National Competitions for men and women are run by Bowls England and the competitions for 2025 are managed from here.
County competitions for men are run by Kent County Bowling Association and for the women by their new website here . Entry dates and rules can be found on their respective websites. The Club organises entries on behalf of members through the Secretaries of the Men's and Ladies' Sections.
The KCBA divides the historic County of Kent into 4 Divisions. An interesting map shows it nicely.
County competitions, as well as producing champions of the County in a particular discipline, also provide entry qualifications for the National events held in Leamington.
There are also Kentish team competitions which the club enters, such as the Bernard Annand Trophy/Shield and the Millennium Trophy and our progress, or otherwise, will be recorded at the end of this page.
County Competitions 2025 - Men
The draws have now been made for the 2025 outdoor season. Once again Canterbury has a significant number of entries across the range of competitions.
There are some cracking matches in prospect for spectators . As in previous years we will track the fortunes of our players as (hopefully) they play their way to the finals.
The scheduled dates for playing are:
Singles
The draw has slightly favoured Canterbury bowlers in the Singles (played on a Monday). Alan Cornfoot, Steve Wells, Darren Ellis, Mick Fisher, Mark Collison and Bryan Nicholson start off their campaign at Home, whilst Matt Rich, Isaac Tompkins, Colin Strouts, Paul Causer and Pete Foster have to travel.
As it happened 19 May was not a great night for Canterbury bowlers. Only Alan Cornfoot and Paul Causer survived and both of them are down to play opposition players who defeated Canterbury players in the first round. Alan was at home on 2 June and came through, Paul played his match ahead of time and had a good win at Folkestone Park. Both were at home on 9 June.
Paul lost 21-18 to an inspired Keith Gates, while Alan Cornfoot completely outplayed his opponent from Folkestone Park. Alan beat Jason Avery on 16 June and will now move to the divisional finals to be held on 23 June at Folkestone Town. Well done Alan and good luck.
Pairs
Nine pairs were entered, some got through one round, but none survived to the semi-finals.
Triples
The triples of Mick Fisher, Steve Wells, Andy Ferguson and Isaac Tompkins all have a bye in the first round. Mick and Steve start round two at Home, while Andy and Isaac have to travel. Pete Foster starts the first round at Home and has the challenge of a match against the triple of Jason Avery. All matches played on a Wednesday.
Pete Foster's triple of Joe Vandepeer, himself and Jeff Vane had a good win over the Jason Avery triple and went on to beat easily a triple from Hythe. They then took another step to the finals on 11 June and will now be at home on 18 June.
Isaac Tompkins, Tom Attaway and Darren Ellis are also through to play on 18 June but away.
Pleased to report that both our triples won on 18 June and now progress to the divisional finals on 2 July (6pm) at Victoria Park.
Unbadged Singles
Canterbury bowlers have the rough side of the draw in the unbadged with Colin Strouts, Tom Attaway, Bryan Nicholson, Darren Ellis, Dean Ellis and Damian Hone all starting their Thursday matches away. Luckier have been Andy Ferguson, Mark Collison and David Charlton who started at Home.
Only Mark Collison, Tom Attaway and David Charlton survived Round One and the last two named had to play each other. Mark went out in Round Two, but Tom overcame David and played successfully at home in the last 8 on 12 June. Tom having won again on 19 June qualifies for the divisional finals to be held at Aylesham on Thursday 3 July.
Fours
Andy Ferguson's four had a bye to round two when they played away, but lost at Folkestone Park. Pete Foster's and Joe Vandepeer's four didn't make round two. Alan Cornfoot's four (Alan/Steve Wells/Paul Causer/Mike Talbot) have had two good wins against strong fours and now are at home on 27 June, the winner going on to the finals.
Over 55 Fours
This competition goes outside Division 4 so the travel can be quite a problem. Alan Cornfoot's four (Mike Talbot/Alan/Steve Wells and Jeff Vane) had a bye in round one, then won away twice since and followed that up with a notable win over Ken Weyand's four from St Lawrence. This last victory gets the four into the divisional final to be played at Aylesham at 6pm on July 18.
Cox Cup
Canterbury A have a bye in round one but are then away in round two against Folkestone Park B. Canterbury B have to travel to Herne Bay in round one.
Good evenings to be a spectator?
Supporting Pete Foster's triple on Wednesday and Tom Attaway on Thursday and Sunday evening at 6pm for the Men's Top Club against Sandwich.
County Competitions 2025 - women
Singles
Yvonne Gambrill and Lin Riches were both drawn away in the Preliminary Round on 9 June, Lin progressed to join Mandy Catt in the First Round but sadly both went out at that stage.
Pairs
All three pairs of our ladies Chrissie Barr, Mandy Catt and Karen Owen won through against formidable opponents in the First Round proper, but now all have to play away and sadly their journey ended there.
Triples
Chrissie Barr's triple lost away in the Preliminary Round. Mandy Catt's triple (with Karen and Sue) won away in the First Round and having won again on 12 June are now one match away at Ashford Rail from the divisional finals. The match at Ashford Rail was a step too far.
Fours
Chrissie Barr's four won in the Preliminary Round and again on 11 June in the First Round, but exited in Round Two.
Senior Fours
Both Christiane de Weduwe and Yvonne Gambrill lost their opening round.
Maude Woods
In these singles matches there are play by dates.
