LATEST NEWS

26 March 2025

County Friendly v Wiltshire

The final friendly of the season was held at North Wilts IBC and resulted in a victory for Hampshire by 132 shots against 80. Five rinks won with the other achieving a draw

Top rink was decided by the final Wiltshire bowl when then turned a three down situation into two up against the Loddon Vale rink, resulting in the Atherley rink of Martin Thorpe, Paul Bowler, Steve Saunders, and John Gunson coming out on top

County badges were awarded to Peter Sanders of Longmeadow and Gary Taylor of Loddon Vale

President Neil Roderick thanked everyone for the support he had received during the season

23 March 2025

HIBA County Championships Report

In the morning session, the Banister Park team of Ken Prior, Paul Sidwell , Brian Dibdin, and Jake Palmer were only 3 shots adrift after five ends, but they failed to score in the following seven ends. So the Atherley fours team of Kevin Smith, Martyn Wise, Adam White and Stuart Rowney won comfortably with a score of 23-11

In the mixed pairs final the Loddon Vale pair of Gary and Alice Lovett got off to a flying start and were leading 15:6 after 9 ends but the Palmerston pair of Maureen Hill and Bill Jackson hung on to be only 3 shots behind with 4 ends to go. However, the Lovetts won the last 4 ends to win comfortably by 23 shots to 14

The Palmerston crowd were thrilled by the local youngster Josh Thompson who put up a great performance against Zach Miller of Loddon Vale. 7 each after 11 ends 13 each after 15 ends one shot difference after 21 ends. However, Zach finished strongly and managed to win by 21 shots to 17

In the afternoon session we saw a big turnaround as the senior 2 bowl triples Loddon Vale trio of Martin Wells, Jeff White and Geoff Green were losing 3-13 after 8 ends to the Victory team of Dave Watts, Phil Drewball and Paul Lawrence. Surprisingly The Victory team only scored two more shots and the final score was 24 - 15. A 10 shot deficit became a 9 shot win

The triples final between two Atherley teams was so close for so long. 9 each after 8 ends and 16-14 after 13 ends but the team of Martyn Wise, Stuart Rowney and Adam White won the last four ends to beat Leigh Allen, Mick Barrett and Adam Clark 22-14

In the singles final, the local favourite Russell Gadd raced of to a comfortable lead after 10 ends of 12-4. He then failed to score on the next 6 ends and Kevin Smith of Atherley edged into a lead of 14 shots to 12. The lead then went backwards and forwards until after 23 ends the score was level at 18 all. Kevin some how managed to win the final 2 ends after a thrilling contest to become the 2025 Hampshire Singles Champion

As we had a couple of players who qualified for 3 finals the pairs final was played on Sunday. This was an exhibition of bowling skill from all four players. The match was contested on every end but Leigh Allen and Adam Clark, just managed to hold on to a slender lead all the way through the match and in the end were winners by 3 shots from Martyn Wise and Adam White. This win meant Adam Clark has won 5 consecutive County Pairs Championships and 3 consecutive with Leigh Allen

Players from Atherley had a clean sweep of the main events singles, pairs triples and fours, with Loddon Vale players mopping up the other events of Under 25 singles, Mixed Pairs and Over 60 2 Bowl Triples

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists for putting on a great show of bowling and thanks to the spectators and supporters for attending the event

A summary of the scores can also be found via this link

Bill Jackson - Competition Secretary

19 March 2025

County Friendly v Kent CIBA

Firstly thank you to everyone who travelled to play in this fixture

The teams met at Angel IBC where we had great company, a fantastic meal but disastrous result losing 88-157. Our successful rink was from Atherley and comprised Martin Thorpe, Steve Saunders, Mark Burnett and John Gunson

Congratulations to Aki Atkins of Chawton Park upon being presented with his County Badge

13 March 2025

Competition Final’s Weekend

Final’s Weekend for this season’s competitions is on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March at Palmerston IBC. A copy of the schedule of matches can be found via the Competitions tab on this website

08 March 2025

Bramley Bowl and Trisham Trophy

Congratulations to Chawton Park IBC who have won this season’s Bramley Bowl and to Loddon Vale IBC who won the Trisham Trophy

