21/09/2026
**END OF SEASON STATEMENT**
What a year it has been. Many of you will know that this was my first season as Secretary of Victoria Saints Bowls Club. Since I started playing bowls in May 2025, I have been hooked on the game and on the proud history of the club. It has also made me realise how overlooked the sport can be - something I was guilty of myself for 17 years.
I could not be happier with how the season has gone. Our members make every game and event friendly and enjoyable, and the team has represented the club brilliantly throughout the year.
Earlier in the season, we welcomed Ceredigion County Bowling Association to Victoria Park and successfully formed a Victoria Swansea side made up of players from Victoria, Swansea BC, Clyne Valley Ladies and Swansea Retired Pensioners. It was a fantastic team effort and a great day. Next season, we hope to welcome more clubs or touring counties to Victoria Park and form another Victoria Swansea side.
**Season recap**
Tom Whitehouse and Kai Higgins did the club proud by winning the West Glamorgan County Bowls Association U25 Pairs and representing Victoria Saints at the Welsh Lawn Bowls Welsh National Finals hosted at Llandrindod Wells. Their success showed that Victoria, and bowls in Swansea, remains competitive.
Tom Whitehouse continued his success by winning the Swansea Bowling Association U20s Tournament, while Paul Brown won the SBA Senior Singles.
Our success continued, with Phil Curtis and Peter Reynolds reaching the Senior Pairs final. The whole club was very proud of their achievement.
Chris Higgins, Chris Crimmins, Lewys Crimmins and Peter Walsh reached the SBA Fours Semi-Final. This was an outstanding achievement, especially for Lewys Crimmins and Peter Walsh in their first season playing bowls. Although they did not lift the trophy, reaching that stage - particularly at such a young age for Lewys - was remarkable.
Throughout the season, luck was not always on our side. We had several narrow one-shot defeats, and 21 matches were decided by fewer than 10 shots. Overall, we won 34 matches, lost 20 and drew 1. Division 1 was rightly won by Bonymaen bowls club who not only made an incredible league run but in all the other SBA competitions!
We also reached the semi-finals of the Ken Thomas Midweek Triples Cup, Walter Withey Triples, Rink League, Super 9 and Graham Jones Double Fours.
Club tournament history was also made, with Hywel Tomos winning all three club tournaments: the 2 Wood Singles, 4 Wood Singles and 3 Wood Pairs.
The 3 Wood Pairs tournament was played on the evening of 20 September, which also marked the final game at Victoria Park for 2026. Chris Crimmins and Lewys Crimmins were runners-up - another excellent achievement for Lewys in reaching a final. Stephen Williams, who partnered Hywel, was also playing in his first ever season.
To round off the season, we successfully brought open competitions back to Victoria Park. Our Rowley Thomas 3 Wood Pairs competition was a great success, with players entering from clubs including Loughbor Bowls Club, Harlequins Bowls And Community Club Trecynon Aberdare, Talgarth, Ely Valley, Mynyddbach Bowls Club, Dyfatty Bowls Club, Pontardawe, Aberaeron, Bedwellty Park, Jersey, Britton Ferry Briton Ferry Combine Bowls Club, Clyne Valley Ladies, Graig Merthyr Bowls Club, Swansea Vale, Llanelli, Mount Pleasant BC, Bridgend Municipal, Tick Tock, Gelligear and Merthyr West End.
Thank you to our Victoria players who entered and supported the competition, and to our fellow SBA clubs Mynyddbach, Jersey and Dyfatty, along with associate members Pontardawe and Swansea Vale.
We are grateful to everyone who supported the return of this open bowls competition in Swansea.
After two excellent days of bowls, the tournament was won by Mark Thomas and Paul Taylor of Ely Valley Bowls Club.
A special mention must go to all our club members who gave their time to support the event, from setting up to clearing away each day.
They were long days, but the benefits for the club and for bowls in Swansea made it worthwhile.
Before signing off, I would like to give a personal thank you to my wife, Sheree, who helped tremendously with advertising the event, contacting players and supporting the organisation. I also want to thank our children, Olivia and William, for their support and understanding during such a busy bowls season. Seeing them get involved and help where they could has been a real proud moment.
Thank you to everyone who supported Victoria Saints in 2026 - our members, new members, competitors and visitors. It has been an incredible first season for me, and I hope it is the first of many more.
Nicky
Swansea Council WalesOnline Swansea Online
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors
Sarah’s Motoring School - Hillton care services - SA Firewood & Fencing - Viney Hearing Care - Time 2 Talk - Swansea Veterans Hub - Schoolhouse Daycare Limited
