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).
Century Is Still The Final Frontier
Posted on 27th September, 2016
Ships Log 26091026.
The Federation Vessel USS Bleadon Racers is en-route to a galaxy far far away at the end of the Worle Century Club's skittle alley. Many have attempted this perilous journey over millenia but few have succeeded, such is the vast distance involved.
The first of the Racers Starship Troopers into action to try and "Make It So" were Gday,Hobbit plus the Titpuller and their Stellar Performance managed to keep the the Century's Battlestar Galactica within a mere 5 light years.
Next to be teleported into the fray were Ed, Burnley and the Coach all of whom struggled with the almost total lack of Atmosphere which proved totally Alien to the disorientated trio.
Indeed, Ed did a passable impression of Princess Leia bowling blindfolded in a straightjacket as his score was quickly sucked into a Black Hole...! Meanwhile, Burnley started promisingly enough but failed to Klingon and the Coach's usual Cosmic performance fell victim to Space Sickness to leave the Racers 9 light years down on the night.
Seasoned Space Rebels Franz, Bandaid and TeePee were quickly into their X-Wing Fighters in an attempt to Rocket the Racers back into contention and their efforts produced a second Solar Wind as Franz produced
a Super-Nova 14 spare to re-ignite the Racers chances and enable them to Re-Enter the fight, despite a shaky start by a Post Traumatic Bandaid who at one point was muttering something about being Beamed Up by a certain Scotty....? Ably abetted by TeePee the trio took the third set to tip the balance in the Racers favour by 2 light years.
With the contest now proving to be a Close Encounter , Ranger, Blade and Space Cadet Dyer were left to complete the Mission and secure the points. At this point however, the Century Clubs Empire was to Strike Back turning the Enterprising Racers efforts into Space Dust and an Intergalactic 21 Light Years off the pace.
Our leader for the night was Captain Jimbo T Kirk in the absence of our usual Captain Marvel Davis who was on holiday protecting his average...........
And so the Final Frontier that is the Worle Century Club's exceedingly long ( and Warped ) alley remains unconquered and the Racers were forced to Re-Enter Planet Bleadon with a microscopic 2 points...........
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What an imagination, this boy Burnley should start writing books, then imagine who would play who in the inevitable tv series/film version?......Next week is a cup game at The Woodborough in Winscombe against the same opponents! So let's hope for some revenge. If I remember correctly, Cup match team selection is the top 12 in the averages table available to play on the night. The current John Loxton Memorial Trophy standings are posted on the gallery section.
Cheers 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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