Also like us on...

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).

Mendip Magic (Happy 80th Charlie)

Posted on 19th March, 2014

Racers win the cup..........OK so it was only The Mendip Trophy against our old foes The Survivors. This 'friendly' match was inaugurated by Skipper in 2003 and since then winners have been.... (any more details anyone?)

The Mendip Trophy
Year	Winner	Venue
2003	Queens Arms
2004	Queens Arms
2005	Survivors
2006	Queens Arms
2007	Survivors
2008	Survivors
2009	Queens Arms
2010	Survivors
2011	Bleadon Racers
2012	Bleadon Racers
2013	Bleadon Racers
2014	Bleadon Racers	Lympsham

Birthday Boy

The Survivors apparently contain a few old 'Queens' that split away many years ago to form their own team so hence the rivalary. Although in recent years The Survivors have stuggled to raise a team so we won by default! Next year it's been suggested to make it a Front Pin competition so even more fun to be had!

This was our last home game of the season and some great scoring was seen even if it was 13 a side, we surely have the best food and sticker-up in the league and Brandon certainly earned an end of season bonus. We were also treated to entertainment and cake by our Birthday Boy Charlie Reeves still showing his youth at 80 years old, many commented they hope to be doing the same should they reach that landmark!

Racers = 569 Survivors = 535 and the set scores were (spare*) :

126 (GD 47,TW 45,JN 34) versus 122 (42,38,42) (hurrah)
134 (DH 46*,EB 44,JW 44) versus 126 (38*,45,43*) (hurrah)
137 (CB 56*,GD 42,DW 39) versus 122 (38,43,41) (hurrah)
172 (CR 47*,CP 40,TD 43,TP 42) versus 165 (48*,38,45,34) (hurrah & Help the Heroes Raffle, again)

A brilliant 172 anchor set and a score for the record books, but keen mathematicians among us must have noticed an extra member on the last set, it could have been even more but unfortunately Survivors only had 13 players.

So The Welsh Wizard (aka Coach) decided to sit out, no doubt quietly smiling at the 47 & 56 from GD & Franz that did not count for the averages! Also, resting himself for the challenge ahead and running a keen eye over the team in advance of next week's season defining last game at Churchill where the winner may mean Division 3 survival, so Come On You Racers, we will survive!!