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Fitz Park Bowling Club - Keswick, Station Road, Keswick (2026)

23/06/2026

A selection of photos from the Club Drawn Triples on Sunday. The 🏆 winners were Phil Barnes, Jackie Grundy and Christine Weightman. 📸 Photos by Ben Challis Sports Photography

20/06/2026

THE EDEN VALLEY Bowls League ‘Champion of Champions’ event was staged at Caldbeck on Sunday when Graeme Thompson, of Shap, and Lesley Metcalfe, of Appleby, won the titles for the men and women’s competitions respectively.
Robin Phillips, of Fitz Park, reached the men’s final after an impressive display in the semi-final (defeating David Hodgson, of Lazonby 21-4) but was unable to replicate his semi-final form in the final and lost 21-9 to the 6’ 8” tall Thompson whose play, and stature, gathered momentum the further he went in the competition, after being run close by Caldbeck’s Mike Reynard 21-19 in the semi, writes Keith Richardson.
Metcalfe had a comfortable win over Temple Sowerby’s Liz Burne in the women’s semi-final and went on to beat Linton’s Dorothy Linden 21-10 in the final. On one particular end in the final Metcalfe literally surrounded the jack with all four woods, so accurate and consistent was her play.
The trophies were presented by the chairman of the Eden Valley Bowls League, Roy Lightfoot, of Linton, with support from league secretary Anne Hunter. Mr Lightfoot complemented Caldbeck on their staging of the event. Markers for the matches were Willie Irving, Mary Cowx, David Osborne and Will Strong while the umpire was Mike Dickinson, all of the Caldbeck club.
As ever, the facilities and catering provided by the host club were first class, and – from a personal perspective – the blackcurrant pie and chocolate eclair, were brilliant. My complements to the baker and, also, a thank you to Caldbeck for the realistic pricing of products that would have cost a small fortune in a tourist retail setting, ie Keswick!
KESWICK’S women bowlers are still celebrating following a famous victory over the 2025 county women’s fours champions, Wigton, in an early round match played at Fitz Park on Monday evening.
Shona Robinson, Karen Hind, Caroline Forsyth and skip Gillian Stuart, defeated Wigton’s Jeanette Bell, Carol Studholme, Penny Peile and England women’s age group selector Nicola Bowe 16-13
And this, most remarkably, after being 6-13 down after 15 ends and with only three ends remaining. The Keswick team fought back to take 2, 3 and – amazingly – six shots on the last to run out 17-13 winners.
In internal club competitions Paula (“practice makes perfect”) Rainey defeated Shona Robinson 21-17 to reach the semi-final of the women’s green where she will meet the winner of Jill Preston v Christine Weightman in the semi-final.
FITZ Park men made a second round exit from the national ‘Top Club’ competition when they lost at Whitehaven after an excellent home win over Silloth in the first round. The only winners for the Keswick side, were the fours with Peter Rainey, Keith Richardson, Mike Jackman and Robin Phillips triumphant 18-11.
In the West Cumbria League, Fitz Park is at home to Seaton this evening (Friday) at 6.30pm.
IN THE Eden Valley League, there were some high scores and an aggregate in favour of Fitz Park by a massive 102 shots to 30 in favour of the Keswick B (Tuesday afternoon) side against Temple Sowerby.
Chris Barker, Shona Robinson and Keith Price roared home 40-7, Duncan Stuart, Jill Preston and your correspondent triumphed 28-10, George Parsons, Ray Patterson and Brian Robinson won 18-5 while Christine Weightman, Mark Finlay and Keith Goldsmith were 18-5 victors.
Also in the Tuesday league Fitz Park A came a cropper at Friars, winning only one rink, 15-16, thanks to the efforts of Caroline Forsyth, Gillian Stuart and Colin Mason who registered a five on the final end to take the match.
Fitz Park B were under the cosh in a rearranged match against Caldbeck. Two rinks lost heavily while a third managed a draw but it must have felt like a defeat for Peter Rainey, Martyn Love, Phil Pridmore and skip Keith Goldsmith who were 14-6 up with two ends remaining and conceded a five and a three on the last two to tie the match 14-14. Hecky thump.
And finally, this week, congratulations to Craig Phillips – on the eve of his 60th birthday – on becoming the latest recruit to the Fitz Park WDC (‘Wrong Destination Club’), on somehow managing to get all the way to Lazonby last Thursday evening when he should have been at Temple Sowerby.
The other celebrated member of the WDC, vice president Mike Cooper (Temple Sowerby instead of Appleby) welcomes you to this most exclusive of clubs.

