Top Club Nationals
The Gildredge Ladies National Top Club run came to an end with defeat by Bembridge (Isle of Wight) in the zone final on the 26th August. The match was hosted at a neutral venue – Arundel Bowling Club. A large group of Gildredge supporters travelled to the match and had much to cheer about as the team fought back after a ferocious start by the opposition. Despite some great shots by the Gildredge bowlers the opposition proved too strong. Although the margins were modest, Bembridge won on all four rinks (singles, pairs, triples, fours) to claim victory. It is ever the case in knock-out competitions that at some point a team will be defeated. But after the initial disappointment at losing, the team can remember their outstanding wins along the way as they beat Eastbourne, Polegrove, Worthing Pavilion and became one of the top 32 teams in England. A celebratory pub meal at the White Swan in Arundel was enjoyed by players and supporters alike.
The team now play in the Top Club County final on 11th September against Burgess Hill at the neutral ground of Preston Bowls Club in Brighton.
Ladies’ league
Gildredge Park Ladies took a commanding position at the top of the table to win the 2021 town league. Gildredge won 16 rinks, lost 3 and drew 1 to amass 36.5 points. A massive overall score of 412 (for) verses 238 (against) gave a shot difference of +174. Twenty-one Gildredge ladies contributed to this victory. Many congratulations to: Mary Bowley, Dorothy Bromily, Val Butler, Pauline Cooper, Helen Cunningham, Anita Dixon, Marilyn Doust, Anka Durrant, Carole Forge, Marlene Gallagher, Eve Goldsmith, Marie Goodwin, Cathy Greenwood, Carol Heasman, Bev Jones, Ros Pickering, Mal Rossell, Gill Seymour, Ellen Strevens, Jett Tait, and Jenny Townsend.
Men’s league
A tight tussle in Division One saw Gildredge A in second place - just pipped by Hampden Park A. Over 12 matches the A team accumulated nine wins against Hampden Park A’s eight wins. But Hampden Park gained extra points for the number of individual rinks won and narrowly beat Gildredge A in total shot difference with 160 versus 146. Gildredge B also played in the top division but the intense competition against other clubs' A teams saw them slip to just one victory and a bottom of the table finish. The C team were playing in division two. A mix of established and new bowlers saw some creditable performances and two victories over other clubs. But in a tough division, ten defeats saw the team finish at the bottom of the table at the end of the season.
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