The Downsman Bowls Club

05/10/2026

📣 Short Mat is back!

Short Mat Bowls roll up sessions start this week 🥳

Roll ups are held at our Ifield Avenue Club:

Mondays, 2-4pm, and 4.15- 6.15pm
Wednesdays, 10.30- 12.30
Thursdays, 4-6pm, and 6.15- 8.15pm

Cost is £3 per session, and everyone is welcome regardless of experience - if you’re completely new to short mat bowls and want to find out more then pop along or drop us a message.

30/09/2026

Can you help make kindness travel further?

Following the fantastic response to last year's Your Community Cares campaign, we're asking residents to pick up their knitting needles, crochet hooks and crafting supplies once again.

Working with the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership CIC, we're inviting local people to create handmade white hearts that will be given free of charge to passengers and rail staff at stations across West Sussex on Thursday 26 November.

The hearts are a small gesture of kindness and care, helping to demonstrate the rail networks commitment to creating welcoming station environments and encouraging people to feel more confident using public transport.
The campaign also supports wider efforts to tackle violence against women and girls and build safer, more connected communities.

Last year, more than 7,500 hearts were donated by people across Sussex and beyond, helping to spread kindness and spark positive conversations across the rail network.

How you can help:

🤍 Knit, crochet or create a white heart out of felt
🤍 Any pattern or design is welcome
🤍 Hearts should be no larger than 10cm
🤍 Drop them off at any West Sussex library by Saturday 31 October (go to the comments section to find your nearest local library)

Please share this post and tag a knitter, crocheter, crafter or community group who might like to get involved.


Southeast Communities Rail Partnership CIC West Sussex Community Safety

15/09/2026

LAST CALL for National Qualifier entries! You have 5 days left to get your entries in so don’t delay! Applications for county only entries will remain open until full.

13/09/2026

🏆Congratulations to Jono Dalton and Bob Miller for winning this year's Crawley Pairs competition, beating a great pair from Popes Mead, Neil Potter and Michael Murphy. 🥳
It was great to see a number of members there in support.
The cup was presented by Sandra Champ, President of Popes Mead BC.

07/09/2026

Did you know you can borrow a blood pressure monitor free of charge from your local library?

High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and other diseases, and early detection is key so it can be successfully treated.

Head to your local library where you can borrow a monitor and take your readings in the comfort of your own home.
NHS Surrey and Sussex West Sussex County Council Blood Pressure UK Healthwatch West Sussex

06/09/2026

🎯 Have Your Say

If you volunteer at a bowls club, sit on the committee, help with coaching, look after welfare or just keep things running… this survey is for you!

All four National Governing Bodies and the Bowls Development Alliance are coming together to agree a shared view of what the sport needs over the next five years. This survey exists to put the views of the people who actually run and support bowls clubs at the centre of our decision-making.

It takes around 10 minutes, all answers are confidential, and everyone who completes it will be eligible to be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 Amazon voucher 🎁

The survey is open until Monday 7 September, so you don't have long!

👉 Complete the survey here: bit.ly/ClubandVolunteerSurvey
Thank you for everything you do for your club. This is your chance to make sure your voice is heard.

06/09/2026

A sport-loving teenager who turned to bowls after being diagnosed with a joint condition, wants to see more young people take up the game.

Thomas, from Bedfordshire, was diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) in 2023 after feeling his arm "pop" during a swimming competition.

He tried to carry on swimming and playing football, but things became "increasingly difficult" for him, so he took up bowls after attending an open-day at Leighton Buzzard Bowling Club.

04/09/2026

The green is back to green, the flag is ready to be hoist up the pole, and the pork pies are chilling - Finals Weekend begins tomorrow! 🥳

Good luck to all playing, and if you’re not then do come along and support

03/09/2026

Still a few spaces at the Mixed Fours comp on 27th September - It’s always great to see Downsman members playing at these comps - it’s great practise and with other good, friendly teams, so do put your name down if you are able to.

Drop us a message if you want a bit more info on what to expect on the day 🫶🏼

We have just 1 month to go before entries for our County/National Qualifiers close so please get your teams together and enter asap.
County only entries are going onto a waiting list so please put your forms in before it’s too late.
The first event, The Mixed Fours still has some spaces so if you can play at Worthing Pavilion on the 27th September don’t delay and we will look forward to seeing you there!!

24/08/2026

If you missed out last year to gain the Coach Bowls Level 1 qualification we have arranged another opportunity for our members this season! Contact Debra to secure your place.