18/06/2026

✨️ NEW DATE - SUNDAY 19TH JULY ✨️

17/06/2026

Unfortunately we have had to postpone this tournament on this date and will post further details when the rearranged date has been confirmed . Thank you for your understanding!

13/06/2026

FITZ PARK Bowling Club, Keswick, takes on Whitehaven away Friday (yesterday) in the county Top Club competition. The Lakeland side had an excellent home victory over Silloth in the opening round but is under no illusion as to the size of the task facing them this evening.
Whitehaven are currently riding high in the West Cumbria Fours League, topping the table and unbeaten. Keswick are second in the table, also without a loss to their name, and trail Whitehaven by just five points, having not being able to quite match Haven’s win record by maximum scores, writes Keith Richardson.
Fitz Park were due to meet Whitehaven on their own ground this evening in the league, but that clash has been postponed due to both clubs’ continued involvement in the Top Club competition.
Top Club matches are played out over five formats and the Keswick team facing Whitehaven tonight is: two bowl singles, John Sewell; four bowl singles, Ryan Brannan; pairs, Colin Mason and Dave Brannan; triples, Kevin Hadley, Alan Hind and Craig Phillips; fours, Peter Rainey, Keith Richardson, Mike Jackman and Robin Phillips.
In the latest round of West Cumbria Fours League matches, Fitz Park, on their home turf, defeated Whitehaven B 7-0.
The biggest margin of victory came for the rink of Kevin Hadley, Alan Hind, Dave Brannan and Ryan Brannan 24-7 while John Sewell, Keith Goldsmith, Peter Rainey and Robin Phillips won 24-11. The closest game was played by your correspondent, Cliff Harding, Mike Jackman and skip Phil Barnes who triumphed 18-17 after going into the last end 16-17 down but got two shots on a measure to win the match and secure maximum points for the Keswick team.
League standings are: Whitehaven A played 7, –43 points, Fitz Park 6 - 38, Cleator Moor 7 - 38, Workington A 6 - 37, Maryport 7 - 20, Seaton 6 0 - 17, Workington B 7 - 17, Harris Park 7 - 16, Whitehaven B 6 - 6, Vulcan Park 7 - 6.
In the Eden Valley League, a hailstorm put paid to the Fitz Park A v Caldbeck match on Tuesday. Only four ends had been completed when the heavens opened and hail – not quite the size of golf balls - descended en masse, and the entire green was blanketed white in seconds as players fled for shelter.
The game was abandoned and will now need to be rearranged together with a couple of other encounters that have had to be postponed due to the wetness of the green after rainfall. This all, of course, happened in flaming June, and we are looking forward to heatwave later this month!
While the hail bombs were putting paid to the match at Keswick, Fitz Park B were enduring alternate heavy rain, the distant clap of thunder on the Pennines and the occasional ray of sunshine at Lazonby. At one point a rolling band of white cloud (the Helm Bar) rested all the way along the top of the Pennines with ominous black clouds as a dramatic backdrop.
Fitz Park narrowly lost the game 6-4 because of an inferior aggregate despite wins for Christine Weightman, Mark Finlay and Keith Goldsmith (13-20) and an excellent lead in Duncan Stuart, Jill Preston and your correspondent (8-16). Unfortunately, Chris Barker, Ray Patterson and Brian Robinson lost 15-7 and Shona Robinson, Jackie Grundy and Keith Price were vanquished 31-8.
While the A team game at home to Lazonby was rained off, the B team lost at Shap 5-3 where the Keswick team won one, lost one and drew one, but conceded two points from the aggregate. The winners were Gillian Stuart, Steve Reay, Duncan Stuart and David Bragg (19-14) while Peter Rainey, Chris Barker, Syd Horsfield and Keith Goldsmith lost the last two ends but held on for a 15-15 draw. Ray Patterson, Brian Robinson, Craig Robinson and Keith Price lost 11-21.
In internal club competitions the green championship has reached the last 16 and the combatants are: Mike Jackman v Craig Phillips, Kevin Hadley v Ray Patterson, Steve Reay v Ryan Brannan (defending champion), Alan Hind v John Thompson, Keith Richardson v Colin Mason, Keith Goldsmith v Syd Horsfield and Mike Robertson v Phil Barnes.
In the women’s green championship the quarter final draw is: Karen Hind (defending champion) v Lynn Hazell, Jackie Grundy v Sue Tremble, Shona Robinson v Paula Rainey, Gill Preston v Christine Weightman.
Women’s pairs semi-final: Gillian Stuart and Karen Hind v Paula Rainey and Jean Barwise. Other side of draw to be determined.
President’s Prize: Chris Barker v Ryan Brannan, Jackie Grundy v Adrian Gill, John Thompson v Syd Horsfield, Cliff Harding v Mike Jackman, Alan Hind v Kevin Hadley, John Sewell v Colin Mason, Jill Preston v Phil Pridmore and Craig Robinson v Keith Richardson.

