Category: Yearly Highlights

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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Two Wood Pairs Competition 2026

Friday 14th August Friends 2‑Wood Pairs Competition – A Glorious Day at Leamington The long‑awaited day for the revamped Friends 2‑Wood Pairs Competition finally arrived, set against the buzz of the National Championships at Leamington. With 22 pairs entered across two leagues, everything was in place for a full and exciting schedule — until early morning drama struck. Two players had to withdraw, prompting a brisk bit of “green‑side diplomacy” to find replacements. Huge thanks…

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Friends v. GB Britton

G B Britton*, Bristol East Wednesday 27th May We arrived at the club with temperatures in the high twenties. It was the third day of the heatwave but there was a slight breeze which made it much more comfortable than yesterday. Captain Wes and I decided to aim for a full game with trial ends, which we accomplished with ease. The match went well for the Friends, winning five rinks and losing the sixth by…

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Oxfordshire City & County – Game 3

13th May 2026 A warm welcome was received on our visit to Oxford City & County for a celebration match whilst in the area. President & Captain Mick made us feel very welcome and the game was played in the usual good humour and sportsmanship. The weather was quite changeable with 2 heavy downpours making the green a little heavy at times but we managed to find it on most rinks. Despite winning 3 rinks and…

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Game 2 at Kidlington BC

Tuesday 12th May We arrived at Kidlington on a cool but dry day. Warm clothing was the order of the day. The ladies in the kitchen had prepared an array of filled rolls which we could add to with onion, tomato or sweet pickle. Very tasty indeed. I already knew club President Chris Cox so it was good to catch up on old times. We started proceedings with a Spider for a large bottle of…

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Friends begin the season at Abingdon BC

Monday May 11th 2026. With winter finally behind us, this was the first Friends’ game of 2026. With 27 fixtures scheduled across the country, it marks the start of a busy spell — including three matches in the Oxford area. The Abingdon green looked and played beautifully, and their electronic scoreboard kept us all well informed throughout the afternoon. After the game we enjoyed an excellent two‑course dinner, followed by a short and very engaging…

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Bowls International

Friends of English Bowling are very grateful to Bowls International, who now include a monthly feature from Friends in their publication. This is fantastic exposure for us — and for the many bowls clubs we’ve visited throughout the season, whether celebrating milestones or sharing interesting news from across the sport. It’s a brilliant initiative, and one we’re proud to be part of. Thank you, Bowls International, for the opportunity! In no particular order, here are…

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Annual Highlight : Friends v BE Select

BE Select

🤝 The Friendly Fixture vs Bowls England On Thursday 28th August, Friends took to the green for their annual match against Bowls England. This year’s opposition featured players from the Performance Team, including Sandy Hazell, Mo Monkton, John Bell, and Mal Evans—setting the stage for a competitive afternoon. At halfway, Friends trailed by just seven shots and led on three rinks. But Bowls England surged in the second half, securing a 113–79 win, with Friends…

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