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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).

Au revoir Skipper

Posted on 25th September, 2014

UPDATE 23rd October 2014

Thank you to everyone in and around Bleadon for your wonderful support, condolences, cards, and messages after the sudden death of John. It was a terrible shock to me, and I know how many of his friends and neighbours felt the same devastation. Although I have now moved back to Worle I shall never forget all of your kindness.

Rosemary

John Loxton Esq. - aka Skipper

As we now unfortunately know, our beloved Bleadon Racers Skittles Captain has at too short notice been taken to the great alley in the sky and will be sorely missed by fellow team mates and opponents alike, not to mention those who knew him via Bell Ringing, Somerset Cricket Club, Local Historian, Archaeology, Horticultural, Vintage Motorcycle and Charity groups and of course most especially family and close friends.

Funeral Arrangements (with linked details)

Compton Bishop Church (St. Andrews) on Friday 3rd October at 2.30pm

Please note that 'Black' attire is not required

and then afterwards at The New Inn Cross

Donations to Kenneth Allsop Memorial Trust (for Steep Holm Island) and/or Animal Asia

Further detail via Weston Mercury Announcement with Funeral Director details

So although Monday nights will never be the same, lets raise a glass and try our hardest for him each and every game this season and if he's looking down hopefully he can nudge those pins over for us.

Now onto the weekly review.....Racers put up a good show at The Bristol against newly promoted Beer Masters gaining 4 good away set points but ultimately losing by 20 pins. Coach was 'Top Dog' this week with a great 50 on anchor, laying down a fine reply to TP's 55 last week and showing he will not give up the Averages Cup (see statistics above for latest positions) easily. Only other scores above 40 were G'Day 41, Hobbitt 42 & yours truly 43. Ian Gibson's debut as 'Strongest Man' was no doubt a result of his need for an impending hip operation or perhaps the worry of missing a game if co-opted on to the PC (only joking Ian, I'm sure you would/will do a fine job).

Set & Match Scores (League Results & Table)
Racers	Beer Masters	Points
GD, TW & DH - 120	106	2
IG, EB & TD - 96	120	0
JW, CR & CP - 102	117	0
TP, CB & CW - 128	123	2
Total Score - 446	466	0

Next week we are at Home against Boro Arms B (who shamelessly got last minute recruits last year to avoid relegation & just pipping us by 1 point, but the plan didn't work coz we stayed up after all).

Players back from Holiday are Jimbo, Mike & Burnley but Disco is still away and now also AWOL are Hobbitt, The Blade and ex-Ranger(?). So please, please anyone else let Coach know ASAP if you are un-available or likely to be later than the START AT 8PM.

Finally, although John will never be replaced and Coach is doing an excellent caretaker job, we do now need to find a substitute for our 'head honcho' position so ..........any volunteers gratefully received and if more than one application, then perhaps as one suggestion received.....a Director of Skittles and Head Coach solution can be found and surely armed with an effluent (sic) owner and with our big money budget we can go far......A chat/decision before/after the game next week please boys.

Reminder again that the postponed game against Churchill is rearranged for Thursday 9th October at Lympsham.

Cheers boys see you next week.

Franz.