02 March 2025

County Friendly v Bedfordshire CIBA

Hampshire had a fine victory winning on 5 rinks and by a score of 128-110 after an adjustment for being a player short on the day. Our top team was the triple from the Loddon Vale home team of Adrian Bush, Harry Grainger and Nigel Bechelet

Congratulations to John Walsh of Banister Park who received his colt badge, Jim Bellis, his County badge and Nigel Bechelet his 75 game flash

Thank you to Loddon Vale and Gary Lovett for the use of the club and excellent meal

Our next game is away to Kent at Angel IBC on 19 March 2025

02 March 2025

Well done to our Under 25 team won there quarter final against Somerset today by 60 shots to 20. The next game is the semi final against Kent on 17 March at Wey Valley IBC

Zac Miller, Charlie May, Alice Lovett, Ashley Nethercliffe

Liam May, Jake Palmer, Reece Graham, Luke Bell

Reserve  Luke May

17 February 2025

Peter Line RIP

We have received the very sad news that Peter Line passed away today

Peter’s bowling pedigree within Hampshire was legendary, winning a gold medal in the fours at the 1972 World Outdoor Bowls Championships in Worthing and he followed this up four years later when he won two more medals - a bronze medal in the fours and a silver medal in the Leonard Cup team event

He was equally successful when winning the gold medal in the pairs at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games and four years later won a silver medal in the 1974 British Commonwealth Games

He also won the national singles title in 1961 and 1964 and in 1999 he won the national senior singles. He first played for England in 1955 and was in the Men's England team for 30 years through to 1985. He was the England International Captain in 1968 and then for three years 1973 - 1975. He represented Hampshire for an incredible 179 times in the Middleton Cup, a feat that will likely never be broken

He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with Wendy and family at this sad time

The funeral will take place at 10.45am on Thursday 27 March at Southampton Crematorium followed by the wake at Atherley BC

16 February 2025

Home Counties League at King George Field against Surrey

Although a dead rubber both teams played at a very competitive match with the overall scores always remaining close as shown below

Hampshire 25-30 (5),  55-55 (10), 87-88 (15), 96-102 (18) and 117-112 after 21 ends

A nice change to win in final 3 ends rather than losing as recent history shows and Hampshire finish second behind Sussex who beat all comers

Colts badges were awarded to Tom Prior, Atherley and Martin Vickers from Loddon Vale and Home County flashes were presented to Paul Lawrence and Dave Watts from Victory. A County badge was presented to Jake Palmer of Banister Park

02 February 2025

Home Counties League at Eastbourne against Sussex

Hampshire played their second game in this year’s event but with a poor result against Sussex.

- Josh Davis, Dale Mason, Steve Shaw and Stuart Rowney

Rink lost a single shot on first end but led 7-1 after five ends. They then had to wait until end 13 to pick up two more shots, before eventually losing 11-25

- Ken Prior, Bob Scottow, Peter Cummins and Brian Barber

Lost first 6 ends to be down by 15 shots. Eventually lost 8-29

- Michael Holmes, Rob Crook, Charlie May and Paul May

Great start getting 5 shots on first end and two more on next two ends but were 7-10 down after 7 ends. Recovered to lead 15 -11 after 13 ends. Shots then came harder to come by trailing 15-21 after 19 ends recovered lose by single shoe 20-21

- Leigh Allen, Danny Brown, Ashley Nethercliffe and Adam Clark

Our winning rink were always in control losing just seven ends before achieving a 31-9 victory

- David Bines, Dave Thurgood, Rob Bines and Mick Barrett

Won first end but trailed 1-10 after 5 ends. Lost 10-21

- Gary Taylor, Jeff White, Zack Miller and Adam White

Trailed 2-9 after 5 ends Later picked up a three and a four but went on to lose 12-26.

Overall the team trailed by 18 after 5, 28 after 10, 26 after 15, 28 after 18 and 39 at the end (92-131). Had recovered to be only trailing by 14 at one stage after the midway end but recovery wasn’t maintained.

