Horsham Bowling Club

02/09/2025

HORSHAM BOWLING CLUB FINALS WEEKEND 30TH AND 31ST OF AUGUST 2025

CENTENARY CUP DAVE PACKHAM V GERARD DONCK 11 - 21

MIXED PAIRS RICHARD AND MARI BOURNE V RIC DAVEY AND LESLEY GROGAN 22-13

CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS LADIES IRENE GETTINS AND BARBARA MEYER V
JUDY MORRIS AND NICKY WILLIAMS 25-4

HALES CUP MEN IAN EVANS V MARTIN JOLLIFFE 7 - 23

COBEN CUP KAY BALDOCK V ANNE HOSSACK 21 - 7

4-3-2-1 MARTIN JOLLIFFE V GERARD DONCK 101 - 89

HANDICAP SINGLES LADIES IRENE GETTINS V LESLEY GROGAN 22 - 15

HANDICAP PAIRS MEN RIC DAVEY AND ALAN PESTELL V
ROBBIE CALDER AND RAY HAMBLING 19 -20

LADIES SETS LESLEY GROGAN V IRENE GETTINS 2 - 0

MEN’S SETS ROBBIE CALDER V MARTIN JOLLIFFE 0 - 2

CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS MEN JOHN BENTLEY AND GRAEME GARDNER V
RIC DAVEY AND DEAN BURFORD 9-21

AUSSIE PAIRS C.H. CHALLENGE DAVE MARDEN AND TIM HOSSACK V
DEBBIE BOWN AND CALVIN EVANS 13-18

CHAMPIONSHIP MEN SINGLES GERARD DONCK V RIC DAVEY 18 - 23

CHAMPIONSHIP LADIES SINGLES DEBBIE BOWN V IRENE GETTINS 21 - 17

HANDICAP PAIRS LADIES MARION GOODMAN AND GILL PESTELL V
ANITA HAMBLING AND GILL MCCULLOGH 9-22

WILLIAMS CUP GRAEME GARDNER V ALAN PESTELL 17 - 21

HANDICAP SINGLES MEN RIC DAVEY V ROBBIE CALDER 23 - 15

VICTOR/VICTRIX RIC DAVEY AND IRENE GETTINS

03/07/2025

Some photos from Saturday's 50th anniversary presentation of President Chris Holmes by Cllr Tony Bevis

03/07/2025

Very grateful to Chair of HDC for attending the special presentation to Chris Holmes on his 50th anniversary as a member.

03/07/2025

10/06/2025

Some results so far :
Horsham v West Hoathley 95-77
Horsham v Sussex Masonic 60-57
Pope’s Mead v Horsham 108-102
Horsham v Southwater 76-57
St Francis v Horsham 44-84
Horsham v East Preston & Kingston 111-63
Pippbrook v Horsham 58-67

Town Challenge Horsham v Horsham Park won by 48 shots

Mid Sussex league v Pope’sMead Horsham won 8-2
John Spriggs League v Burgess Hill Horsham lost 2-8

Border League v Burgess Hill Horsham lost 2-8

01/06/2025

What a great weekend to host the Reginal White Rose Trophy.
Many thanks to Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Middlesex for providing such quality bowling and entertainment at such a young age. Wonderful to see.
Safe journey home everyone - hope to see you again.

29/05/2025

Hosting SouthEast matches at Horsham BC Saturday and Sunday. Teams from Sussex,Surrey, Kent and Middlesex.
Spectators welcome. Refreshments available.

13/09/2024

Horsham Bowling Club enjoyed another busy week, with members hurrying to complete internal matches in time for Finals weekend last week. Results showed that there was a good mix of established players and many newer members winning titles. Results were as follows:-
Ladies Championship singles - Vanessa Mellor beat Irene Gettins; Centenary Cup - Gerard Donck beat Ric Davey;
Williams Cup - Dean Burford beat Jimmy McNulty;
Ladies Coben Cup - Debbie Bown beat Kay Baldock;
Mixed Pairs - Jimmy McNulty & Vanessa Mellor beat Ric Davey & Lesley Grogan;
Handicap Pairs Ladies - Debbie Bown & Debbie Black beat Gill McCulloch & Lesley Berry;
Championship Pairs Ladies - Irene Gettins & Kay Baldock beat Julie Fry & Mari Bourne;
Handicap Singles Men - Dave Packham beat Kelly McCartney; Handicap Singles Ladies - Debbie Bown beat Irene Gettins; Championship Pairs Men - Jimmy McNulty & Ric Davey beat Simon Felton & Robbie Calder;
4-3-2-1 - Dave Packham beat Jan Barnes;
Single Sets Men - Martin Jolliffe beat Gerard Donck;
Hales Cup Men - Chris Somers beat Dave Marden;
Single Sets Ladies - Lesley Grogan beat Irene Gettins;
Handicap Pairs Men - Ric Davey & David Haynes beat Gerard Donck & Andy Black;
Championship Singles Men - Robbie Calder beat Martin Jolliffe.
Also on Sunday, Horsham's winning ladies in the Gladys Rowland Trophy semi-final played their final at Burgess Hill, and beat a team from Worthing 24-11. Well done Vanessa Mellor, Debbie Jarvis, Debbie Bown & Sally Gardner! .

