Free Taster Session

 

Are you new to Bowls or re starting ?

 

We look forward to welcoming you on

Friday 28th April between 6.00pm and 7.30pm

we will introduce you to a short game, have you playing in minutes,

and give you the opportunity to book onto our free,

three session coached course with our Club Coach.

 

All you need to bring is a pair of clean flat soled shoes/trainers.

 

You can also contact us for the coached sessions at 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Introductory Sessions

If you'd like to try out bowling then contact our Club Coach Andy Winter using the email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and he will introduce you to the basics and hopefully you'll want to continue playing and join us for the rest of the season.

Children and young people are welcome although if you are under 18 you must be accompanied by an adult even if they dont play as well.

You will just need a pair of clean, soft flat soled shoes to play in.

We're already looking forward to seeing you !

 

 

Latest News Spring 2021

Happy Easter Everyone

The club is planning to open on Saturday 17th April, let’s hope the weather warms up again a little before then. 

So far 41 members have submitted their membership forms and we have 5 new members who we look forward to welcoming on to the Green.

 

Membership - The membership form is now available online and here is a link Banbury Central Bowling Club - Membership Application Form 2021 (office.com)

 

Club competitions are free to enter and along with playing in friendly matches they are a good way to gain experience and in the the pairs and triples competitions there is some seeding and the teams are drawn, so do give these a go, even if you are new. Here is the link to the entry form Banbury Central Members Club Competition Entry Form 2021 (office.com)

 

We’re still waiting for Bowls England Guidelines to cover 12th April onwards before we can give you all of information for the early part of the season.  However we have had the good news that the ladies league is going ahead with its original schedule but will play Two Wood Triples rather than Rinks for the first half of the season.  We are still waiting for the final decision on the schedule for the men’s league but hopefully this will come soon.

 

We were hoping to have a Clean up morning on Saturday 10th April but due to Covid restrictions we won’t be able to meet in any great numbers at the club as usual.  So we would ask members to arrange to meet up in small groups within Covid guidelines to have a general tidy up over the next couple of weeks. 

 

The main things we need to do are:

  • Have a general tidy up of the garden.
  • Get the benches out of the pavilion and rearrange the picnic benches on the patio.
  • Clean the windows in the pavilion/bar/changing rooms and wipe down the external window ledges.
  • Wipe and sand down the gates to the green in preparation for repainting.
  • Please do not relay the ditch infill until closer to the start of the season.

Once we have more news we will get back to you and hopefully enjoy a warm summer together on the green.

 

 

Welcome back

 

2021 season is set to get underway

 

Our provisional fixture list has been posted to give us all encouragement to start some lunges and gentle exercise prior to the green opening on 17th April. The committee are working hard to get everything in place for safe bowling to take place and we hope that as one of the fastest growing sports in 2020 that we will be able to welcome new members to join us as the season progresses. 

 

Our new membership form and arrangements for booking a rink will be announced in the coming days and we look forward to you joining us. Get the shoes ready, the bowls polished and your waterproofs to hand  !!

 

 

Allison and Longford Successes

 

The OBA Domestic Finals took place today at Burford Town Bowls Club with Central being represented by Ian Gilbert in the Allison Cup (for unbadged bowlers) and Nigel Galletly in the Longford Cup (for gentlemen over a certain age).

 

In the morning semi's, Ian had a tough game against Paul Costin (Thame) which he eventually won 21-18. In the afternoon's final he faced John Hurren from the Burford club. Ian got off to a good start but John came back well and went ahead before Ian managed to get the shots to give him the title with the closest of wins, 21-20.

 

Nigel also got off to a good start in his semi final against Adderbury's David Allington and was well ahead before David came back strongly, holding three shots for game at 19-20. Having seen his three previous woods fall well short, Nigel produced the perfect draw to move into the final with a 21-19 win.

In his final against Carterton's Roger Thomas, Nigel developed a comfortable lead early on and even a late rally from Roger was not enough to put his lead in danger as he lifted the trophy with a 21-16 win.