Colts badges were awarded to Bob Scottow, Michael Holmes and Rob Crook, all Banister Park. Zack Miller, Loddon Vale and David Bines, Banister Park, received their Home Counties flash for competing in 5 Home Counties games

Next game is against Surrey at King George Field on 16 February 2025

29 January 2025

County Friendly v Surrey CIBA

A highly competitive game at Palmerston this afternoon where Surrey won 3 rinks against Hampshire’s 2 with one drawn, Hampshire managed to win by 125 shots to 118 shots

A colts badge was awarded to James Cushen of Longmeadow, who was part of our top rink along with club colleague, Nick Rogers, Vic Phipps from Victory and John Kellow from Chawton Park who won 34-12

Our next game is at Loddon Vale against Bedfordshire on 2 nd March 2025

15 January 2025

Country Friendly v Hampshire County Women’s BA

The two associations were competing for the Freda Guy Memorial Bowl. The men retained the trophy with a 113 – 79 victory. The top rink comprised Jim Bellis, (Chawton Park), Doug Nazer, (Banister Park), John Gunson, (Atherley) and John Kellow (Chawton Park)

Colts badges were presented to Adie Booth and Steve Stockley from Palmerston and Paul Bowler from Atherley. Victory players Roger Somerset was awarded his County badge and Reid Wilcockson a 25 game flash from President, Neil Roderick

A certificate recognising representing the county in 175 games was also presented to John Kellow

Thanks to Kath Patrick and Victory for hosting the match and for the excellent meal

11 January 2025

Topsy-Turvy Liberty Trophy game against Berkshire

Hampshire started well and were leading 28 - 14 after first 4 ends only to see that lead totally eradicated in the next end

We went behind on the next two ends trailing 32 - 41 recovering to lead 57 - 50 after 10 ends. End 11 saw the scores again level at 57 all before Hampshire slowly pulled away leading by 16 shots at 15 ends and by 9 shots at 18 ends. Going into the final end Hampshire led 107 - 101 but with just 3 rinks left to finish the score was 109 all. Berkshire claimed 5 shots against our 1 to win 114-110

County badges were awarded to Lee Croad, John O’Donnell and Chris Weekes. Congratulations also

to Martyn Wise on his 50 game flash

The Rink scores were:

Dave Watts, Zack Miller, Chris Weekes, Martyn Wise 8 – 25

Josh Davis, Reece Graham, Mark Fyfield, Gary Starks 18 – 19 (led 17 - 12 after 17 ends)

Kevin Smith, Jake Palmer, Jody Bright, Stuart Rowney 20 – 17 (led 10 - 0 after 4 ends)

Lee Croad, Mike Squires, John O’Donnell, Jon Queripel 13 – 20 (had recovered to lead 13 - 12 after 15 ends)

Leigh Allen, Ashley Nethercliffe, Colin Thresher, Adam Clark 29 – 16

Dale Mason, Mike Leeson, Barry Starks, Chris Kane 22 – 14 (trailed 1 - 7 after 5 ends)

John Kellow

05 January 2025

Excellent start for Hampshire in 2025

 

The morning saw our first Home Counties League fixture against Kent, which was played at Chawton Park. There were 2 points available for each winning rink with a further 10 points for the overall match winners. Hampshire won on all rinks securing a 22-0 points victory and by 163 shots to 76. The Rink scores were

B Stafford, D Fulker, L Cunningham, B Jackson 32-10

J Queripol, J O’Donnell, M Squires, R Hutchinson 21-12

G Starks, A Nethercliffe, D Thurgood, B Smith 38-16

C Weekes, M Hennessy, M Wells, G Taylor 18-11

M Carr, N Beeson, D Sims, J Blair 31- 6

M Fyfield, R Graham, J Shillingford, D Brown 23-21  

Colts badges were awarded to Chris Weekes (East Dorset) and Lee Cunningham (Palmerston)

Home County flashes were presented to Danny Brown, Nathan Beeson and Matt Carr (all Chawton Park)

County badge given to James Shillingford (Chawton Park) and a 25 Game flash to David Sims (Chawton Park)

The next match is against Sussex at Eastbourne on 02 February 2025

In the afternoon Hampshire entertained a team from Berkshire at Riverside IBC in a County Friendly

Hampshire always had a slight overall edge in the scores, winning by 132 shots to 107 with each side winning on 3 rinks

With 3 ends to play our winning rinks were all leading by 11 shots, (Palmerston, Atherley and Executive). Palmerston picked up 5 shots on last end to win by 14, Atherley 5 shots to win by 13 but the Executive rink of Neil Roderick, Millie Powell (Guest), John Gunson and John Kellow went on to win by 22 shots

County badges were presented to Bill McEwan of Chawton Park and Dave Webb of Palmerston