05/06/2026

FITZ PARK, Keswick, made progress in the county Top Club competition on Tuesday with a dramatic opening round win over Silloth and now travel to play leading West Cumbria League team Whitehaven in the next stage.
The single point win over a strong Silloth side that plays in Carlisle area competitions went right down to the death and depended on Ryan Brannan overcoming the challenge of Paul Wallace in a singles match, the last match to be completed on a beautifully sunny evening, writes Keith Richardson.
After 10 ends, with the winner the first to reach 21, it seemed unlikely that Brannan could overcome a 5-14 deficit. But he roared back and despite being 17-19 down after 21 ends held his nerve for the next two and registered two shots on each to take the match 21-19.
Top Club matches are decided over two singles (two wood and four wood), pairs, triples and a fours format, with a point being awarded for each win. The scores were tied at 2-2 before Brannan’s intervention swung the tie the Keswick team’s way.
Earlier, Fitz Park’s George Parsons lost 13-14 in the two wood singles, Cliff Harding and Dave Brannan went down 13-22 in the pairs, while Kevin Hadley, Alan Hind and Craig Phillips won the triples 19-13.
In the fours, Peter Rainey, Keith Richardson, Mike Jackman and Phil Barnes enjoyed a comfortable victory, scoring five shots on the first end, storming into a 9-0 lead after three and never looking back to win 26-13.

Fitz Park remains unbeaten in the West Cumbria League after defeating visitors Workington B by a maximum 7-0. The team is now second in the league, just five points behind leaders Whitehaven A but with a game in hand.
That game in hand, however, involves a rearranged clash against league champions Workington who, surprisingly, lost 2-5 to Whitehaven last time out.
Against Workington B last Friday evening, John Sewell, Keith Goldsmith, Ryan Brannan and skip Robin Phillips won 18-10, Kevin Hadley, Alan Hind, Dave Brannan and Craig Phillips won 14-13 despite conceding five over the last three ends while the biggest margin of victory (21-12) came for the rink of Keith Richardson, Brian Robinson, Mike Jackman and Phil Barnes who kicked on in the last two ends with a five and a four after being 12-12 after 16 of the 18 ends.
Tonight (Friday), Fitz Park is at home to Whitehaven B (6.30pm).