 

Central's County Champions

Oxford City & County Bowls Club hosted the Bowls Oxford Ladies County finals over the weekend in what turned out to be a contest between the host club and Central.

 

Saturday morning's Triples final saw Carole Galletly, Helen Young and Caroline Campion up against City & County's trio of Sue Mayo, Jacky Gray and Jeanette Berry who started the better, with the Central girls taking some time to get to grips with both the pace of the green and the lines. Once they settled, the Central threesome pulled their way back into the game, but with one end remaining were still four shots in arrears. With one wood left, the City & County skip found herself in the position of game down, but a good last wood took the title to the home triple.

 

In the afternoon Fours, the Central morning triple were joined by Pam Shepherd to do battle once more against a City & County side, this time up against Karen Galloway, Carol Gaskins, Donna Knight and Katherins Hawes. This time it was the Central girls that raced away at the start, and although their opponents  came back well and with a few ends still left to play, the 13 shot lead to Central was enough for the handshake from the C&C girls.

 

Sunday morning was the hardest of the four finals in that Carole and Caroline were up against each other contesting the Singles Championship final. This was a good quality, close contest throughout with Caroline having the tightest of victories 21-20, to take the title.

 

After a short break Carole returned to the green to face Katherins Hawes in the County Two Wood final which the English International dominated to give the City & County club their second title of the weekend, with a 10 shot win.

 

After lunch, the final championship took place, pitching Carole & Carolineagainst Donna Knight and Katherine Hawes in the Pairs. In a keenly contested game which produced quality bowling from each participant it was the Central pairing that prevailed with a 20-11 scoreline which was not a true reflection of the game.

 

Best wishes to all the Oxfordshire ladies competing in the National Championships at Leamington and lets take a ride up the M40 to support our girls. 

 

 

Galletly & Campion reach County Pairs final.

The Quarters and Semi finals of the ladies County Pairs took place this weekend in blustery but dry conditions at the Thame Bowling Club, with Central provided three of the 8 contesting pairings.

Pat Ray and Brenda Havard just missed out in a tight game against Jan Gore and Caroline Bloomfield from Witney Town, losing by 4 shots.

Unfortunately, the pairing of Carole Galletly and Caroline Campion had to play against team mates Eloise Jones and Mo Cox in what runed out to be a kenlt fought game. Campion and Galletly came back from a 7 shot deficit to lead by 2 going into the last end, only for Cox and Jones to collect the brace which forced an extra end which went in the two 'C's favour.

 

In the afternoon semi-final, Carole and Caroline faced the young Watlington pair Katie Glenn and Emma Gilkes who played well throughout to lead by 5 with five ends remaining. A strong finish from the Central Pairing saw them move into the final with a 26-20 win and also qualify for another visit to Leamington in August.

 

National Title Success

Congratulations to our National Title winners of the 2018 Tony Allcock Trophy after their win yesterday on the last day of the National Championships at Leamington.
 
The Mixed Double rink champions took the title after defeating the 2016 champions Lindfield BC from Sussex.
In Saturday's afternoon's quarter-final Central defeated Hemingford BC from Huntingdonshire 33 - 32 in a nail biter, then returned on Sunday morning to beat Cove BC from Hampshire 38-34, though all the measuring on the last end with Cove looking for a five to take it into an extra end was nerve wracking for the spectators. In the end it was only a single.
 
In the final Lindfield went off on a flyer, only for Central to pull back and move on to build a steady lead. Around the three-quarter mark, Linfield had come back, with Central's lead looking a bit delicate.  However, both rinks kicked in again to take the title with a comfortable 47-35 win.
 
Rink scores were, Mary Tee, Brenda Havard, Nigel Galletly and Michael Andrew won 20-16 and Eloise Jones, Pam Shepherd, Graham Morbey and Keith McNeil won 27-19.
 
