman, Chris Harding, was compere for evening, announcing the winners and runners-up in our club competitions and the team merit awards. In the absence of our President, John Unsworth, the prizes were presented the Vice-President, Bill Bloor.
This year, the Team of the Year award went to the Merlins, who had an outstanding season, winning the 2nd Division of the Southport Veterans’ League. Congratulations to George Hitchmough and all his team.
The Club Member of the Year award went to Kez Adams, who played a major role in project management at the club.
The awards section of the evening concluded with the special announcement that Peter and Lynne Smith had been awarded life membership of the club, in recognition of their many years of dedicated service to the Hesketh Arms Bowling Club, including the organising of the popular midweek round robins and undertaking numerous jobs at the club, for which the committee and members are very grateful.
Many congratulations to Peter and Lynne on receiving this well-deserved honour.
The awards were followed by a buffet, prepared by Gill from the Conservative Club and a quiz, set by our Chairman, with Vice-Chairman Jason Chapman again being the Quiz Master.
The Committee would like to thank the following : –
The Officers and Committee of the Churchtown Conservative Club, for the use of their facilities.
Gill, the Club Steward, for preparing the buffet and also to Lilly for her hard work behind the bar.
Jon Roberts, for his contribution to the buffet.
Darren Edgerley and Fergal Wright for their help selling raffle tickets.
Finally, thank you to all those who supported the evening by attending or providing raffle prizes. We look forward to seeing everyone once the green opens and wish all our members an enjoyable season of bowling in 2025.
A selection of Photographs from the Awards presentations courtesy of John McCabe
