County or National
National Competitions for men and women are run by Bowls England and the competitions for 2024 have now progressed to their final stages which are held at Victoria Park, Leamington from August 15.
County competitions for men are run by Kent County Bowling Association and for the women by the Women's Section of KCBA . 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.
In this section of the website we have monitored the progress of all Canterbury competitors in both the County and National competitions in 2024.
However, as of the 16 July we have summarised the situation of bowlers from our club and regardless of future results we can claim that members of our club have done us proud in both County and National competitions in 2024.
Representing the Country
Joe Vandepeer has played in England's Junior team.
Sue Mates has carried out her Umpiring duties across the country and internationally.
Representing the County
Mick Fisher and Steve Wells have played for Kent in representative matches.
Joe Vandepeer and Tom Attaway have participated in Kent Under 25 fixtures.
Leah Bamford was chosen to represent Kent in Under 25 fixtures, until her work situation took her out of the county.
County competitions
Pete Foster and Paul Causer reached the Kent finals in the Singles and Unbadged Singles respectively played at West Wickham Bowls Club on Sunday July 21, but there the journey ended..
Pete Foster and Jeff Vane have reached the Kent finals in the Pairs to be played on Sunday July 28 at Empire Bowls Club in Greenhithe.
In the Over 55 Fours the team of Chris Dawson, Alan Cornfoot, Jeff Vane and Steve Wells reached the semi-final stage but lost at Aylesham in a close match.
In the Under 25 Pairs Joe Vandepeer with his partner Isaac Jenner (Appleyard) have reached their finals which are held on Kent Finals Day to be played at Birchington Bowls Club on Sunday August 11.
In the Cox Cup (of which we were holders in 2022) Canterbury A, having defeated Canterbury B,Herne Bay B and Folkestone Parks, are now drawn against Ashford Rail in the next round on Monday 29 July.
As holders of the prestigious Mollie Cleggett Trophy our Ladies are just starting their journey of retention, otherwise their involvement in the Counties has ceased for 2024. They are through the first rounds having soundly beaten Thanet and narrowly beaten Sellindge, they now face Whitstable.
National Competitions
Chris Dawson and Jeff Vane played their Senior Pairs Area Final against a pair from Sheerness at Kemsley Bowls Club on Tuesday 16 July and won so they are now booked in to Leamington.
Having beaten last year's English Champions (Appleyard), Canterbury A faced Sandwich A at Betteshanger BC on Wednesday 17 July in the Area Final of the National Top Club competition and effectively lost in the final end 2-3.
We will have to wait for the qualifying County competitions to play out to see whether any more of those teams and/or individuals make it onto the Leamington stage in August.