More Success For Easingwold Bowlers
On Sunday 14th of September the prestigious Kirkbymoorside Floodlit 3 Wood Triples competition took place. This usually marks the end of the outdoor bowling season in North Yorkshire and bowlers from all over the region compete in it. This year Easingwold Bowling Club was represented by Club Vice-Captain Debbie Taylor (playing as skipper) along with David Brown and Alan Taylor.
Easingwold’s Triple, runners up in their group after the initial rounds, progressed to the quarter finals where they beat a very good (home-side) Kirkbymoorside Triple, moving on to the semi-finals. This round was a close run thing but Debbie, David and Alan were victorious in the end and reached the final, played, as the name of the competition suggests, under floodlights.
They were up against last year’s winners - the holders of the trophy - Lyndon Wilson’s triple from the Teeside area. This team made the better start but as the final end arrived, Easingwold were only one shot behind. Some excellent bowling from David and Alan gave them the advantage, and as they crossed over for the skippers to bowl their final woods, Easingwold had a three shot advantage. Debbie did well in protecting the lead but with the opposition skipper’s last wood - a “fired” wood aiming at splitting the head - it was still anyone’s game. However, this wood hit the gathered woods so hard that the jack sprang onto the next rink. This, being a foul shot, resulted in a win for Easingwold by one shot with Debbie, David and Alan taking the trophy and a cash prize.
A great end to the outdoor bowling year; Easingwold already having had great success in the regular season.
President V Captain
The 2025 outdoor bowling season ended at Easingwold Bowling Club on Sunday the 7th September. To mark this, the traditional end of season fixture - the President V Captain match - took place with 18 members taking part - 9 on the President’s side and 9 on the Captain’s. This final fixture was a fitting end to a very successful season for the Club; finishing as champions of both the Huby & District League and the Ryedale Veterans League. Also several members of the Club won trophies in other related competitions, competing against individuals from other Clubs in the county.
The President V Captain fixture took the form of an 18 end triples match on three rinks. At the end of the match the shots were added together and the winner announced by Club Secretary Steve Brown. This year the honours went to Club Captain Andrew Mather - his team having the greater number of shots - beating Club President Pete Snowden’s team by 51 shots to 45. A very close and competitive match!
It was great to end the season in (mainly) sunshine. In fact dry sunny weather has made this Season memorable. But the downside to this excellent weather is that extensive work is required to restore the playing surface; this unusually dry and sunny season leaving the Green much in need of attention.
But to counter this, a willing and able working party of members will ensure that all will be well for the 2026 Season.
Finals Day at Easingwold Bowling Club
Each year, members of the Club can enter to play in four individual (singles) competitions. A series of “knockout” rounds throughout the season culminate in the annual Finals Day event, where the winners of each trophy are decided. Finals Day this year was held on Sunday 31st August in warm, sunny, albeit gusty conditions.
All the four contests are decided by the first player to reach or exceed 21 shots.
The event started at 1pm and the first two matches played (simultaneously) were the Rathmell Wood (two wood) Trophy and the Batty Cup. In the first, Debbie Taylor got the better of Pete Snowden, winning by 21 shots to 14. The Batty Cup, contested by Keith Hughes and Jonathan Dawson was a close run thing with Keith finally pulling away towards the end to win 24 to 17.
After a short break for both players and spectators to enjoy tea and cakes, Finals Day resumed with the Ladies Cup and the Cliff Cup. Sue Lilley and Kim Beaumont played for the Ladies Cup in a great contest which Sue finally won by 21 shots to 15.
Whilst this match was going on, on a separate rink, Keith Hughes and Pete Snowden were competing in the Club’s oldest fixture - The Cliff Cup. This cup was first presented to the Club in 1938 by then President A.D. Cliff and has been played for ever since. This year - in the trophy’s 87th year - Keith and Pete (in their second final of the day) competed in a great match which Keith finally won 22 shots to 14 - his second victory of the day!
Finals Day ended (after almost four hours of bowling) with Club Captain Andrew Mather presenting the trophies to the three winners.
NORMAN HARTLEY CUP
On Sunday 10th August, the 11th Norman Hartley Cup competition was held at Easingwold Bowling Club. The trophy and competition are named in memory of a former member and official of the club who was well known in Easingwold. Mr Hartley had a bookmakers business on Long Street.
The trophy was donated by his family on his passing in 2014, and has been an annual event ever since. This event is a unique one as members of Mr Hartley’s family always travel to Easingwold for the event and some usually take part in the match - this year being no exception - with Norman’s son Terry joining one of the 6 triples teams who took part. Terry’s wife Judy was there to spectate.
The match took place in hot sunshine and took the form of 3 x 50 minute matches. At the conclusion, club captain Andrew Mather did the mathematics and handed the result to club president Pete Snowden who announced the results.