We now meet Berkshire at Atherley next Saturday 11 January in Liberty Trophy. Supporters very welcome

15 December 2024

County Friendly v London Scottish BA

Chawton Park hosted today’s fixture between Hampshire and London Scottish bowlers. Hampshire won 123 shots against 69 in a game enjoyed by all. Our top rink of bowlers from Banister Park and the home club comprised Ray Rankine, Bill McEwan, Doug Nazer and Eric Phillips

Colts badges were awarded to Oskar Olejarka from Chawton Park and Doug Nazer and Ray Rankine from Banister Park. Congratulations also go to Adrian Bush and Steve Fuller from Loddon Vale, who received their County Badges and Martin Johnson from Palmerston who received his 25 game flash

19 November 2024

Over 60’s v Berkshire

An excellent start in the second round of the Over 60’s Inter County Competition as we defeated Berkshire this morning. The home rinks at Victory won on all 3 rinks and by a very convincing 86 shots to 37 whilst the away rinks at Desborough won on 2 rinks and by 54 shots to 48 to give us an overall score of 140 to 85. This puts us into the third round when we will face Devon on Tuesday 14 January 2025

The rink scores were:

Barry Starks 34 - 11

Adrian Ash 27 - 8

Bill Ross 25 - 18

Colin Thresher 12 - 20

Mike Barrett 23 - 12

John O’Donnell 19 - 16

13 November 2024

County Friendly v Sussex

Following a very competitive match, where the lead was swapping between the two sides, Hampshire came out victorious at Arun IBC winning 123-117

Sussex won three rinks against our two, with one drawn but our top rink from Loddon Vale, Steve Fuller, Barry Eggington, Harry Grainger and Andy Janes winning 33-12 was significant in the final score

A colts badge was awarded to Tony Gniotek from Chawton Park, who was part of our other winning

rink, 23-15

27 October 2024

County Friendly v Dorset

Our second game of the season was against Dorset this afternoon at Dolphin IBC but sadly it did not go as well as hoped as we were defeated by 117 shots to 141

The top rink was the Chawton Park rink of Jim Bellis, George Roberts, Aki Atkins and Gary M Johnson who won 30-11

The other rink scores were:

Martin Thorpe, Barry Egglinton, Miles Belcher, Paul Knowles 22 - 21

Dave Thurgood, Mike Gunton, Graham Sampson, John Kellow 16 - 21

Neil Roderick, Steve Fuller. John Gunson, Gary Carter 15 - 19

John Towner, Tony Banks, Alan Taylor, Colin Stokes 19 - 43

Vic Phipps, Reid Wilcockson, Mick Clements, John Stephenson 15 - 26

A Colts Badge was given to Miles Belcher of Atherley as well as a 25 game flash to Graham Sampson of Chawton Park and a 50 game flash to Neil Roderick of Palmerston

16 October 2024

County Friendly v Surrey

Our first game of the new season was against Surrey CIBA at Wey valley this afternoon

We got off to a slow start and after 5 ends were down by 31 shots to 39 and at 15 ends we still trailed by 91 shots to 100. However in the last few ends we pulled back and after 18 ends it was 111 - 115 before a final result at 21 ends of 131 - 131 to complete a brilliant comeback

The rinks playing and scores were:

Neil Roderick, John Gunson, Bill Jackson, Derrick Fulker - 28 - 16

Stephen Fuller, Barry Egglinton, Harry Grainger, Gary Taylor - 21 - 22

Dave Webb, Nick Rogers, Terry Hill, Steve Wiggins, 19 - 16

VVic Phipps, John Stephenson, Reid Wilcockson, Rodger Somerset - 23 - 25

Alan Stafford, Jim Johnson, Peter Saunders, Gary Carter 9 - 37

Phil Wood, Mike Gunton, Ian Urquhart, Graham Sampson - 29 - 17

A Colts Badge was presented to Mike Gunton of Chawton Park and 25 Game Flashes to Vic Phipps and John Stephenson of Victory

21 September 2024

Liberty Trial

The names selected for the Liberty Trophy team trial have been uploaded

05 September 2024

Over 60s Team Trial

The names selected for the Over 60’s Inter County team trial have been uploaded

01 September 2024

County Team Competitions

The details of the various County Team EIBA Competitions have been added to the respective pages on the website