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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).

Tuckers & Williams 2 Racers 0

Posted on 18th January, 2015

A double issue blog this week with finally our first league game of 2015 and Steve James Cup to report on.

On Monday, Racers got some important away points but still lost by 23 pins at Churchill Club where some of the Racers got a bit distracted by the darts board....Nothing to do with Burnley being Strongest Man with 28 at all then....It worked well for Seve OK

26 pins damage was done on the first 2 sets but then the third set got one set point back thanks to a last end 8 by Franz before the Anchor Set picked up 2 valuable set points with a 3 pin win that seemed easier than it was. Churchill are another side that has strengthened since finishing bottom below us last year, they seem to have grown some more Tuckers!

Top Dog was Seve Dyer with an excellent 52 including a 14 spare that put some distance between 1st and 2nd in the John Loxton Trophy Race. But G'Day's fighting 48 without a spare eventually tied his man (who started with 14 & 15 spares) definitely needs a special mention.

Set/Match Scores (League Results & Table) *=spare
Racers	Tuckers	Points
GDy(48)TD(37)TW(29) 114	121	0
EB(33)DW(28)SN(38*) 99	118	0
TP(34)CR(36)CB(42) 112	112	1
MD(52*)GDs(33)CW(40) 125	122	2
Total Score 450	473	3

On Tuesday, here also is the report and scores from our second round 'all-in' game in the Steve (Sid for some) James Cup. It was a game of two halves against Team Williams from The Lord Nelson, Yatton.

Racers were 28 pins down after 2 sets with the majority coming on the second but, a third and fourth set fightback made it very close at the end. However Racers lost by 3 so our cup runs are now over and all attention is back on staying in Division 3, which looks like a battle to stay above Langford Rovers and Coach House B who both also lost on Monday (and play each other this week at The Working Mens) but we have yet to play them away.

Strongest Man was The Blade on 23 and Top Dog was yours truly on 43. Only one (9) spare for Tonto the ex- Lone Ranger and a v/c for The Fonz compared to their 3 v/cs and two spares (good job it wasn't front pin...........). But at least we had the last Williams on our side.........

Set & Match Scores (League Results & Table) *=spare
Racers	Williams	Points
GDy(36)EB(39)TW(25) 100	103	n/a
DH(36)SN(23)TD(36*) 95	120	n/a
CB(43)DW(38)TP(33) 114	99	n/a
MD(42)JN(37)CW(39) 118	108	n/a
Total Score 427	430	n/a

Cheers boys see you Monday (tonight) as we are again at The Coach House against their A Team, let's see if a bit of practice on 'that' alley helps........ 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.

Ruddles Best is the recommended beer of choice by Jimbo.

Franz.