This season’s cup saw a 4-way final between Lodge Farmers, Engineers, Jumbo Jet Set and Nomads.  The format was matchplay and it led to a very closely contested game with only 2.5 points separating the top 3 teams.  Lodge Farmers came out on top with 24.5 points and were declared Summer Cup champions!

Commiserations to Engineers who came second with 22.5 points, only 2 points behind the winners.  Jumbo Jet Set finished third with 22 points, just half a point away from second place.  Nomads finished fourth with 11 points.  Full competition details and scores can be found here.

Many thanks to everyone for playing and congratulations to Lodge Farmers!

This season’s Summer Cup draw has been completed.  Round 1 of the competition takes place on Mon 1^st July and the final on Mon 8^th July (matches to begin at 8pm as usual).

The round 1 draw is as follows:

Mon 1^st July @ Lodge Park:

• Jumbo Jet Set
• Engineers
• C&G Show

Mon 1^st July @ Redditch Borough:

• The Borough
• Nomads
• Lodge Farmers

The top two teams from each group progress to the final on Mon 8^th July at Redditch Borough.

The format is Match Play:

Points are awarded to each individual player for scoring more than their corresponding players from the opposing teams (eg: Player 1 from Team A is playing against Player 1 from Team B and Player 1 from Team C).  At the end of the game, the player with the highest pin score is awarded 3 points, second place is awarded 2 points and third place is awarded 1 point.  Points are shared for tied scores.  The match play points are then tallied for each team and the teams with the most match play points win.

Round 1 is played across 5 legs.  The final is played across 6 legs.  Teams in the final will also be split across alleys A & B to account for any alley differences.

Good luck to all teams!

LODGE FARMERS WIN TRIPLES COMPETITION 2024

Congratulations to Jamie, Tim and Glyn of Lodge Famers for winning this season’s Triples Competition.  They beat Rob, Richard and Mick of Jumbo Jets in the final.

All results from the competition can be viewed here.

Well played to all teams and thanks to all for your participation.

This season’s triples competition begins Tues 16^th April.

The round 1 games are played across all three venues so please check you have the correct venue.  Matches are 6 legs and start at 8pm.  The top three teams from each group shall progress to the finals night on Tues 23^rd April.

The round 1 draw has been completed and can be found below.  Further rules and details of the competition can be found here.

Good luck to all teams!

ROUND 1 DRAW & PLAYING ORDER:

Group A @ South Redditch:

1. JJS 2
2. C&G 2
3. JJS 1
4. C&G 3
5. LF 1
6. TB 2

Group B @ Lodge Park: 

1. LF 2
2. Nom 2
3. C&G 1
4. LF 3
5. Eng 1
6. Nom 4

Group C @ Redditch Borough:

1. BB 2
2. Eng 2
3. BB 1
4. Nom 1
5. Nom 3
6. TB 1

Rachel Morris Makes History – First Lady Singles Champion

The final group in the singles completion included three Lodge Farmers bowlers, Glyn Morley, and father & daughter Frank and Rachel Morris, and with Angela Guest (C&G Show) making up the quartet in a tense finale. After leg two, the trio of Farmers’ bowlers had each scored 14 pins with Guest just three pins adrift. There was still little between the leaders after leg three, although Rachel Morris and Morley had a single pin advantage over Frank Morris, with Guest remaining a further three pins behind. Leg four was to prove significant as Rachel Morris opened up a three-pin lead when each of the other finalists faltered. A steady seven pins with her last bowl then saw Rachel Morris finish with 34 pins leaving Frank Morris and Glyn Morley needing stacks of 11 or more if they were to win the singles trophy. But neither looked likely to make that score, with the result that Rachel Morris, who had also bowled well throughout the earlier rounds, was a worthy and first lady winner in the competition’s 18 years history.

In the earlier quarter final games, group A had Glyn Morley progress comfortably with 38 pins. The main excitement in the group though came in a three-way sudden death bowl off for the remaining two semi final spots between Angela Guest, Jim Child (Nomads) & Dave Marriott (Jumbo Jets) after each scored 30. And in the bowl off, seven pins was just enough for Guest & Child.

There were two contrasting last leg scores in QF group B. First Andy Clewlow (Engineers) looking odds on to qualify, failed to register a score and could only watch as others in the group beat his final pin total of 30. Alan Cummings (Nomads) though had no such problem making a last leg stack of 14 to top the group with 45 pins. Joining Cummings in the semi-finals were Frank Morris with 36 and Dave Orton (C&G Show) with 34.