22/06/2024

Report by Neil jarvis

Here is a summary of what has been going on over the last couple of weeks.

National, County and inter-club Competitions

Gladys Rowland – Horsham A beat West Hoathly 17 – 16 after an extra end. They are away to Maltravers in the next round. Horsham B beat Buxted Park at home 32 – 5 and will play Henfield away next.

Edward Rowland – Horsham A lost away to Worthing Pavilion. Horsham B were away to Southwick Park winning by a single shot. They face Goring Manor at home on Wed 19th June.

Tom Francis – This is usually a two-rink home and away fixture but due to a fixture clash, both rinks played away at Henfield. This didn’t prove to be a disadvantage as they won with an aggregate score of 39 – 35. They play either Buxted Park or Newick next.

Men’s County 2-Wood Singles – in the rounds played at Horsham Martin Jolliffe managed to beat some very tough opposition to get through to the Quarter Finals, which will be played at Horsham on 11 July.

Men’s County Pairs – Martin Jolliffe and Gerard Donck have beaten teams from both Burgess Hill and Popes Mead to secure a place in the Quarter Finals to be played at Horsham on 4th July.

Men’s County Senior Fours – Horsham lost to Burgess Hill in the Third Round.

Mixed County Fours – Horsham B beat The Drive at home 25 – 1 to set up a home match against Burgess Hill in the next round.

Women’s County 4 Wood Singles – Vanessa Mellor played away to Jo Streeter at Downsman, losing 21 – 12.

Women’s County 2 Wood Singles – Rounds 1 to the Quarter Final were played in one day at Southwick Park. Lesley Grogan and Irene Gettins won their first round games only to meet each other in round 2. Irene had the upper hand and managed to get through to the QF, where she lost to the competitor from Goring Manor.

Women’s County Unbadged Singles – Debbie Jarvis and Vanessa Mellor met each other in round 3 of the competition. Vanessa won the game 21 – 17 and will be at home to a competitor from Adastra.

Women’s County Pairs – Lesley Grogan and Jan Barnes lost in tough conditions by a single shot to a pair from Burgess Hill.

Women’s Unbadged (Trixie) Pairs – Mari Bourne and Vanessa Mellor won 25 -8 to secure a place in the Quarter Final.

Women’s National over 55 Singles Irene Gettins won her opening game and has a home match against Goring Manor in the next round.

Men’s National Top Club – Horsham lost to Burgess Hill 3 – 2.

Mid Sussex Champion of Champions – Barbara Meyer won her first round match 21 – 18 and Gerard Donck also won his first round match against the Ilse of Thorns Champion by a score of 21 – 19

In the Mid Sussex League we have so far played three matches. Fortunes have been a bit mixed, but we currently sit in third place out of six. Border League has been a bit of a struggle but we aren’t bottom of the table, sitting in 5th place. Horsham played Southwater at home in the first round of the Nellie Mercer last week. The match was played in dire conditions with plenty of rain. Horsham won the match 5 – 1 only to find out that no one else played due to the weather and they all received 3 points. It does mean that Horsham are top of the table.

Club Friendlies

HBC played Burgess Hill in an away match played in a great spirit. Home advantage proved to be key and Burgess Hill won 3 rinks with the other rink managing a draw. The overall score was Burgess Hill 71 Horsham 47. The top rink consisted of Joice Robins, Debbie Black, Sally Gardner and Neil Jarvis.

Horsham played a home match against Horsham and District Indoor Bowling Club. Unfortunately the weather proved to be the winner on the day and despite some play being possible it was decide to finish early and call the match an honourable draw.

Horsham had an away match at Hurstpierpoint on Sunday. Horsham won on two rinks and lost on two, but the aggregate score gave Horsham a 67 – 65 win. The top rink went to Dave Packham, Tony Male and Dean Burford.

John Bentley and Andy Black played their first ever County Men’s Pairs match at home to a pair from Horsham*. In a close(ish) game they came out on top and earned a well deserved place in the next round.