In third place was Pete’s triple of Martin Lowther, Terry Hartley and himself. In second was Steve Brown with Lee Hebdon and Kim Beaumont, but the winners by one point were skipper Keith Hughes with Barbara Brown and Rob Bowman.
An excellent afternoon all round!
Charity Shield Second Leg
On Sunday 20th July, Easingwold and Stillington Bowling Clubs met at Stillington’s Green for the second leg of this annual competition to raise funds for charity.
Easingwold arrived at Stillington with a comfortable 43 shot advantage carried over from the first leg which had taken place at Easingwold on the 18th of May. However, everything was still to play for!
The match commenced on schedule at 2pm and was played across all 6 rinks - 38 members from the clubs taking part. The plan was that the match would consist of 16 ends, but the weather had other ideas; very heavy rain commencing at the half way point causing the players to retreat to the clubhouse. Here the Stillington club had provided an excellent buffet lunch which the players partook in, hoping for the weather to clear up and allow completion of the match.
Unfortunately the rain persisted and the match was abandoned, the shots gained so far being added together and agreed between the two captains.
Stillington were declared the winners of the second leg - the result being Stillington 43, Easingwold 38. However when the score from the first leg was added to the total, Easingwold were declared the overall winners, the aggregate score being 145 to 107 in their favour.
Stillington club official Nigel Marsh presented the Charity Shield to Easingwold Vice-Captain Debbie Taylor.
£269.10 was raised on the day (consisting of match fees and the proceeds of a raffle), and is to be donated to the British Heart Foundation.
The John Doyle Trophy
On Sunday 6th July, 17 members of Easingwold Bowling Club took part in the annual John Doyle Trophy competition. This is a singles competition in which individual members play 3 x 35 minute matches using 4 bowls (usually referred to as ‘woods’). The winner is decided on points and, if tied, on shot difference. The competition and trophy is in memory, and named after, a former member who passed away in 1986 and is in the form of a decorative barometer.
At the end of the day the top three were announced by Club President Pete Snowden: Roger Green was third on 4 points and in second Jonathan Dawson on 6 points. Pete then presented the trophy to Keith Hughes (the defending 2024 champion), who also scored 6 points but had a better shot difference.
The competition took place in varying weather conditions; sunny spells being interrupted by the odd heavy shower but was an enjoyable experience for the players and spectators.
WILLIAM PEARSON BROWN 4 WOOD PAIRS
On Sunday 15th June members of Easingwold Bowling Club competed in this event which is in memory of William Pearson Brown who was a local butcher who lived on Chapel Street. The trophy is a silver rose bowl inscribed with his name. Mr W Pearson Brown took ownership of the Green and the surrounding land after the death of the original owner - Mr Haxby Robinson - and It is thanks to him that the members of the Club now own the Green and the clubhouse after its bequeathment in 1965.
Eight pairs teams played in 4 x 35 minute matches, the fixture being officiated by Club Captain Andrew Mather. At the conclusion it was announced that in third place were Terry Plummer and Harry Waterworth and in second place Pete Snowden and Alan Taylor.
Pete Snowden, the Club’s president then presented the trophy to the winners who were Steve Brown and Ian McKinnon.
GEORGE GRAINGER TRIPLES
This is one of Easingwold Bowling Club’s annual triples competitions; present in the Club’s fixture calendar since 1986 and in memory of George Grainger, a former president and benefactor of the Club.
On Sunday 25th May, 25 Club members took part in this event, divided into 8 teams each playing 4 x 40 minute matches. The weather stayed fine - sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy but always with a strong wind to contend with.
After a total of 160 minutes of bowling the triple skippered by Roger Green were victorious finishing with 8 points, narrowly beating Pete Snowden’s triple who ended up with 7 points. Pete Snowden, the Club’s president, presented Roger, Bob Lilley (who shared half a match with Sue Lilley) and Harry Waterworth with the trophy.
Charity Shield Match
against Stillington Bowling Club
On Sunday 18th May 2025, Easingwold and Stillington Bowling Clubs met for the first leg of their annual two leg competition. This event, where the two clubs compete for the Atkinson/ Knapton Charity Shield, has been a fixture in their respective annual sporting calendars since 1984.
The first leg was held at Easingwold’s green on 6 rinks with around 40 players taking part.
The day was opened by Easingwold Secretary Steve Brown who welcomed Stillington, and announced this year’s nominated charity. This was followed by Easingwold Vice-Captain Debbie Taylor and Stillington Captain Nigel Marsh announcing the order of play.
The following 16 end match saw Easingwold winning by 107 shots to Stillington’s 64, the former taking a 43 shot advantage into the second leg which will be held at Stillington in July.
After the match both teams retired to the clubhouse where a buffet and refreshments were enjoyed in a convivial atmosphere. A raffle then took place which raised further funds making a total of £267 to be presented to Dementia UK - Easingwold Bowling Club’s chosen charity for this year. Stillington will choose the charity to benefit from the second leg.
A very enjoyable day, despite the cool blustery conditions!