SPONDON BOWLS CLUB
Crown Green Bowling at
Crown Green Bowling at Spondon.
Spondon is a crown green bowling club which means that the green is higher in the centre forming a “crown” and not flat.
This is game for all ages and abilities, with or without your partners, giving you an easy way to exercise and meet new people who are willing to share their skills.
We like to encourage the social side of the Club with Round Robins, Barbecues and Inter-club Competitions on many weekends.
These give newcomers plenty of practice in competitive bowls.Members can use either the “Nottingham” or “Derby” Green at Spondon, when they are not in competitive, use for practising or friendly games at any time during the season.
Bowls can be loaned for short periods from the club.
The site is access controlled so only members are allowed.
Flat soled shoes, not open-toed, must be worn whenever on the green. ​
Play is across the green in any direction as opposed to the lanes in flat green bowls.
We have a selection of bowls for newcomers to try and many willing members on hand for any help required.
The bowls or “woods” come in sizes from 2lb (minimum) to 2lb 12ozs.
The basic objective is to get your two bowls closest to the bowled “jack”.
The woods and jack have a bias on one side, which means that depending on which side you roll the jack or your wood they will curve inwardly or outwardly until they rest, which given that the green has a crown, makes for an interesting and absorbing game.
You place one foot on a small mat called a “footer”, declaring a “finger peg” inward curve to the left, or “thumb” peg outward curve to the right, before you release the jack, you then bowl your wood the same, hoping to get as close to the jack as you can. Your opponent from the same mat then has to try and get even closer.
For left handers, the finger declaration is reversed.
Here’s a link to help:
https://crowngreenking.wordpress.com/how-to-play-crown-green-bowls/bias-peg-and-strength/
Once all four woods have been bowled by you and your competitor the “end” is over and you repeat the process from where the jack was.
In doubles each team member takes alternate turns.
The winner of the end is decided by who got the closest with either one or two woods of their woods, one point per wood, per end, and it’s the first to 21 points.
You will play a minimum of 11 ends per game.
In this example the yellow spotted wood has one point, as the nearest. Their opponent, white spot, are second closest. If there had been two yellow spotted woods near to the wood it would have been two points and none to the whites.
Here's a video "A-Z of Crown Green bowling" to help.
​
Leagues and Competitions.
​
The Crown Green Bowls season runs from around the end of March to September. Spondon Bowls Club has a short mat which is put down in the pavilion and this season runs from October to March.
​
We follow the BRITISH CROWN GREEN BOWLING ASSOCIATION rules and protocols as do the leagues.
​
A member who wishes to take part in Leagues, will be required to pay a one-off life membership to the association £15.00, which we arrange for you.
further details plus a full guide to the rules please follow the links.
​
Members, both beginners and players, can join leagues or enter cup competition as soon as they feel that they would like to.
We have a uniform of black trousers/shorts/skirt and a white top, though this is not obligatory.
​
The leagues we are affiliated to are Belper and Mid-Derbyshire League and South Derbyshire League, playing home and away. They include;
-
Senior Ladies (over 55) - Tuesday afternoon
-
Mixed (ladies and gents) - Tuesday evening
-
Over 55s mixed - Wednesday afternoon
-
Mixed Doubles teams - Wednesday evening
-
Men’s Vets, single and double –Mostly Tues / Thurs
-
Ladies evening league - Thursdays.
-
Friday Mens evening League
-
​Mixed singles - Saturday afternoons.
-
September / October Floodlight bowling League - Mon / Fri
With subs paid per game of £1 or £2
Days correct at time of issue.