Whilst all this excitement was going on at Leamington, Central's ladies were in action in the County Top Club final against a team from Witney Town BC, held at Oxfordshire's south-east bowling outpost at Shiplake Village BC.
In the Singles, Mo Cox gave Central a good start with a close win 21-20. in the Pairs a good game against a strong Witney pairing saw Jenny Williams and Helen Young just miss out at 16-20. Hownever, the Triple of Gill Hunt, Bev McNeil and Carole Galletly won 24-6, whilst the Fours rink of Jill Hart, Jane Williams, Sue Waring and Anne Norton won 19-8, securing the title for the club for the second successive year.
 
With title in their pocket, it was in the cars and off up to Leamington, to watch our new National Champions.
And some people think that Sunday is a day of rest.
 

Womens County Finals Cont......

Central women were in action early on Saturday morning in the re-arranged County Finals at Oxford & City.
 
The County Two wood final was a close game with Central's Carole Galletly getting a good start on Katherine Hawes from the City & County club in the first half of the game. Katherine came back well in the second half but Carole managed to hold on to her lead and won 15-14.
 
In the County Singles finals, Central's Caroline Campion was up against Karen Galloway who was playing on her own green. Caroline was 2-8 down in the early stages of the game but came back to lift the title with a 21-13 win.
 
Carole and Caroline joined up to contest the Pairs against Donna Knight and Katherine Hawes in yet another close contest between representative of the two clubs. This time however, it was the Oxford City & County bowlers who lifted the title with a 16-13 win.
 
Carole Galletly, BOL 2018 Two Wood Singles Winner
 
Caroline Campion, BOL 2018 Singles Winner
 

A Leamington final for Carole G

Congratulations to Carole Galletly on reaching the final of the National Mixed Fours at Leamington on Saturday along with team mates Kathy Hawes (Oxford City & County), Mark Sykes (Banbury Borough) and Howard Watts (Headington).

After wins against rinks from Sussex 22-16, Hampshire 21-14 and Derbyshire 25-19, there Essex opponents in the final took the lead in the sixth end and managed to stay in front for the rest of the game to run out 23-16 winners.

Slow, Slow, Quick, Quicker

Our ladies exploits at Leamington in the National's started as slowly as was possible with Carole, Pam, Helen and Caroline going out of the Fours in the preliminary round on August 7th, followed by Myra and Helen going out in the first round of the Pairs ten days later.

The third week of the Championship's saw an improvement in the weather and with the sun on their backs, our Senior four of Mo Cox, Mary Tee, Carole Galletly and Caroline Campion showed their true form, with three good wins against Nottinghamshire, Dorset and Berkshire taking them into a semi-final against the Hertfordshire, Riverain rink.

A place in the final was not to be, but congratulations to one and all for such a sterling effort.

 

Sunday saw our girls contesting the County Top Club final at the Thame club, playing against the ladies from Shiplake Village B.C. and hoping to go one better than last year when they lost in a closely fought final against Thame.

 

This year they took the title with a comfortable 3-1 win.

Mo Cox, fresh (or tired) from her exploits at Leamington, got things off to a good start with a comfortable 21-7 win in the singles. Mary Tee and Pam Shepherd followed this up with a 32-16 Pairs win, whilst Eloise Jones, Gill Sharp and Myra Lewis wrapped up the Triples 23-13. The only lost point was in the fours where Melody Sykes, Bev McNeil, June Bone and Anne Norton lost out to their opponents 12-23.

 

Well done girls, after a dissapointing start to the month, you are leaving August on a high.

Silverware at last for the men.

Congratulations to Nigel Galletly on winning the Oxfordshire Bowling Association, Officers' Singles Cup.
 
The OBA Domestic Finals were held at the Witney Town Bowls Club last Sunday and Nigel took the Officer's Cup title 21-19, coming from behind in a tough close game against South Oxford's Keith Mobley.
 
Due to his semi-final opponent Tim Ludlow featuring in two semi-finals they had to play the semi earlier in the week, Nigel winning 21-15.
 