Lin Riches was at home but had to forfeit through injury, Sue Close and Mandy Catt both lost and Alison Macdonald overcame Yvonne Gambrill. Canterbury had therefore two representatives in Round 1, but both Alison and Karen didn't make it to Round 2.
Mollie Cleggett
This double fours sees Canterbury pitted against Betteshanger, by 15 July.
Rules
Rules for the above Ladies competitions can be found here.
National Competitions 2025
All competitions are now approaching their final stages.
Men's Singles Over 60
Jeff Vane won 21-20 away but fell in an away match at Sheerness.
Steve Wells lost 21-19 away at Appleyard. Andy Ferguson was also beaten in a difficult tie at Appleyard.
Alan Cornfoot did very well to beat Duncan Hanmore at Appleyard and then played again at Appleyard and beat Nick Bowden. He faced yet another Appleyard opponent in Graham Knowles and came out on top by 21-10. He is now at home in the semi-finals (by 9 July).
Men's Pairs Over 60
Alan Cornfoot/Steve Wells were away at Faversham (having been given a W/O in the preliminary round) and came through 15-13; the pair then went on to defeat a pair from Tonbridge 27-7; they were through to the quarter-finals where they faced a pair at home from Lenham and beat them 20-10; now they are away in the semi-finals at Appleyard (by 2 July).
Jeff Vane (with Chris Dawson) triumphed away at Sheerness 22-10 and was away again in Round 2 to play Graham Knowles at Appleyard who beat Colin Strouts. Graham beat Jeff and Chris 17-16 to end their journey.
Women's Singles Over 60
Mandy Catt was edged out at Ashford Rail and Alison Macdonald was also unlucky to be beaten 21-19.
Women's Pairs Over 60
Mandy Catt lost against Mo Hayes and Lin Riches/Yvonne Gambrill, having dominated a pair from Cranbrook, now face Mo Hayes from Ashford Rail at home (by 2 July).
Mixed Pairs
Tom Andrews/Deborah MacVean did very well against Ken Weyand (National singles champion 2024) and partner only losing 21-17.
Isaac Tompkins/Jenny Anderson had a close shave 14-13 over a good pair from Folkestone Park and then lost to the Ken Weyand pair.
Steve Wells/Yvonne Gambrill overcame Dex Weyand 17-15 but fell against a pair from Lenham.
Andy Ferguson/Mandy Catt won away well at Birchington but lost out at Ashford Rail in Round 2.
Paul Causer lost at Lenham having progressed from the Preliminary round away at Broadstairs.
Our sole interest in this event now is Matt Rich who is paired with Robyn Lockhart of Ashford Rail and together they have progressed to the Area Semi-finals. Well done Matt.
Mixed Fours
Isaac Tompkins win at Folkestone Park did set up an intriguing match against an Alan Cornfoot four but a W/O was given and then the Tompkins four faced another away match at Folkestone Park which ended their journey.
Andy Ferguson didn't make it against a strong Pat Briscoe four.
Foundation Pairs
Darren Ellis lost narrowly at home.
Dean Ellis/Tom Andrews just won on the extra end against a pair from Tonbridge. They (with Paul substituting for Dean) then overcame opposition from Faversham and are now in the regional final being played on 5 July in the morning at home.
Champion of Champions
Men
Steve Wells having progressed through the preliminary round had to give a walk over to his Herne Bay opponent.
Women
Lin Riches had to concede due to injury.
Yvonne Gambrill won her away match at Ashford Town and followed up with a victory against Alison King from Queenborough, the home tie against an opponent from Ditton brought further success and Yvonne is now in the regional semi-finals. She is now due to play Amy Banes away at Sheerness, who defeated the England International and Commonwealth Gold player Sian Honnor in the previous round (by 24 June).
Family pairs
Darren Ellis and Colin Strouts both fell to Appleyard pairs.
National team events
Men's Top Club
Canterbury A had a 5-0 win over Victoria Park in the Preliminary Round followed by a home win 5-0 against Broadstairs. Sandwich A were awaited in the next round to be played at Canterbury at 6pm on 22 June.
Once again we lost by the closest of margins (2-3) to the team that every year we nearly beat, Sandwich A.
Canterbury B didn't make it against a strong team from Folkestone Park.
Two Fours
Canterbury A were away to Queenborough and came out winners 35-25 in Round 1 but lost a tough away match against Appleyard.
Canterbury B lost away to Tonbridge.
Women's Top Club
Canterbury lost away to Maidstone.
Over 60 Mixed Two Fours
Canterbury A lost away to Lenham 26-33 .
Canterbury B were away to Ashford Rail and lost by the smallest of margins 34-35.
Other major tournaments
Bernard Annand
Two competitions the Shield and the Trophy. The Shield is open to all club members, but the Trophy cannot have County badge players or members who have been part of a team who had previously won a Shield or Trophy competition.
Shield
We are away to Hythe to be played before 29 June.
The up to date draw situation can be found here.
Trophy
We are the holders of this competition and face Broadstairs at home to be played by 20 July.
The up to date draw situation can be found here.
Millennium Cup
This is a competition run by clubs in Mid-Kent and to which we were invited to join a few years ago. We won the competition in 2023. The rinks are a two wood singles, a four wood singles, a pairs, a triple and a four. The scoring system has changed this year and now is geared to winning at least three disciplines.