Hykeham Bowls Club

So that's the 2025 outdoor season finished and our green is now closed. But of course the hard work doesn't stop, indeed it goes on and will continue throughout the Autumn and Winter months. This week we were deep scarifying, aerating with the spiker, over seeding and applying top dressing. HBC thanks it's members, especially Steve Dalton, Keith Slinger, Paul Richardson, Cliff Morris and of course, Greenkeeper Mick Wright and Chairman, Chris Cullen for their efforts this week. Well done all 🙌👍

Despite the rain, today HBC held the final competition in the 2025 season calendar. It was the Challenge Cup where a team comprising Seasoned (old hands) players, play against a team of members who are relatively new to the club (Newbies). This year the Newbies won by the narrowest of margins. The pictures show the Newbies captain receiving the trophy from club chairman Chris Cullen.
Special mention should be made of Pete Jackson and Barry North who were the highest scoring team - well done Pete!

HBC played their annual Charity Friendly Match on Sunday 7th September. Once again the beneficiary was the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, a truly worthy cause and are often seen over the sky's as we bowl.

A mix of Club Members and members of from other clubs played a friendly 3 bowl pairs match with the winners being Caron York (HBC) and Rod Horne (Waddington), and Mick Wright (HBC) and Paul (Buster) Ward (Brant Road) the runners up. Thanks to the generosity of all those who played we raised a total of £200 for the LAA Charity. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed, who helped in any way on the day and who donated cash and prizes. A great result 🙌

Hykeham Bowls Club - Air Ambulance Charity Match : We are aware that there is an error in the Hykeham Gazette that says the Air Ambulance Charity Event is being held on Sunday 14th September. This is incorrect - It is being held on Sunday 7th September.

Last Sunday we held our second Open Competition of the season, the popular Patteson Mixed Pairs Trophy. This event is open to mixed pairs both from Hykeham Bowls Club and any other clubs. This year 18 pairs battled it out on a lovely sunny day albeit a bit breezy at times and one shower! All throughout the day there was plenty of quality bowls being played. The final was played between Mick and Karen Porter (Crowland BC) and Nigel Fosdyke and Ellie Blanchard (Moorlands Railway) with Nigel and Ellie being the winners. We also present The Scarbro Trophy to the best placed all Hykeham team which this year was Christine Dixon and partner.
Our thanks got to all entrants, spectators, especially to those who helped on the day and in the kitchen.

Last Thursday saw Hykeham Bowls Club play hosts once again to the Lincolnshire Ladies Bowls Federation who were playing against Humberside Ladies in their Silver Vase County Competition. In difficult conditions because of the heat, the Lincolnshire Ladies narrowly lost out but by only four points! We hope to host the Ladies again next year, when hopefully, they will win their round.

Last Wednesday we saw both Hykeham BC Wednesday Afternoon Teams in action in their League competitions. Great to see all six rinks in action.

On Sunday 11th May we held our first Open Competition of the year, The Flowers Trophy. This was for teams of three (Triples) and was open to all clubs/teams as well as Hykeham Bowls Club members. Twenty One teams fought throughout the day to play in a semi-final round and then the Final. There was some great bowling on display with the weather helping, or hindering, depending upon whether you like the sun and heat or not. The final was played out between a team lead by Emma Bowden and a team lead by Neil O'Flynn with Emma (and Waylen Clarke and David Brammer) running out the winners. They received the Trophy and a cash prize of £135.
We also have a trophy, the Francis Ley Trophy, for the highest placed all Hykeham Bowls Club players. This year it was won by Pete Jackson, Nick Peacock and Quenten Dixon, who finished second in their group. Well done to them.
HBC thanks everyone who helped make the day the success it was, from the spectators, players and all the people who helped, contributed and provided fantastic refreshments - thanks to you all.

So now with the 2025 season well under way, HBC are very pleased to welcome ten new members to the club. We are preparing now for our first Open Competition of the year, The Flowers Challenge Trophy which will get under way at 09:30 on Sunday 11th May. This year we have 21 teams playing with a good number of them from HBC. HBC wish all teams good luck but being biassed, especially to the Hykeham Teams

On Thursday night 10th April, at the Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, North Hykeham Town Council held their 2025 Community Awards Presentation. There were several categories of awards but one in particular was special for Hykeham Bowls Club. Our very own Ernie Broughton was a nominee in the Outstanding Volunteer 2025 category. Ernie was up against some very worthy nominees, however he won the award! Even though Ernie was nominated for his involvement in soccer refereeing he nevertheless took the opportunity to promote Hykeham Bowls Club! Congratulations and well done Ernie 👏 Thanks also to Ernie, Julie and Sandra for taking the opportunity to have a table on the night highlighting the club 👍🙌

Work is progressing well with our Visitor Shelter Refurbishment Project. The old shelter and shed have been dismantled, a new shed base laid and the replacement shed is nearing the build completion. The new timber Visitor Shelter is being delivered towards the end of March and will be assembled in time for the start of the season at the end of April.
Meanwhile, intensive work is going into preparing the green and so far so good. It's certainly looking pretty good for this time of the year and will improve as hopefully, warmer weather approaches.
Many thanks to club member Terry Turton for leading the Visitor Shelter Project ably assisted by Mike Black and Steve Dalton.

Recently, HBC held their first ever combined Presentation Night and AGM. Congratulations to the winners and runner ups of the HBC internal club competitions who received their trophies and/or their cash prizes. The prize winners were :-

Men's Club Championship : Winner - Mark Hodds
Runner Up - Chris Cullen

Ladies Club Championship : Winner - Kathy Turton
Runner Up - Christine Lockley

George Berry Trophy : Winner - Pete Jackson
Runner Up - Steve Dalton

Umbrella Competition : Winner - Terry Cutting
Runner Up - Cliff Morris

Monday Night Home League : Winner - Christine Lockley
Runner Up - Marian Morris