This is the second time Nigel has won this competition, the last time being in 2011.
 
Congratulation are also due to Ian Gilbert, who is comparatively new to the game, in reaching the semi-finals of the Allison Cup. In his semi he lost 14-21 to the eventual winner Brian Smith who was playing on his own green.
 
 

Success at BOL finals.

Banbury Central women were involved in two County finals this weekend played at the Oxford City & County club.
 
In the mornings Fours, mother and daughter Caroline Campion and Helen Young teamed up with Pam Shepherd and Carole Galletly to win 20-15 against rink from West Witney, maintaining their slender lead to the end of a closely contesting game.
 
The afternoon session saw Helen featuring again, this time accompanying Myra Lewis in the Pairs. Unfortunately the mornings result could not be repeated and they finally lost out to their City & County opponents by 4 shots.
 
Both the Central teams will be representing Oxfordshire in the National Championships which start this weekend at Leamington.
 
We wish them every success.

 

Double title for Carole and Caroline

In the Bowls Oxfordshire Ladies County Triples final, it was the battle of the Banbury clubs – Central v Borough. Pam Shepherd, Carole Galletly and Caroline Campion (Banbury Central) faced Margaret Morris, Maureen Osbourne and Angie Ives (Banbury Borough). The game was very low scoring and very close throughout. The last end saw Campion’s triple 3 shots up but Ives could not convert the head walking away with only 2 shots to crown the Banbury Central triple the county champions.
 
In the afternoon, Shepherd teamed up with Annie Gilkes to play against Galletly and Campion in the pairs final. After 9 ends the game saw Gilkes and Shepherd trailing 4 – 7. A 6 count to Galletly and Campion and a further 3 shots saw the pair propelled into a good 16 – 4 lead. Gilkes and Shepherd replied with a 2 but Galletly and Campion went on to take a 25 – 6 lead at 15 ends. It looked all over at this point but Gilkes and Shepherd were not finished and pulled the score back to 17 – 26 but they ran out of ends making Galletly and Campion county pairs champion for the second year in a row.
 

Not Quite the Success That Our Ladies Have Had in 2015, BUT...

The men brought a great season for the club to a close, by winning the coveted Summertown Trophy, played for at The Shades on Saturday.

The club had two entries in the competition which is open to teams from all over Oxfordshire, who play through qualifying leagues during the summer, finally producing 10 final's day contestants.

In the Final's day round-robin played over 9 games of 7 ends, the Central team of Andy Wilkin, Lee Young, Graham Morbey and skip Nigel Galletly faced other finalists from Headington(2), Carterton(2), Watlington, West Witney, Witney Town, Oxford City & County and Banbury Borough. After the 63 ends were finished the Central four came out on top by 2 shots, beating Watlington into second place.
 
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Ladies miss National Title on shot difference

Banbury Central BC ladies rounded off a very successful season, becoming the 2015 Bowls England Women's National Top Club runners up after just losing out on shots difference to the reigning champions, Egham BC from Surrey, in Sunday's final at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa. In a game that finished 2-2 with Central having won the Pairs and Fours and their opponents taking the Singles and Triples, the title was decided on overall shot difference which went 81-71 in Egham's favour.
 
The Central team consisted of Carole Galletly in the Singles, Pam Shepherd and Caroline Campion in the Pairs, Gill Hunt, Sue Waring and Anne Norton in the Triples and Melody Sykes, June Bone, Brenda Havard and Mary Tee in the Fours, with reserves of Gill Sharpe and Eloise Jones.

Final Rink Scores:
Singles: 8-21
Pairs: 20-14
Triples: 15-28
Fours: 28-18
 
The Central ladies recorded a 3-1 win in Saturday's Quarter Final against Derbyshire's Stute BC, before their Sunday morning 3-1 Semi-Final victory against Kingscroft BC, from Leicestershire, earned them their place in the Final.
 
 
  • Website Updated: 11.09.2024.