After four legs in QF group C, just three pins separated Rachel Morris, Andy Gill-Smith (Bernie’s Bolts) and Mick Stanton & Rich Johnston (both Jumbo Jets) and the three qualifying spots looked likely to come from this quartet. Morris made certain by making a 14 last leg stack, while Gill-Smith edged ahead of Stanton leaving Johnston favourite for the third spot. But then James Marshal (Nomads), seemingly well out of contention, produced a great 15 stack to nip ahead of Johnston.

QF D was yet another group where, after leg four, just three pins separated four bowlers seeking one of the three semi-final spots. Craig Ellis (Engineers) finally secured top spot with fellow Engineer, Maurice Wroe and Richard Long (Lodge Farmers) just edging out Rob Quartly (Jumbo Jets).

After the completing the SF group A game, three players, Jim Child, Glyn Morley and Frank Morris had tied in top spot with 34 pins each. A sudden death bowl off was then required to decide which two would go through to the final. Bowling first, Child could make only four pins, which Morley scraped past with a five to book his final’s spot, before Morris made certain of his appearance in the final with seven pins.

SF group B was a high scoring game with the two ladies, Guest and Morris bowling well; scoring 42 and 40 pins respectively to reach the final; and leave the four men in the group trailing in their wake. For Marshal and Cummings, there was not to be last leg rescue stacks as each had produced in the quarter finals, while Gill-Smith and Orton were left to rue missed chances.

Congratulations to Rachel Morris for winning the 2024 Singles Competition!

Rachel is the first female winner of the competition since its formation in 2006. She defeated Frank Morris, Glyn Morley and Angela Guest in the final.

Many thanks to all participants in this year’s competition.

Full details of the competition and all the scoreboards can be found here.

Past Winners Shine in Singles Championship

The Championship’s first round comprised four groups of ten bowlers, from which just the top six in each group would go through to the quarter finals. And in those groups were nine previous singles champions who would all qualify for the following week’s quarter finals.

Of those four initial groups, group A was the most exciting and high scoring. Although looking good to qualify before bowling his last leg, Bert Clewlow (Engineers) made sure he would progress by then making a 13 stack to top the group with 42 pins. Glyn Morley (Lodge Farmers) and Mick Stanton (Jumbo Jets), both previous champions, made 38 to join Clewlow. The remaining qualifying places all went to a trio of Lodge Farmers bowlers, Frank Morris also making 38, while 37 pins each was just enough for the Chris Prichard and Richard Long. Spare a thought for Mac Eaton (Nomads) failing to qualify with 36 pins, a score which would have seen him easily qualify had he been in any of the other groups.

Group B had the 2019 champion, Craig Ellis (Engineers) looking in good form to lead the way with 36 pins. Following were the Jumbo Jets pair of Rich Johnston and Len Quartly making 35 and 33 respectively and there was also 33 from Rachel Morris (Lodge Farmers) just one of only two ladies to progress. The 2022 champion, Rob Quartly (Jumbo Jets) edged in with 30 pins with Andy Gill-Smith (Bernie’s Bolts) close behind on 29 pins.

Mark Ganderton (Engineers), and the 2017 winner, always looked good to qualify before making a 14 stack in his last leg to cement his qualification and top group C with 42 pins. Bagging the last spot though by a single pin was Tim Jones (Lodge Farmers) with 30 despite a near calamitous leg four score of only two pins. Jones’ hiccup seemed to spook three times winner Alan Cummings (Nomads) who, bowling immediately after Jones, could then only score one pin. But Cummings had already banked three good leg scores including a 14 stack and with a sound fifth leg score finished with a qualifying 36 pins. He was joined, and more sedately, on 36 pins by Ian Greenway (Engineers), champion in 2016 & 2018. Scores of 32 were then comfortable enough for qualification for Maurice Wroe (Engineers) and the 2007 winner Dave Maule (unattached).

James Marshal (Nomads) had a great first ball nine in his opening leg and went on to make a 15 stack in that leg. Marshal’s qualification was never in doubt and led throughout the game on his way to a group D topping score of 40. Dave Orton (C&G Show), Jim Child (Nomads) and Steve Court (The Borough) made 36, 33 & 31 respectively followed by the second lady qualifier, Angela Guest (C&G Show), and the defending champion Scott Few (The Borough) with 29 pins each.

