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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).

St. Happys are unhappy (better late than never)

Posted on 23rd November, 2014

Belatedly, here is the report and scores from our first round 'all-in' game in the Steve James Cup (aka Duffers Cup for those knocked out in the first round of The Perkins Cup). Racers gained a convincing 49 pin win against 4th division side St. Happy's although it was not as easy as it ended up!

We all very much enjoyed The Constitutional Club alley (not) with many having never played there before. Including unbelievably, Jimbo in 50+ years of skittling he had never had the pleasure, yet ended up joint 'Top Dog' with Seve Dyer both getting an impressive 43, although Jims was spareless and Seve's included a 16 spare (think there was only 1 other spare and it was a 9!). Coach also had 40 and these 3 were the only players on both sides who scored 40+. There were many contenders for Strongest Man but The Hobbit clinched it, following up his 52 of the previous week with a 23....What a difference an alley makes!

It could also have been much closer game as St. Happys being a man short (no not just their opening player) had to use a lowest score and that happened to be only a 14. So with most of us mortals still scoring 24-37 it meant they had little chance after the second set. Although Captain Disco did try his best getting a v/c on the anchor set but then he wasn't alone as so did yours truly and several others too!

A very enjoyable selection of cheeses and french loaf provided by the club and a few pints of Tribute made the whole experience worthwhile (I think) and we also got to learn a few new words as well!

Set & Match Scores (League Results & Table) *=spare
Racers	Unhappys	Points
GDy(37) DH(23) TW(25) 85	102	n/a
DW(24) TD(32) CB(31) 87	72	n/a
JN(43) CR(24) TP(31) 98	79	n/a
MD(43*) CW(40) GDs(27) 110	88	n/a
Total Score 380	331	n/a

Cheers boys see you Monday (tonight) at Ebdon Arms against W.Anchors Away who are 24 points ahead of us in 5th place.. Please let George (or Coach or me) know ASAP if you are un-available or likely to be later than the START AT 8PM as it makes team set selection much easier.

Franz.