Nothing rouses the competitive spirit at Keswick more than a B team v A team encounter.
The latest was this week in the Eden Valley League triples when the Bees stung their near A team rivals with a 6-4 win. The A team’s Sue Tremble, Colin Jackson (subsequently merry in defeat), and skip Cliff Harding bombed 7-25 to George Parsons, Ray Patterson and Brian Robinson.
Christine Weightman, Mark Finlay and Keith Goldsmith had a last end (two shots) 13-12 win over Kevin Hadley, Steve Reay and Peter Tremble after the latter hit a five to go 11-12 ahead with one to go.
Positive points for the A side came from Adrian Gill, Chris Mills and John Sewell who defeated Jackie Grundy, Shona Robinson and Keith Price 7-18. Caroline Forsyth, who played exceptionally well at lead, Gillian Stuart and Colin Mason narrowly got the better of Duncan Stuart, Jill Preston and Keith Richardson 14-15.
The next derby matches to look forward to are on July 21 and 23. So keep your powder dry!
In Eden Valley fours, Fitz Park won 2-6 at Friars (Penrith) where Caroline Forsyth, Cliff Harding, Alan Hind and Dave Brannan won 15-14 on the last end thanks to a decisive final wood from their skip Brannan. John Sewell, Kevin Hadley, Keith Richardson and Craig Phillips won 26-12 while Chris Mills, Peter Tremble, Robin Phillips and Peter Rainey lost 10-22 to a Friars rink skipped by the influential John Fletcher.
On the same evening and at the same venue Jackie Grundy, Karen Hind and Christine Weightman won 16-10 in the women’s league, but Shona Robinson, Jill Preston and Lynn Hazell lost 17-10.
In other competitions that have taken place recently, Robin Phillips made progress in the Eden Valley’s ‘Champion of Champions’ event with a 21-13 win over George Parsons, on this occasion representing Friars, Penrith.
Club internal competitions have already produced some close encounters. In the green championship, Peter Rainey was just two shots away (10-19) from an outstanding win over defending champion Ryan Brannan but then lost out in a dramatic comeback; Craig Phillips just got the better of Cliff Harding 21-17; Robin Phillips bested Dave Brannan 21-17; Ray Patterson claimed a famous victory in a 27 end 21-20 thriller against Philip Pridmore.
In the president’s Prize, Jackie Grundy caused shock waves with a 21-18 win over leading skip Phil Barnes; Sue Tremble pushed Mike Jackman all the way but lost 16-21; Christine Weightman staged a comeback against Kevin Hadley only to lose 22-16; while Alan Hind had to battle hard to defeat Lynn Hazell 21-18.
In the men’s pairs, Bill Richardson and Martyn Love overcame Mike Robertson and Keith Goldsmith 19-12.

Reporter Keith Richardson
Photography Ben Challis Sports Photography

29/05/2026

UNBEATEN Fitz Park (Keswick) goes into this Friday evening’s home game (6.30pm) against Workington B in fourth place in the West Cumbria League.

And the team is in touching distance of leaders Whitehaven A , current champions Workington A and third -placed Cleator Moor. Workington A and Fitz Park also have a game in hand over the leaders and Cleator Moor, the latter defeated at Fitz Park recently.

The Keswick team was at Maryport last Friday and won 2-5.

The biggest margin of victory – securing the one point from the aggregate in the process – was the rink skipped by Phil Barnes with Mike Jackman at No3, Peter Rainey at 2 and Keith Richardson, lead. After tight early exchanges the visitors established a comfortable lead at just over halfway and never looked back, running out 16-23 winners.

Although they trailed 11-9 after 13 ends, the rink skipped by Craig Phillips, playing alongside Cliff Harding (lead) Alan Hind and Dave Brannan, bounced back to win 12-14 after the scores were tied on 12-12 after 16 of the 18 ends.

The sole defeat, and a close one at that, came for skip Robin Phillips and his teammates of John Sewell (lead) Kevin Hadley and Keith Goldsmith, who were 13-6 down on completion of the 14th end but fought back to win the last four ends.

Unfortunately, it was a case of too little too late because the home side clung on to a one point lead to win 13/12.

Full results were: Harris Park 0 Workington A 7; Maryport 2 Fitz Park 5, Workington B 7 Whitehaven B 0; Whitehaven A 5 Seaton 2; Vulcan Park 0 Cleator Moor 7.

League standings: Whitehaven A 5 games 31 points, Workington A 4/28, Cleator Moor 5/26, Fitz Park 4/24, Workington B 5/17, Seaton 4/11, Maryport 5/8, Harris Park 5/7, Whitehaven B 4/6, Vulcan Park 5/3.

In the Eden Valley League, disappointment for Keswick A and B sides in the Tuesday triples.

