15/09/2026
🏆 Ralston Bowling Club Mixed Wappenshaw 🏆
At Ralston Bowling Club, we host a Mixed Wappenshaw every Monday evening throughout the outdoor season, open to all full members.
It’s a great way to welcome newer bowlers into competitive play, meet and play alongside different members of the club and, more often than not, finish the evening with a drink and a chat in the clubhouse. 🍻
For anyone unfamiliar with the term, a Wappenshaw in lawn bowls is a friendly and informal club gathering or roll-up where members turn up, are randomly balloted into teams and play a social game of bowls.
The word “Wappenshaw” itself has its roots in Scottish history, originating from an old Scots term for a weapons show or military review.
Thankfully, the only weapons on display at Ralston these days are bowls! 😄
Although it’s always played in great spirits, there is definitely still a competitive element.
🏆 3 points for a win
🤝 2 points for peels (a draw)
👏 1 consolation point for a defeat
⭐ The winners of the highest-up rink receive an extra point, giving them 4 points in total.
The points are accumulated throughout the outdoor season and, after the final Monday night, the player with the highest total is crowned Wappenshaw Champion and presented with the impressive Ralston Jug. 🏆
And this year it really did go right down to the wire!
Going into last night’s final Wappenshaw, there were just two points separating Andy Naismith and last year’s champion, Lynn McMillan, with Andy holding the narrow advantage.
Playing on side-by-side rinks, there were a few shaky hands, some nervous bowls and more than a couple of glances across to see how the other game was progressing! 👀😄
In the end, Andy and his team managed to secure a one-shot victory, which was enough for Andy to finish the season on top and claim the trophy for the first time, finishing four points clear overall.
👏 A huge well done to Lynn McMillan, who came incredibly close to making it two Wappenshaw titles in a row.
🏆 And congratulations to Andy Naismith — our 2026 Ralston Bowling Club Wappenshaw Champion! 👏👏
Finally, as the outdoor season now draws to a close, a huge thank you to Cameron Munro and Archie Blair for taking over the running of the Wappenshaw this year.
The time and effort put in each week to organise the draw, keep everything running smoothly and make sure everyone gets a game is massively appreciated by all those who take part.
Thank you, Cameron and Archie! 👏👏👏
