Derbyshire Bowls Association
Pre-season county meeting
While Midland counties availability is not mandatory for Middleton selection, if the selectors have two players of equal merit for one Middleton spot the one player making himself available for the county will be picked. The job for selectors is tough enough without the whole squad picking and choosing if free for these matches. If you want a county, then support it.
Middleton: With the loss of a complete rink of experience from last year and no new clubs or players joining Derbyshire the selectors will be picking a youthful Middleton side this year in preparation for two home games next year. Middleton practice session at Stute will take place on Sunday 4th May, 10:30 am. No format, just turn up and roll up on the Middleton setting rinks with the social club open for a drink afterwards.
There will be no top rink prize money returns this year. This money will now go towards affiliating the new players to keep the costs lower for the very much needed new caps with a smaller squad.
Six rink match fees will remain at £5, which I’m sure you will agree is cheaper than other county games.
The Balcomb squad (12) will be notified this week and all players will be required to wear royal blue shorts / trousers to match our existing tops to move Bowls Derbyshire into the 21st century. White Rose, Middleton and MCBA games will remain whites.
Men's/Unisex Bowls England Sport Shorts – Aceit UK (www.aceitsportswear.co.uk/collections/bowls-england-shorts-trousers/products/men-b-e-shorts)
Teams for the first two MCBA games are now in the county section.
The 2025 Competition Draw is now live on the website.
Please note a change of dates for the Fours. The semi-final will be on or before the 15/5/2025 and the Final on or before the 29th. May. All draws for the 2025 Competition draws are now live on the website. To access each competition click on the relevant competition name from the top bar. Two of the older competition names have been used to show some details of the Balcomb trophy (under the Team heading) which takes place on the weekend of the 18th. and 19th. of May and the White Rose Trophy (under the Harry Clarke heading) which takes place on the weekend of May 31st & June 1st. In time we hope to change the headings to the correct names but have not been able to do so yet!
A Summary of three Derbyshire supporters passing away in 2024
It was with great sadness that we reported on the passing of three of the counties greatest stalwarts and supporters in 2024. We lost Norma Hazzledine, who was responsible for the expansion of the county to include a Ladies section and was recognized with an MBE for her services to bowls. Roberto (Bob) Prati was Mr. Stanton Clubhouse - keeping the club going despite many difficulties. It is sad that on his passing the club has folded. And finally, but not least, Les Jinks who had supported Derbyshire in many ways. He will be sadly missed by the wider bowls community in Leicestershire and Derbyshire particularly.
2024 AGM - December 3rd. at Erewash Indoor BC - 7.00 p.m.
The 2024 AGM has taken place as noted above. Several positions were left unfilled :- President, Senior Vice-President, Junior Vice-President and MCBA Representative. We received nominations for Secretary (Kirsty Atkin) and Competition Secretary (Ben Bywater), both nominations were accepted and these positions are now filled. The position of Immediate Past President was filled by John Bowley - who volunteered in the light of no other nominations. Any further nominations for positions unfilled to the secretary, Kirsty, her contact details are :- email : kirstyatkin@gmail.com mobile : 07805 673787.
Men's Triples Success at Leamington - Photo of the Winners at the Champions Dinner in Gallery
It was perhaps fitting that on the day we learnt of Norma's passing the county had the honour of the Men's Triples winning the competition in the final versus Heaton Hall, Lancashire. Josh Grant, Dan Thornhill and skip Philip Broughton won the final 19-14, going one better than their runners up trophy of two years ago. Phil had previously acquitted himself well in the Four Wood Singles, losing only to the eventual winner - Jamie Walker. In the Trips they crossed swords again and Phil had his revenge by one shot on the way to the final. The end of the match became quite tense and Heaton Hall closed the gap to four shots with an end to play. However the Derbyshire three claimed one more shot on the eighteenth end to win by a margin of five. Well done to all three on their success which will mean that they will go forward to the British Isles championships to represent England.
WINNERS NATIONAL TRIPLES 2024 @Leamington
2024 Winners representing Derbyshire at Leamington
Fours : Phil Broughton, Dan Thornhill, Josh Grant & Ashley Clipston
Triples : Phil Broughton, Dan Thornhill & Josh Grant - Winners
Pairs : Russ Robinson & Ashley Clipston
4 Wood Singles : Phil Broughton
2 Wood Singles : Ashley Clipston
Junior Singles : Ben Bywater & James Bowley (2 qualifiers)
Junior Pairs : Ben Bywater & Josh Smith
O55 Fours : John Bowley, Richie Robinson, Kim Slater & Gary Shepperson
Midland Counties Championships 15th. September 2024 @ Northampton Express Bowls Club
To add to the successes reported above the MCBA Championships produced three further Derbyshire Winners. Phil Broughton won the 4 Wood Singles 21-7 (beating David Ellis from Lincolnshire); Ashley Clipston won the 2 Wood singles 14-8 (beating Rob Stanley from Worcestershire) and the Triples team of Josh & Simon Starbuck with Dan Thornhill skipping the rink beat Warwickshire 20-10. In addition James Bowley represented the county in the semi-final of the Under 25 Singles only losing to the overall winner, Harvey Griffiths, from Worcestershire and Nigel Chaplin & Bernie Greenough also lost in the semi-final to the Northamptonshire pair in the Pairs competition. (See winners pictures in the Gallery section)
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