In glorious sunshine the A side was at home to Linton and lost 4-6 despite winning two and losing two. Victors were Caroline Forsyth, Gill Stuart and Colin Mason (19-12) and Sue Tremble, Colin Jackson and Cliff Harding (14-9). On the downside Chris Mills, Adrian Gill and John Sewell lost 13-16 while Kevin Hadley, Steve Reay and Lynn Hazell crashed 7-21.

After torrential rain at Temple Sowerby the previous Tuesday, the B side basked and suffered in the heat at Friars B (Penrith) where they lost 8-2. The solitary winners (14-13) were Christine Weightman, Mark Finlay and Keith Goldsmith who claimed a two-shot gain on the final end to get over the line.

Jackie Grundy, Shona Robinson and a heat-zapped Keith Price lost 13-12 while Keith Richardson, Duncan Stuart and Jill Preston, despite winning seven of the 15 ends, lost heavily 21-7. George Parsons, Ray Patterson and Brian Robinson suffered a similar fate losing 21-9.

In previous years, the B team has taken great delight in defeating their own A team in the Eden Valley Thursday rinks. This year the A side established their superiority with an 8-0 win.

The biggest margin of victory (21-8) came for Dave Brannan, Alan Hind, Cliff Harding and Caroline Forsyth against Keith Price, Craig Robinson, Brian Robinson and Ray Patterson.

Robin Phillips, Peter Rainey, John Thompson and Chris Mills won 18-12 while the B team’s Gillian Stuart, Duncan Stuart, Phil Pridmore and David Bragg ran John Sewell, Kevin Hadley, Keith Richardson and skip Craig Phillips close but eventually lost out 17-15.

Finally, this week, upper Fitz Park has been looking brilliant in the wonderful sunshine, and the green has been playing exceptionally well, thanks to the considerable efforts, principally, of Cliff Harding, Peter Rainey and support team.

Report by Keith Richardson .
Photography by Ben Challis

24/05/2026

Photographs from the Derek Massingham Memorial Game and the visit of Boroughbridge BC and friends. Photos by Ben Challis Sports Photography.

22/05/2026

BEFORE this Friday evening’s away match against Maryport, Fitz Park (Keswick) is unbeaten and handily placed in third position in the West Cumbria Fours League. On their last outing the Keswick team walloped new boys Harris Park (Cockermouth) 7-0.
The biggest margin of victory (29-7) was achieved by skip Craig Phillips and his rink of Cliff Harding, Alan Hind and Dave Brannan.
Phil Barnes, Mike Jackman, Peter Tremble and Keith Richardson won 20-8 while John Sewell, Kevin Hadley, Keith Goldsmith and Robin Phillips were victorious 16-10.
League results from last Friday evening were as follows: Maryport 0 Whitehaven A 7, Whitehaven B 4 Cleator Moor 3, Workington B 5 Vulcan Park 2, Seaton 0 Workington A 7, Fitz Park 7 Harris Park 0.
The top four places in the league are: Whitehaven A (26 from four games) Workington A (21 from three), Fitz Park (19 from three) and Cleator Moor (19 from four).
In the Eden Valley League (triples, Tuesday afternoon) the rain was torrential for a large part of the encounter between Temple Sowerby and Fitz Park B when drenched players (some resembling skiers rather than bowlers in their white wet weather gear, plus assorted woollen bobble hats) sought shelter and an early warming cup of tea before battle was recommenced.
The visitors won 8-2 with Rob Reilly, Ray Patterson and Brian Robinson recording a 5-32 win. Duncan Stuart, Jill Preston and Keith Richardson went into the last end with the scores tied on 15-15 but got three to win 15-18. Keith Goldsmith, Mark Finlay and Christine Weightman won 16-23 after taking five shots on the penultimate end to seal the victory.
The only defeat (22-9) came for Jackie Grundy, Shona Robinson and Keith Price.
On a wildlife note, it was great to see so many swallows in and around the green, and a starling nesting in the groundsman’s hut.
At the same time on Tuesday but in better weather, Fitz Park A hammered Friars B (Penrith) 10-0 at Keswick. All games were more competitive than the overall scoreline suggests with Chris Mills, Adrian Gill, and John Sewell winning 19-12; Sue Tremble, Colin Jackson and Cliff Harding taking the game 11-9; Kevin Hadley, Lynn Hazell and Peter Tremble got home 14-11 while Caroline Forsyth, Jill Stewart and Colin Mason won 18-12.
Keswick bowlers will be looking forward to some warmer weather after Fitz ParK A suffered a 7-1 defeat in Baltic conditions at Caldbeck in the Thursday evening fours where the only plus point was a 13-13 tie for Cliff Harding, Caroline Forsyth, Alan Hind and Dave Brannan.
On the wrong end of the scoreline were Kevin Hadley, Peter Tremble, Robin Phillips and Craig Phillip (15-5) and John Sewell, John Thompson, Keith Richardson and Peter Rainey (16-9).
Fitz Park’s women, Jackie Grundy, Karen Hind and Christine Weightman managed a 11-11 draw against their Caldbeck opponents, but Shona Robinson, Jill Preston and Lynn Hazell lost 19-9.
This weekend will be a busy one for Fitz Park bowlers with the Derek Massingham memorial game on Saturday followed by a visit from Hartlepool Old Boys on the Sunday. Both events start at 2pm and it promises to be thirsty work under a hot sun!

