Gala Day 2026

On Sunday 21st June, the Club held its annual Gala Day competition. This is a Mixed Triples competition, played in two pools of six teams each with each team playing each other in a round robin. The teams were invited from local clubs and included a team from Henley. The other teams were from Bassetsbury Manor, Caversham, Gerrards Cross, Reading, Wantage and two teams each from Harwell, Maiden Erlegh and Trentham. The weather was, as it always seems to be on Gala Day, fantastic, although we could have done with a little more breeze.

The day kicked off just before 10:00am with the usual "spider". All participants stand on the green with one foot in the ditch and, on the sound of the whistle, 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 Ceri Jones from Caversham. His prize was a bottle of champagne.

Soon after that, we started the competition proper. The first three games were played in the morning before lunch although, because of the hot weather, there was a drinks break after the second game. At this point in the proceedings, Maiden Erlegh had taken a 1 point lead over The Cross (from Gerrards Cross) in the red pool whereas the blue pool was a closer affair with the Madri Maestros (from Henley) level with the Hopefuls (from Reading). This was the position after 3 games:

The two afternoon games saw Maiden Erlegh consolidate their position at the top of the red pool with The Cross only just staying ahead of Harwell 2 Towels by virtue of shot difference. Indeed, Maiden Erlegh were the only unbeaten side in the tournament although they were held to a draw by the Hotshots (the other team from Maiden Erlegh).  

In the blue pool, Madri Maestros and the Hopefuls vied for top spot and the Henley team just won out because of a better shot difference. 

At this point, everyone took a well earned rest over tea, cakes and a raffle whilst preparations were made for the final. Unfortunately at this point, the Maiden Erlegh team, led by Ross Courtnage with Tracey Tackley and Trevor Wright, had to withdraw because Tracey and Trevor were playing in a national mixed fours competition later that evening and had to leave by 5pm. Sad news for Maiden Erlegh but good news for The Cross who were promoted into the final against the Henley team.

Left to Right

Henley:

Terry Hearmon, Jo Wilson, Phil Smillie

Gerrards Cross:

Keith Patrick, Denise Newport, Mark Anderson

The final began at 4:45pm and both teams had agreed it would be over 8 rather than 6 ends. The Henley team, skipped by Jo with Terry as lead and Phil at number two, were winning 8-6 after six ends but the Gerrards Cross team pulled 1 back on the seventh end to make the last end a tense affair. On the eighth end, it was The Cross, skipped by Keith Patrick, with Mark Anderson as lead and Denise Newport at number two, who won through taking two shots to win 9-8 overall.

Back in the cool of the club house, Chair Sally Daniells presented both teams with their medals and prize monies kindly donated by our sponsor A.B. Walker. She thanked all those who had contributed to the day whether playing or organising and hoped everyone had a safe journey home.

The Henley team also thanked everyone for a brilliant day and then kindly donated their Runners-Up prize of £100 to the RNLI, the charity chosen in memory of Ian Gibson, one of the Club's members who died suddenly ten days previously.