The Critchlow Cup took place on Sunday, 18 May 2025, and yet again the weather turned up trumps in full support of the occasion.

Spondon bowlers have been keenly challenging each other to be the holder of The Critchlow Cup since 1980, (according to the plaques displayed on the trophy).  By way of a trip down Memory Lane, the previous winners have been:-

 

1980-87 – W Gailley, A Tomlinson, M Looms, G Hulland, R Wright, S Louden, M Starkey; P Parke;

1988-1995 – Mrs G Staff, P Smith, C Staff, K Johnson, W Parkins, N Smith, S Clarke; M Tysoe;

1996-2004 – V Fowler, S Harper, G Baines, L Francis, A Eite, D O’Brien, P Parkin, D Oxley; A Day;

2005-13 – W Greengrass, A Thompson, P Stokes, A Shaw, Anne Shaw, S Oxley; G Clarke; M Parry;

2014-2024 – Jean Illingworth, B Shakespeare, G Reynolds, J Ilingworth; D Clarke; C Guilfoyle

You will notice that each name only appears once and this is because this is a trophy for players who have never won a bowls trophy before and so once the trophy is won you can’t enter again.

 

This year we had sixteen entrants who each fancied their chances at taking the trophy and it was lovely to see so many of our new members entering or supporting the competition.  The table below shows the outcome of the matches.  

ROUND 1

BARRY BOULE (15) v RICHARD RUCZKOWSKI (4)

ANDY WILSON (15) v STEVE GALLAGHER (9)

ENID WALKER (15) v GRAHAM ORME (5)

CRAIG HARRISON (15) v IAN SCHWERMER (3)

LESLEY WILSON (15) v SUE LAW (11)

GEOFF NEWHAM (15) v TERRY ORME (1)

SARAH GRAVES (15) v PAM HARRISON (9) 

SANDY BURNSIDE (15) v NICOLA CLARKE (14)

QUARTERS

BARRY BOULE (15) v ENID WALKER (9)

LESLEY WILSON (15) v ANDY WILSON  (7)

SARAH GRAVES (15) v GEOFF NEWHAM(12)

SANDY BURNSIDE (15) v CRAIG HARRISON (7)

SEMI FINALS

BARRY BOULE (15) v SANDY BURNSIDE (11)

LESLEY WILSON (15) v SARAH GRAVES  (13)

FINAL

LESLEY WILSON (21) v BARRY BOULE (7)

The trophy this year was won by Lesley Wilson who was absolutely delighted to take the trophy and now is happy to call herself a winning sportswoman.  (Never in her wildest dreams did she ever feel that was a title that would bestow her!!)

Leah and Audrey provided us with various breakfast cobs and other refreshments and did an amazing job as ever, a Sarah did a great job on the raffle.

All in all a super day had by all.

The next competitions are on Sunday, 15 June, when we will be running the Ladies’ Doubles Cup and the Men’s Doubles Cup side by side.  Ladies will be bowling on the Nottingham Green and the gents on the Derby Green if you want to get some practice in before the big day.  Every entry enters  individually and is paired up on the day into a doubles team.  The competitions are open to all abilities with the Ladies’ Doubles Cup and the Men’s Doubles Cup being the prizes together with £10 for each of the winners and £5 for each of the runners up.  A list will be put on the notice board in the Club Room in the coming days for you to add your name if you would like to enter.

Happy Bowling!