Henley-on-Thames Bowling Club

Bowling at Henley-on-Thames

 

Henley-on-Thames Bowling Club caters for both the competitive and the social bowler.

 

New members can join the Club at any time although the playing season is April to September so it is a good idea to join in April or May. We have held Open Days in the past but these attract too many "out of town" visitors so we prefer for those interested in trying out the game to arrange a private lesson / taster session (see here) which involves 1-to-1 instruction. Club equipment is available for use for this and for new members.

Fancy a go - just Contact Us.

 

There are friendly matches against other clubs as well as league games. Members play internal competitions but can often be seen playing their own informal games or just having a practice.

 

"Roll Ups"

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These are ideal sessions for new bowlers to meet other Club members, and to play the game in a competitive yet informal and friendly way. There are three organised events, two are weekly competitions which run throughout the season and the other is just a "roll-up" organised on an a Saturday or Sunday when we haven't got a home match. Players turn up, sign-in and are then organised into teams, usually by drawing lots.

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• "Points" is on Tuesday mornings. Players to arrive by 10:00am for a 10:30am start.​

 

• "Spoons" is on Friday afternoons. Players to arrive by 2:00pm for a 2:30pm start.

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• "Weekend Roll-Ups" are held on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to arrive by 2:00pm for a 2:30pm start.

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Spoons (full name the Spoon Drive) used to be played on Friday evenings to cater for those members who still work but the afternoon timing attracts more members.

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When we have an away match at the weekend, for those members not selected for the team, we will often organise a "Roll-Up" Their format is similar to Points or Spoons but may be changed according to the desires of those attending.

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There is a small fee for these games and, for "Points" and "Spoons" players' scores are tallied up during the season and at season end, winners receive trophies at our annual Awards Dinner which is usually held in October.

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Internal Club Competitions

 

Members compete against each other for Club honours in 6 Knockout competitions which are played throughout the season. The draw is held in the first week of May and members arrange their own games with their opponents according to a published timetable. Those who get through to the finals meet up for a whole weekend of games usually scheduled for the second weekend of September. Winners and runners-up win trophies which are awarded at our annual Awards Dinner after the close of the season.

 

In 2022, all Knockout Competitions, other than the Men's and Ladies' Championships became mixed competitions.

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We also play the following One-Day competitions which are usually played on a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday:

 

• Yardstick Competition;

• 2 Wood Singles;

• 2 Wood Pairs;

• Mixed Triples;

• Novices.

 

The 2 Wood Singles, 2 Wood Pairs and Novices were previously Knockout competitions but were switched in recent seasons to One-Day events. The Novices competition is held at the end of the season so that those who have joined during the season, get a chance to compete. Previously, new bowlers would miss out on this because the draw took place in May.

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Friendly matches

 

We play other local clubs in friendly matches both at home and away. For many novice bowlers these games provide the first taste of competitive, but friendly, bowling. In 2022, we stopped arranging Lady-only and Men-only friendlies, opting for  mixed teams which might include teams made up of all Ladies or teams made up of all Men.

 

We also play the Town Council in a friendly match because the mayor is our patron and it allows council members to learn about the Club and its role in Henley-on-Thames.

 

League games

 

We compete in the Odd Fellows Triple League (OTL) and the Plomer Cup (PC) competition which are inter-club competitions for Mixed Teams. In the 2021 season, the Club managed to win both of these leagues, believed to be the first time in its history.

 

Outside competitions

 

For the very keen bowler, opportunities exist to compete in county or national competitions. These games provide the bowler with the opportunity to play competitive bowls against individuals and other teams from the local area, perhaps progressing to play against winners from other counties, with the ultimate aim of reaching the national finals.

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Rinks for Hire

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If members of the public wish to bowl, we are more than happy to try and arrange for them to hire rinks and equipment at a modest price. Only flat soled shoes are required as the Club provides all the equipment and some tuition in how to bowl and the rules to be followed. This provides the Club with some additional income but we also hope it may attract newcomers to the sport.

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Some History of the Club
 

There have been many bowling greens in Henley over the years and there was a Henley Town bowling club originally situated where the Adventure Golf Park now is. At that time, the club was part of the Henley & District Sports Club managed by the Town Council which also included tennis. The tennis courts were located where the Pavilion is now sited. It is uncertain whether the "new" Club had access to a Pavilion in the early days but one was erected in 1969, located in the southern half of what is now the children's playground.

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The current green was formally opened by the Mayor of Henley, Mr S J Holton on 3rd May 1928 and the old green became a putting green. The inaugural meeting of the "new" Club was held in the Town Hall on 21st November 1928 with the Mayor presiding as the first President. Indeed, the Mayor of Henley was elected as the Club's President for the next 50 years until work pressures reduced the Mayor's role to Patron of the Club. At a meeting with the Town Council on Monday 17th December 1928 it was agreed that the "new" Club would be renamed the Henley-on-Thames Bowling Club. The first match was played on the new green on 4th May 1929 against another Oxfordshire Club (yet to be researched).

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The Club had an all-male membership until 1958 when a ladies section was formed and in 1989 the sections were merged and since then the Club has operated as a mixed Club.

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The old Pavilion was demolished in 1990/91 and the club moved into the new Pavilion. Here is a photo before it had been "branded" as our Club.