Irene Gettins and Lesley Grogan played for the County against Middlesex at Staines and Jan Barnes and Irene played for Sussex in the National County Competition, the Johns Trophy, against Kent at Borough Green. Having club players playing for the county is something that can only enhance the reputation of the club.

16/06/2024

Congrats to Hampshire U25 Men who narrowly won by 3 shots in the Regional Final at Horsham this afternoon, commiserations to Kent who gave a very good effort. Tremendous bowls all day from Bucks and Sussex who went out in Semi Final.
Great day of bowls all round and lovely supporters.

05/06/2024

Report from Neil jarvis
National and County Competitions
In the County Mixed Pairs Martin Jolliffe and Irene Gettins won their match away at Hurstpierpoint 15-13. They now play a local derby against Debbie Bown and Dean Burford.

Martin Jolliffe, Dave Packham, Ric Davey and Gerard Donck played in Men’s County Senior 4’s at Hollingbury, winning 18-11. They now play Burgess Hill in the Area 3 final on 13th Jun
In the Gladys Rowland Trophy a team consisting of Vanessa Mellor, Barbara Meyer, Sally Gardner and Debbie Jarvis played against a side from Buxted Park, winning 32-5. They will be playing at Henfield in the next round.

Vanessa Mellor and Mari Bourne played in the County Unbadged (Trixie) Pairs away at Henfield, winning 24-12.

In the County Women’s Senior Fours Barbara Meyer, Debbie Bown, Pauline McCartney and Irene Gettins convincingly beat a side from The Drive. They play away to Hurstpierpoint on 4th June.

Wendy Smith, Marion Goodman, Jules Packham and Debbie Jarvis played away at Pagham Bowling Club, losing after playing in very difficult conditions.
Martin Jolliffe, Debbie Bown, Irene Gettins and Gerard Donck played at Hollingbury in the National Mixed Fours, losing 13-8.

On Sunday 2nd June Horsham hosted the County Men’s Two Wood Fours Competition. Some excellent bowling was played throughout the day in perfect conditions. Horsham Bowling Club had four players entered. Dave Packham, Chris Holmes and Richard Bourne went out in the early rounds, but Martin Jolliffe played some very hard fought games to get through to the County Quarter Finals, which will be held at Horsham Bowling Club on the evening of Thursday 11th July.

Horsham Bowling Club played a couple of friendlies last week. The first was away to Southwater, where the rain managed to hold off. Horsham won on 3 of the 4 rinks played and finished 64-63 to scrape a narrow victory. The top rink consisted of Judy Morris, John Meyer, Mike Pearson and Martin Gardner.

In the second friendly Horsham Bowling Club played away to Cranleigh. Again, despite some very threatening clouds, the game was completed in the dry. Home advantage prevailed and Cranleigh won 89-71. Horsham’s top rink were Dennis Masini, Dave Stearn and Chris Hilton-Childs.

Hosted Events

As already mentioned, we hosted the County Men’s Two Wood Four’s competition on Sunday. This was another successful events thanks to all the members who put in time to ensure that Horsham Bowling Club keeps up its excellent reputation. The following deserve a thank you: Ann Jones (a true star), Marion Goodman, Jan Stearn, Irene Gettins, Jan Barnes, Joice Robins and Barbara Hill who all helped in the kitchen. Graeme Gardner, Martin Gardner, Dave Goodman, Stuart King, Dave Stearn and John Meyer for their help in setting up and clearing away afterwards. Chris Holmes for hosting the event. Robbie Calder, Calvin Evans, Anita Hambling and Vanessa Mellor for bar duty and Bob Devine for ensuring the green was well prepared.

As you can see from the list, it takes a lot of people to ensure these events run smoothly. This Wednesday 5th June, we host the Sussex County v Sussex VP’s game.

We have the biggest event of the season coming up on Sunday 16th June when we host the Bowls England White Rose Trophy Regional Final. The White Rose Trophy is a Bowls England, Inter- County Under 25’s Competition. The final four counties from the southern region will play against each other for a place in the National Finals at Lemington Spa. We are hosting the Southern area Regional Final (one of four finals being held around the country), which means we get to see the best under 25 players in the southern counties play each other. The standard of play is excellent and it’s great to see the enthusiasm and energy these younger players bring to the game.



Short Mat



I know that we are deep into the outdoor season, but I should mention that Andy Black went along to the West Sussex County Short Mat Bowls Association AGM to collect the League Division 3 Winners Trophy on behalf of the Horsham Hotshots White Team. Congratulations to everyone who took part and played for the Whites. The Trophy cabinet is starting to creak already.



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