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).
A little more luck needed or
Posted on 30th September, 2014
Skipper didn't nudge those pins quite hard enough did he..........
Racers scored a respectible 508 pins and won 4 set points but again lost by 20 pins and especially on our home alley were left with a sense of what could have been, with many spare chances not being taken, but not for the want of trying.
Coach was again 'Top Dog' with a great 49 on anchor gaining our only spare of the evening. It was a close thing but on his home debut, Ian Gibson's valiant 38 was again 'Strongest Man' so will be looking to improve after his hip operation so hope it all goes well. We only had 2 scores under 40 but spares made the difference between the sides. First and Anchor won the set points once again but only by a pin each so it could have been much worse...Boro Arms were definitely stronger than last year with some new players and will be near the top.
Set & Match Scores (League Results & Table)
Racers |
Boro Arms B |
Points |
GD(45) EB(43) TW(44) -132 |
131 |
2 |
CP(41) IG(38) MD(46) - 125 |
138 |
0 |
DW(41) CR(39) JN(42) -122 |
131 |
0 |
TP(40) CB(40) CW(49*) -129 |
128 |
2 |
Total Score - 508 |
528 |
0 |
Next week we have 2 games...
Monday we are at Weston Football Club for Perkins Cup Round 1 against.....Boro Arms B again, so let's get some revenge. We also have the rearranged game against Churchill on Thursday 9th October at Lympsham.
Not sure who is back from Holiday but think Dave and Tony D may still be away, also Ian ?
Finally, we have a new Captain........Disco George Davis has courageously stepped forward into the breech to fill the void left by John and lead us to infinity and beyond, Good fortune George and may the force be with you (and us)!
Please let George (or Coach or me) know ASAP if you are un-available or likely to be later than the START AT 8PM for either of the games.
Cheers boys see you next week (x2).
Franz.
Reminder of Funeral Details for John:
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
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.
NOTE: Depending on your PC/browser you may need to save and/or open images in another window/tab in order to zoom and fully read text. .
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