Lindfield Bowling Club

Finals Day results

All results from Sunday and Monday

Final Border League game

This Thursday at 5:45

Come along and support the Lindfield men in their final Border League game of the season.

Finals Day schedule

Order of play for both days

The running order for Sunday 27th August is as follows:

Note: Dress code for all bowlers and markers is whites and club shirts. Greys for doing the scoreboard.

Lindfield reach National Finals

Report from Leamington Spa

Several Lindfield players qualified for the national finals, held during August at Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

Our men's four of Ian Watson, Adam Harding, Paul Sandford and Keith Holman had two excellent wins, firstly on "E" green (which has often been an unhappy hunting ground for Lindfield teams), where they beat a team from Dorset (Greenhill BC) 26-4.  The Dorset players never really settled into the game, whereas Lindfield - in particular Paul at 3 - drew steadily to the jack throughout the game.  

In the next round on the showcase "A" green Lindfield comfortably beat the team from Hampshire (Boscombe Cliffe), with skipper Keith drawing many inch-perfect bowls to rob the Hampshire team of any significant scoring opportunities.   Hampshire gradually lost the will to continue and conceded with 2 ends unplayed.

However the next game was a very different result, as Lindfield came up against the excellent quartet from Kingscroft (Leicestershire) skipped by Joe Dawson, who had won the national pairs a week earlier.  However it was the Leicestershire front end who did the damage, drawing well into the head with good weight, to put the Lindfield players under pressure on a rink that didn't really suit their slightly swingier bowls.   Lindfield eventually conceded with the score 10-21 to Leicestershire. That Leicestershire team went on to reach the final, and only narrowly lost to the winning team.

For the ladies it was the Carol and Sue show, as they qualified in both the county pairs and the national over-55 pairs.  Their first game against Essex's Elaine Score and Emma Chapman was a nail-biter, as Lindfield's good start gradually turned into a deficit, and with just two ends to go an Essex win looked highly likely.  However some inspired bowls from Sue saw them pick up a hatful of late shots to clinch a last-gasp win, and proceed to second round where they comfortably saw off a challenge from a Somerset pair, 21-9.

However like the men's team it was a case of "third time unlucky" as the excellent pairing of Val Newton and Gay Allen from the Isle of Wight (Bembridge) bowled with great consistency to limit Carol and Sue to 1's with the occasional 2, and our Lindfield duo eventually lost 14-18.

A few days later however they returned for another go, this time in the over 55 pairs, where they pulled off a one-shot win against the hugely experienced pairing of Catherine Popple and Jean Baker (representing Huntingdonshire).  With barely a moment's rest they were on again soon after, digging deep to beat a Buckinghamshire pair 19-16. 

Returning the next day however they struggled to control the game against an excellent Cambridgeshire pairing, who both found slightly more consistent weight, and our valiant pair eventually lost 10-16. 

Congratulations to all six Lindfield bowlers - to go to Leamington and to win two games in each discipline is a great result.  Many thanks to the supporters who came to cheer them on, and to the larger group of supporters who kept tabs on them via the Bowls England website.  

Ladies County Finals

Lindfield narrowly miss out in 3 finals

At the Ladies County Finals weekend on the lovely sunny Saturday Sue Willmott had a fantastic win in the semi-final of the Champions of Champions when she beat Rachael Mackreill of Polegrove 21-18.  The final was a very close game against Jane Gray of Pulborough, but unfortunately it was not to be for Sue, she only lost by a few shots. Congratulations to Sue for a great achievement in getting to the final, it is not easy. The club is very proud of her.

On a miserable, wet and chilly Sunday, Sue and Carol were in the final of the Ladies County Pairs, against a pair from Horsham. Not their normal kind of first end when they dropped a five, but they fought back extremely well in horrible weather conditions with the score going back and forth, but in the end lost by one shot. Again, a great achievement and we wish them every success when they go up to the Nationals in Leamington in a couple of weeks time.

There wasn’t much rest for them as in the afternoon they were joined by Jennie and Margaret to play in the final of the Senior Fours against a four from Crablands. It was a very close game, they were holding winning shot on the last end but the opposing skip drew a fantastic bowl which trailed the jack slightly and unfortunately they lost by one.

Many thanks to all of those who came down to Preston on both days to show their support, it is always greatly appreciated.

Lindfield win County Fours

4th success for Watson and co

Congratulations to Ian Watson, Adam Harding, Paul Sandford and Keith Holman on winning the Sussex men's county Fours today at Pope's Mead, beating Adrian Wainwright's Eastbourne team 18-14 in the final.  It's the fourth time that Ian Watson's team have won this competition, adding to their previous wins in 2014, 2011 and 2010.  Our quartet now travel to Leamington Spa in just under a month's time, to compete in the National Finals. 