14/05/2026

FITZ Park continued their winning ways with a 0-7 success away to Vulcan Park, Workington in the West Cumbria Fours League. And they will be looking to add to that impressive start when they encounter league newcomers Harris Park, Cockermouth, at home this Friday evening at 6.30pm.

The game will have an added interest in that former Fitz Park player Vic Emmerson who returned to his hometown team at the beginning of this season will probably be returning to Keswick for the game against his former team mates.

Keswick’s win at a rejuvenated Vulcan’s Park was comfortable across all three rinks.

The biggest margin of victory (4-27) was accomplished by lead Keith Richardson, second Peter Tremble, third Mike Jackman and skip Phil Barnes, while Cliff Harding, Alan Hind, Craig Phillips, and Dave Brannan won 11-19 and John Sewell, Kevin Hadley, Keith Goldsmith and Robin Phillips triumphed 11-20.

In terms of league standings, the Keswick side is fourth on 12 points from two games while champions Workington are in third with 14 from two but both have a game in hand over leaders Whitehaven A (19 from 3) and second placed Cleator Moor (16 from three).

Results last Friday were: Cleator Moor 7 Maryport 0; Harris Park 0 Seaton 7; Vulcans Park 0 Fitz Park 7; Whitehaven B 2 Whitehaven A 5; Workington A 7 Workington B 0.

In the Eden Valley (Thursday) rinks, Fitz Park A enjoyed an 8-1 home win over Shap. Winning teams were Kevin Hadley, Colin Jackson, Peter Tremble and Craig Phillips (20-6); Caroline Forsyth, Cliff Harding, Alan Hind and Dave Brannan (27-1) while John Sewell, John Thompson, Keith Richardson and Peter Rainey drew 13-13.

It was a different story at Lazonby for Fitz Park A in the triples on Tuesday. The Keswick side crashed and burned 9-1 with Caroline Forsyth, Gillian Stuart and Colin Mason salvaging the solitary point from a 14-14 draw, achieved on the last end after being 14-10 down.

On the same afternoon Fitz Park B lost 4-6 at home to Wetheral when there were wins for Christine Weightman, Mark Finlay and Keith Goldsmith (13-10) and Jackie Grundy, Shona Robinson and Keith Price (13-11) the latter achieved with a tremendous shot from skip Price on the final end.

Duncan Stuart, Jill Preston and Keith Richardson were five shots to the good on the last end with the scores tied on 9-9. Victory seemed assured until the visiting skip’s last wood somehow got through to steal the show.

Uncharacteristically, a strong Keswick rink of Ray Patterson, George Parsons and Brian Robinson lost 9-18 and that cost their side the aggregate.

Keswick B registered a maximum 0-8 win at Temple Sowerby with ray Patterson, Brian Robinson, Craig Robinson and Keith Price thumping their opponents 9-28, while Gillian Stuart, Duncan Stuart, Phil Pridmore and David Bragg (9-11) and Steve Reay, Hughie Burton, Syd Horsfield and Keith Goldsmith (9-12) had to work harder for their success.

Report by Keith Richardson

Fitz Park Bowling Club - Keswick

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