Category: 2026

Friends Annual Head to Head with Bowls England Select

Thursday 27th August 2026 A Friends of English Bowling side met a Bowls England Select team at Leamington Spa during the National Finals, playing a 16‑end match that remained close throughout despite persistent morning rain, and a naughty dog, which somehow managed to invade the green!   Scores were level at five ends and again at ten, before Bowls England edged home 87–84, with three rinks apiece. The Select team featured Bowls England’s Chairman Jo Doust,…

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Friends v Warwickshire County Ladies

FOEB v Warwickshire County Ladies   17th August 2026 The Friends of English Bowling were welcomed to Royal Leamington Spa by the President of Warwickshire County Ladies Vanessa Brazier to celebrate their 90th Anniversary. The ladies of Warwickshire have produced past and current international players, won the Midland England League, The John’s Trophy, Walker Cup and the Amy Rose and the Friends wish them many more years of success. There was a lot of banter on…

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Thirty Years Celebrated at Byeways BC

Monday 3rd August 2026 Another hot & humid day saw us visiting a relatively new club, Byeways at Fremington between Bideford and Barnstaple. We like to find out a little of the history of the places we visit, so I asked, why Byeways? Before the club and surrounding housing estate was built it was the site of a Nursery for the village. So they kept the name and the road leading to it became Byeways…

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Speed on the green at Rock Park

The Friends  v Rock Park Bowling Club, Barnstable, Devon – August 2nd 2026 The second game arranged on our Devon Tour, was at Rock Park Bowling Club in Barnstable, North Devon. As with most of the country, the weather remained fine, and on arriving at the club we were met by Club Captain Ken Ellis who made us very welcome. The Friends team were represented by 10 Counties from as far north as Lincolnshire and…

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Friends arrive in Devon at Bideford BC

1st August 2026 at Bideford BC, Devon A very warm welcome was received on our visit to Bideford for a celebration match whilst in the area, the weather was hot but bearable luckily. Captain Chris made us feel very welcome and the game was played in the usual good humour and sportsmanship that you expect to see. The bowling gods were with us as we won on all six rinks with a score of 102…

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Charity Game at Iver Heath

Saturday 25th July 2026 It was my pleasure to act as Captain of the Day for the Friends of English Bowling team in our match against the English Bowls Association Charity Trust (EBACT), captained by Terri Keen. The weather was excellent throughout the day, providing ideal conditions for an enjoyable game of bowls. We were made most welcome by Iver Heath Bowls Club, Buckinghamshire, whose hospitality was outstanding. The excellent meal provided was greatly appreciated…

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Victory at Sawston BC then goodbye Cambridgeshire

Sawston BC 19th July 2026 This was the final stop on our three‑game visit to the Cambridge area. When we arrived at Sawston, the car park overlooked a very sun‑scorched cricket field, and the green itself was much like the others we’d seen on the trip — a patchwork of brown and green thanks to the hot weather. It made things a little tricky, but it certainly didn’t stop us having a good game. We…

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A great for bowling at Cottenham BC

Saturday 18th July 2026 Cottenham is well-loved village just north of Cambridge and down through the houses a lane takes you to the recreation area where the Bowls Club is. Plenty of parking. Yippee. The day was not meltingly hot, but good bowls playing weather. Friends from 13 counties gathered to enjoy a warm welcome from the club.  The catering ladies worked very hard to accommodate all the varied diets and well filled rolls were…

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