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 not so Boroing Draw
Posted on 2nd February, 2016
Racers first draw in living memory (well mine anyway) was gained in a dour low scoring relegation battle at the Social Club, the result was in the end probably a fair one with both sides having chances to win but Racers got a slight advantage gaining more match points with 9 to 7 having won two sets and drawn one.
The Anchor set just pulled back the 3 pins down to tie the game. Top Dog was G'Day with our only spare getting a fine 47 and our only other 40 was our 'hot' skipper Disco.
With no game next week as Racers are out the cup, Franz bids you a fond farewell for the season as he seeks out the winter white powder (no not that kind). Next game at home against W.Anchors Away in another bortom of the table clash, let's hope Racers can go on another end of season run like last year.
Future match reports for the rest of the season will be brought at great expense from Burnley.....Please see comments below for this weeks effort.
Come on you Racers,
Franz
Bleadon Racers Statistics
Current and past season league fixtures, results and player averages (A very big thanks to Charles Reeves for producing the originals).
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Comments (1)
The Racers prized a victory from the jaws of a bore draw in the basement battle with Borough Arms.
In football terms, this would have been the last game on Match of the Day such was the lame standard of entertainment on view as both teams struggled to come to terms with the playing surface.
The Racers only managed two scores in the forties as Aussie starlet G'day ( 47 ) and Captain Georgeous ( 40 ) proved that there was nothing wrong with the Alley, thus confirming what we always suspected.........we're crap.
The game started in a low key fashion and deteriorated from there, with the standard of play plummeting to previously unknown depths.....
Despite drawing the game overall Racers won two sets to Borough's one with the other drawn meaning we took the points 9-7 so therefore won the game even though it was a draw....!
Blimey this is complicated................I wonder if its possible to get a draw when we lose....?
On a brighter note, the ugly violence of the previous week was not repeated as the " tourettes twins" Newbould & Derrick managed to put a sock in it pending a Skittles Banning Order.....
Ed was strongest man with a score only slightly better than Jimbo's, TP,s and the Tit Puller.......neither of whom actually played......! While the rest barely struggled into the thirties.
Still......A win is a uhmm........draw....no a draw is a win......or whatever...!
Finally.......Franz Klammer is off on his annual winter break so if previous years are anything to go by the Racers form should improve dramatically...!
Have a good trip Chris......don't rush back........
Burnley