The first round of the Singles Competiton 2024 has finished with the top 24 players qualifying to next week’s finals.

The Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Grand Final will all be played on Tues 6th Feb at Redditch Borough Social Club. Matches will start at 8pm – please arrive early to get a drink and to be present for the draw.

Finals format:

• At the start of the evening the 24 qualifiers will be drawn randomly to determine the four Quarter Final groups.  The top scoring three players from each Quarter Final group will progress to the Semi Finals.
• The Semi Finalists will be drawn into two groups of six, with the top scoring two players from each group progressing to the Grand Final.
• The top scoring player in the Grand Final will be declared Singles Champion 2024.

Spectators are welcome. Players that are eliminated are encouraged to stay to watch the later rounds and the presentation to the winner at the end of the night.

Full details of the first round scores and qualifying players can be found here.

Thanks to all participants and congratulations to the quarter finalists. Good luck in the finals!

Registrations NOW OPEN

The annual Singles Competition returns at the end of this month and will see players competing to be crowned Singles Champion 2024!  If the glory isn’t enough for you, rumour has it there’s a cash prize at stake too…

All players are welcome to join, including those not currently part of a league team.

The competition takes place on Tues 30th Jan and Tues 6th Feb at Redditch Borough Social Club.

For more information and to register please click here.

Good luck to all entrants!

Doubles Winners Crowned

Luke Saunders and Craig Ellis (Engineers) took the doubles crown after coming through the quarter and semi finals by the narrowest of margins before beating Sue and Frank Morris (Lodge Farmers) in the final.

In their quarter final game, Saunders & Ellis were always ahead and lead by six pins going into the last leg against James Marshall & Alan Cummings (Nomads). But the Engineers duo then posted a poor score to leave their opponents wanting 16 pins to force a play-off. And this was nearly achieved as Marshall & Cummings came close with a 15 leg score and the game finished 69 – 68 in favour of Saunders & Ellis.

No such drama for Sue & Frank Morris when beating Rachel Morris and Andy Rumble (Lodge Farmers) comfortably 75 – 51 to progress to the semi-finals. Sue Morris was in good form making a 14 pin stack in the first leg to open up an immediate good lead which was added to in each of the remaining four legs. Sue Morris eventually totalled 40 pins in the game.

Another Engineers pair, Craig Sears & Mark Ganderton saw off Rob & Len Quartly (Jumbo Jets) easily enough by 81 – 62. Sears finished with 44 pins incl a 16 stack in leg three which effectively decided which pair would go on to the semi final.

Dave Orton & Angela Guest (C&G Show) were also dominate in their game with Maurice Wroe & Ian Greenway (Engineers) to win 76 – 64. Orton’s stack of 15, in leg two, on his way to a match total of 43 proving to be decisive.

Both semi finals were close. No more so than Saunders & Ellis when overcoming Orton & Guest by a single pin, 72 -71. Saunders & Ellis took a first leg lead of seven on the back of a 14 stack from Ellis who finished with a total of 42. Orton & Guest fought back though and whittled the deficit down to a single pin after leg four. The C&G pair were finally left 15 to tie the game, and set up a sudden death play-off, but fell that vital one pin short and Saunders & Ellis made the final.

The other semi ended 74 – 70 for Sue & Frank Morris over Craig Sears & Mark Ganderton. The Morris duo’s lead of eight pins after leg three, slid to only a three pin advantage following the next leg as Ganderton made a 12 stack. But Sears, finishing with 39 pins, and Ganderton were unable to maintain their recovery posting only a modest last leg score. Left just 10 to win, Sue & Frank Morris eased over the line to book their final place.

Both finalists had scored well in the previous rounds and, having ridden their luck in the previous two rounds, Saunders & Ellis began confidently and were again in good form in the final scoring 37 & 36 respectively. Sue & Frank Morris’s form however deserted them. Saunders & Ellis had a three pin lead after leg one before building that advantage to nine pins after leg four. They then registered a 15 pin last leg score to leave their opponents a massive 25 pins to win. Needing to make big stack scores, Sue & Frank Morris never looked likely to do that and had to be content with the well earned runner up trophy. For Saunders & Ellis, the Doubles Cup was deservedly theirs for good consistent bowling throughout the competition.