Lindfield ladies going well

Several teams reach county semi-finals

A quick update on the ladies' county comps:

WOMEN’S SINGLES CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
Sue Willmott– has reached the Area Final- to be played by 10^th July
 
WOMEN’S PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Sue Willmott & Carol Watson – through to County Semi -Finals
 
WOMEN’S TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Jennie Sandford, Sue Willmott & Carol Watson – through to County Semi-Finals
 
WOMEN’S FOURS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jennie Sandford, Sue Willmott, Carol Watson & Margaret Atkins – through to County Semi-Finals
 
WOMEN’S SENIOR FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Jennie Sandford, Sue Willmott, Carol Watson & Margaret Atkins – through to County Semi-Finals
 
WOMEN’S SINGLES 4 WOOD CHAMPIONSHIP
Julie Green – has reached Area Final - to be played on 27^th June
 
The Semi Finals will be played at Preston on weekend 15^th/16^th July. The Finals will also be played at Preston on 29^th/30^th July.

WELL DONE TO ALL PLAYERS AND WISHING YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR SEMI FINAS AND FINALS!

Competitions update

Men's pairs reach area finals

Lindfield have two men's pairs through to the area finals tomorrow (Weds 14th June): 

- Martin Pelosi and Guy Thornely take on the inevitable Roy Williams and Gordon Hall at West Hoathly.

- 2021 county champions Paul Sandford and Adam Harding take on Woodingdean's Simon Wilkinson and Trevor Smith, at Lindfield, starting at 6pm 

In the Unbadged singles John Truran is through to the area final, and plays Peacehaven's Shaun Smith next Wednesday 21st at 6pm. 

Lindfield's men are still going in the national Top Club having comfortably beaten Rottingdean 4-1.  We now play West Hoathly, with the game likely to take place in the next few days.  Meanwhile Lindfield's ladies play Polegrove in their county Top Club game on Saturday June 24th. 

In the county Fours area final Peter Colbourne's quartet narrowly lost to Gordon Hall's West Hoathly team, but Ian Watson's four are through to the quarter-finals after a good win against Woodingdean.

After good wins against Buxted and Woodingdean the 3-times country triples winners Adam Harding, Ian Watson and Keith Holman were unfortunate to encounter an on-song Barcombe trio skipped by former Lindfield bowler Dave Richardson, in the area final.

In the ladies' comps Jennie Sandford's triple comfortably won their area final against Ringmer 21-11.  Jennie's team also won their Fours area final (against Ringmer), and also beat Ringmer in the area final of the ladies' Senior Fours.

Season well underway

Mixed results in early clashes

On the odd occasion that it hasn't been raining, we've managed to play a few bowls matches.  The national competitions have started early again, with the men's double-fours "B" team continuing their good form with a nail-biting one shot win against Buxted Park.  The "A" team were outbowled by an on-song West Hoathly team. 

Both men's and ladies' Top Club teams have played their first round: Lindfield's ladies registered a convincing win against Felbridge, while the men sneaked a last-bowl 3-2 win against Peacehaven, with both the triples and fours making last-gasp comebacks to turn around what had looked like a certain defeat. 

The Friday league has started well despite some chilly weather, and the club continues to welcome a steady trickle of new recruits to our ranks.  So far our delicate green is standing up to the busy bowling schedule, and we thank members for their ongoing cooperation in standing off the green when not bowling or directing the head.

This coming week sees the start of the men's county competitions which is usually the cue for some strong winds and drizzle.  Fingers crossed it doesn't materialise!

New season starts on 15th April 2023

Time to dig out your whites and polish your woods!

Just over 2 weeks to go until the new season starts. There are two (identical) pre-season meetings on Saturday 8th April at the club house: 10-11am, or 12-1pm; take your pick. You can sign up via the website so we know what sort of numbers to expect.

The green opens on Saturday 15th April with a coffee morning (starting at 10am). The green has been worked on this week and we're hopeful that it'll bowl better than it did last season.

Bowlswear Direct will be with us on Sunday 16th April from 12 til 2pm, you can contact them on 01483 536337 if there's something you want to pre-order; for our newer members this is a good opportunity to get kitted out with bowls, shoes, clothing and accessories.

The fixtures list has been completed, you can now sign up for matches via the website

Best of luck to our two captains for 2023 - Peter Elford and Joan Hampton - give them lots of support by signing up to play in as many matches as you can!