Bleadon Racers Skittle Team (click for Blog or Statistics/Pics)
RACERS move again for 2022/23 season, decision taken to play at Hornets Rugby Club sadly means our rural community has again lost it's skittle team, what a great shame. The Queens Arms must be regretting the removal of their alley during the tenure of Butcombe(see below)!
STOP PRESS: Racers are back at Lympsham Sports Club Pavilion for the 2019/20 season.
They play at 8pm on most Monday nights in Division 3 of The Weston-Super-Mare and District Skittle League. The skittle season runs approximately from September to April and we are always happy to welcome new and experienced players. If you are interested in joining then please contact us
After many previous enjoyable seasons at Lympsham Sports Club, last year Racers decided to move for the 2018/19 season to Weston-super-Mare Football Club (Alley 2) but although very grateful to WSMFC for their hospitality, the call of the rural community environment was too strong and so they are now back 'home' at 'The Pav'.
A Bit of Bleadon Skittle History
Originally there was a skittle alley provided for the village at the Coronation Hall as mentioned in their deed, but this alley was removed to build the Jubilee Room as an alley had been created for the team who had then played as and at, The Queens Arms, Bleadon (this also saved the sticker-up running up from the Hall to the pub to get 'refreshments'). Butcombe Brewery bought the pub in 2004/5 and then in 2006 decided to demolish (rather than re-furbish) the skittle alley in favour of replacing it with a seldom used outside patio/smoking area (a strange decision made even stranger as they sponsor the WSMD skittle league)!
So, the team were then effectively homeless (as well as the Ladies and Hunt league teams) and thus faced folding. After six decades of playing they wanted to continue so sought refuge and welcome at nearby Lympsham Sports Club, where initially renamed as The Queens and then Bleadon Racers, they were very happy to find that with new balls, traditional skittles is still alive and well and the beer is very much cheaper!
In an ideal world The Racers hope that the Queens Arms (or more specifically, its owners) would see the error of their ways by building a new alley and bringing the Racers 'home'. It could gain the pub some welcome extra revenue in the winter nights (casual estimates suggest a potential lost income of well over £250,000 since the alley was demolished and teams left in 2006, some 16+yrs ago), but alas that would currently appear a distant dream!
Bleadon Skittle Team Honours (from WSMDSL website)
1931 - Division 2 Winners - Bleadon Sports (original team at Coronation Hall, then also based at Queens Arms when CH alley was removed!!)
1949 - Division 3 Mayors/Hospital Cup Winners - Queens Arms
1950 - Division 3 Mayors/Hospital Cup Winners - Queens Arms
1985 - Division 3 Mayors/Hospital Cup Winners - Queens Arms
1990 - Division 3 and also Mayors/Hospital Cup Winners - Bleadon Sports
Also individual finalists C Butler London Bridge 2019,2020 and M Dyer Singles 2020
Also in an exciting last game of the 2012/13 season, Racers won by just one pin and thus finished runners-up and were promoted after 10 years absence back up to Division 3 for 2013/14 season. However, the league was re-structured from 4 into 3 divisions for 2016/17 season and although Racers were then put in Division 2, they unfortunately earned 'relegation' back to the basement Division 3 for 2017/18! (see blog and statistics below for details).
Racers win last game and are promoted as Runners-up
Posted on 27th March, 2013
Brilliant, well done boys, but talk about cutting it fine, a one point victory! But by winning we were undefeated at fortress Lympsham all season and now as runners-up, we are promoted after 10 years back up to Division 3 for the 2013/14 season after being relegated in 2003/04.
Nerves of steel needed at the end. Very well done to Tony Pettitt, top score on the night confirmed him as top of the season averages and winner of the cup.
As Dave Waterhouse says "Twas no big deal .....we knew all along we would win promotion and that their last man would miss with his last ball both remaining pins. So,higher wages,alley improvements and the army of agents tapping up our star players are all to contend with....although I do not think I need concern myself too much with that last point !!!!! Bottom of the averages....I'll be lucky to make the retained list !!!!!"
Well said and thanks Dave, but don't worry you will be fine, how could we not shout for Burnley on our new away trips and your experience of dealing with the mixed emotions of promotion and relegation will be in-valuable. Unlike Social Club's anchor player, probably traumatised forever, no hope of a new contract for him, I wonder if he is now available on a free transfer? Poor b**ger or did someone perhaps slip him a brown envelope?
Also, Survivors lost their Division 3 relegation battle to Dab Hands, so we can wave as we pass them going up and another quiet year to look forward too! Although, as both last years promoted teams have been relegated back down, we can maybe ook forward to a season of toil.....More beer and tea required perhaps!
Cheers and well done again lads, enjoy the post-season party!
Franz.
Bleadon Racers Statistics
Current and past season league fixtures, results and player averages (A very big thanks to Charles Reeves for producing the originals).
You can click on any image thumbnail below to expand it.
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