Gala Day 2025

On Sunday 22nd June, Henley held its annual Gala Day. This event is a Mixed Triples round robin competition, played in two pools of six teams each with each game played over 6 ends. The teams were invited from local clubs Henley plays against and as well as a team from Henley, teams came from Bassetsbury Manor, Caversham, Desborough, Harwell, Maiden Erlegh, Pangbourne, Trentham, Wantage and Wargrave. With previous days being real scorchers, there were concerns the weather would hamper play but it was almost perfect weather for lawn bowls, warm and sunny with a slight breeze. There were a few gusts of wind which took the sun umbrellas over the hedge but that all added to the fun of the day.

Chair Sally presenting the "Spider" prize to Ross.

The day kicked off just before 10:00am with the usual "spider" competition. The "spider" can be seen in the photo and the game is played by all participants standing on the green with one foot in the ditch and, on the sound of the bell, everyone delivers one bowl to the jack in the centre of the green. It's always a bit of a lottery and this year, the closest bowl to the jack was delivered by Ross Courtnage, representing Maiden Erlegh. His prize was a bottle of champagne.

The main event started off with 3 games in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. In the blue pool, it was a closely fought competition with Caversham Hopefuls coming out top just above Maiden Erlegh based on shot difference, despite the Hopefuls having lost to Maiden Erlegh in their pool game.

The red pool was dominated by Pangbourne who won all 5 of their games and made the final as they did back in 2023 when they were runners-up.

The teams then took a 40 minute break for tea and cakes and then the raffle draw took place. The final started around 4pm and was played over 8 ends rather than the 6 ends played in the pool games.

There were plenty of spectators to watch a closely fought game in which each team took the lead a couple of times. By the fifth end it was tied 7-7 but then Pangbourne scored a 3 on the sixth end which Caversham couldn't overturn despite winning the next two ends. So, Pangbourne won the Gala event with a score of 10-9.

Pangbourne (Alan, Lyn & Tim) on the left, Caversham Hopefuls (Gloria, Alan & Harry) on the right.

Chair Sally presented the money prizes and medals to each team and thanked not only the participants for making for a great day of bowling but the many Henley members for their various contributions.

Score recoding tent with Competitions Secretary Kevin and Fixtures Secretary Nigel.

A special thank you has to be made to A.B. Walker for their sponsorship of the Gala Day, contributing prize money for the winners and runners-up, raffle prizes and the score-tent gazebo (as shown below).