News and Reports | GORING MANOR BOWLS CLUB

Drive of Activity

Saturday 26th September

Is it really that time already?

Saturday saw the conclusion of formal business on the Field Place rink for 2026 with the usual End of Season Drive. Well attended, in no small part to the efforts of Colin Green, who organised. Many thanks, Colin!

Gardens Bloom

Wednesday 23rd September

Despite there being little on the line in terms of league standings, GMBC's visit to Marine Gardens for their final Stracey Shield fixture of the season resulted in a competitive affair, and a win for the hosts.

GMBC enjoyed the better part of the opening stages, but could not quite pull away and the Marine Gardens fours managed to secure shots at vital times. A win for the rink of Brian Miller, Ian Fairclough, Peter Kitchener, with Colin Green skipping, being the GMBC highlight.

GMBC 57-77 Marine Gardens

(12-23, 15-19, 18-13, 11-16)

In The Mood For Lancing

Saturday 19th September

The final Brodie Tray fixture of the season saw a win for GMBC, and elevation from the foot of the table!

The victory was down to an overall team effort, in what proved to be close matches across all four rinks. The wins came from the Triples of Tony Browne, Keith Goodson and Peter Cook (Skip), and Chris Allen, Richard White and Stuart Andrews (Skip)

GMBC 68-63 Lancing

(16-19, 18-14, 20-12, 14-18)

Field Place win for Gardens

Tuesday 15th September

After the successful Charity Day, it was 'Back to the Brodie' for GMBC in the Brodie Tray, against Marine Gardens

As usual, Gardens brought a strong team and ran out convincing winners. Some success for GMBC, though, from the rink of Chris Allen, Ann & Scot Edwards, with Peter Cook skipping.

One more game in the Tray this season, away to Lancing this Saturday (19th).

GMBC 46-79 Marine Gardens

(9-24, 11-19, 15-12, 11-24)

Bowl In A Good Cause - GMBC Charity Day

Saturday 12th September

A magnificent showing by the club today, who came together to raise an outstanding £401.56 for Parkinsons UK.

Some Pairs play to begin with on the Field Place green, which was blessed with fine September weather. Afterwards it was back to the club room, where tea was taken, cakes consumed, raffle prizes picked and more cash collected.

So many to thank for ensuring such a day was a success, but in particular Margaret and Wendy (below) for organising the day and Chris Wood for overseeing the raffle. A word of gratitude also to everyone who came along, played, contributed, who helped make the day a success beyond all expectation!

Sue Pairs, Wins! : Nominated Pairs Final

Friday 11th September

The Nominated Pairs final was held this evening at Field Place, with Sue Pearson and Russ Doherty claiming the title over Mick Thair and Peter Kitchener. The margin of victory was 32-4. However, the scoreline should not take away from the quality on display from both pairs. The winners in particular who put on an outstanding performance.

The opening ends decided the contest. Despite Mick and Peter picking up a brace on the first, Sue and Russ got into gear. 18-2 up after seven. The match settled after into mainly tight ends and singles. A seven on the eleventh end being an outlier in what was a valiant effort by Mick and Peter.

So the finals conclude. For Russ, a third win to go with Drawn Pairs and 75 up success (the Monopolies Commission will be in touch!). Two Pairs Finals for Peter, a notable achievement. Singles Finals that went to the wire. 2026 may prove to be a vintage year.

Long Shadows illustrate a big win for Sue and Russ

Mick sending. With Peter, a valiant effort

Sue again building the platform

2026 Finals Day

Saturday 5th September

Ideal weather for the 2026 finals, played last Saturday, and on a Field Place green that looked and played in fine condition, despite what the weather had thrown at it. The day was keenly supported by members who came along to watch, and enjoy tea and cakes afterward. A big thank you to all those who brought themselves and baked goods on the day.

Tea was served, but something stronger would have been understandable, such was the action provided on the rinks. Four finals (one in the morning) were played.

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Sandra Miller 21 Dawn Poland 20

A great match worthy of the occasion. and which kept the watching audience on the edge of their benches! Also thanks to Jean Meneely, a helpful marker at the centre of the action.

The opening third of the match belonged largely to Dawn. seizing the initiative on the second end with a count of four shots. That early score transformed a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead . A further two shots on the fifth end and three on the sixth increased the lead to 9-4.

Although Sandra picked up singles on the seventh, eighth and ninth ends to narrow the gap to 9-7, Dawn responded with two shots on the tenth end. Another single on the eleventh made it 12-7. A three-shot count on the twelfth end extended the advantage to 15-7, a commanding position. Sandra managed a single on the thirteenth end, but Dawn answered with two shots on the fourteenth to establish a 17-8 lead.

Then a momentum shift. Sandra secured a single on the fifteenth end before producing a three-shot score on the sixteenth. A further two shots on the seventeenth end reduced the deficit to 17-14. Dawn temporarily halted the recovery by scoring a single on the eighteenth end and two more on the nineteenth, it was now 20-14.

Sandra scored four shots on the twentieth end to reduce the gap to 20-18 and keep the contest alive. On the twenty-first end she followed that effort with two more shots, narrowing the deficit to a single shot at 20-20, level for the first time since the opening stages of the match.

With the scores tied, the match moved into the twenty-second end. Sandra claimed the decisive single shot needed to complete a remarkable comeback and take the match 21-20.

So the title goes to Sandra. But in a match that saw quality and resilience, two champions were seen today. Congratulations to both!

MEN'S SINGLES

Mick Mayes 21 Chris Andrews 16

If the Women's Final served up drama, the Men's produced an encounter no less tense. With thanks to Chris Wood, the match marker, who provided calm officiating amid the excitement.

Mick made the stronger start, taking control of the opening two ends. A count of two on the first end followed by a single on the second gave Mick an early 3-0 advantage. Chris responded immediately on the third end, scoring two shots to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

The early exchanges remained tight. Mick collected a single on the fourth end to move ahead 4-2, but Chris scored on the fifth and sixth ends, including a valuable two-shot count on end six, to take the lead for the first time at 5-4.

The match then settled into a pattern of closely fought ends, with both players regularly forcing each other into singles. By the tenth end Chris held a narrow advantage at 7-6, but Mick regained the initiative over the next two ends. A two-shot count on the eleventh, followed by another single on the twelfth saw him move ahead 9-7. Chris struck back on the next with two shots to level the scores at 9-9.

Then, the breakthrough. Mick enjoyed one of the strongest periods of the match. Singles on the fourteenth and fifteenth ends, followed by two shots on the sixteenth, pushed him into a 13-9 lead. Chris needed a response and delivered one on the seventeenth, scoring two shots to narrow the gap to 13-11.

The eighteenth end proved significant. Mick picked up three shots, extending his advantage to 16-11. When he scored on the twentieth and twenty-first ends, moving from 17-12 to 20-12, the contest seemed all but settled. But Chris was able to keep the match alive. Three shots on the twenty-second end reduced the deficit to 20-15. He followed up with a single on the twenty-third, bringing the score to 20-16 and applying some late pressure.

End twenty-four. One wood left each. Mick appeared to hold one. Chris failed to get close enough. A visit to the head, nods of agreement, a handshake. Mick had done it.

DRAWN PAIRS FINAL

Kevin Bourhill/Russ Doherty 17 Margaret Walker/Peter Kitchener 10

Finals day began in the morning with this match, well attended by fellow members!

Random allocation of pairs did not diminish the quality of finalists, or the play produced, and Russ and Kevin produced some strong and consistent woods to secure a win over a resilient Peter and Margaret.

The winners built their lead through the opening ends and steadily extended their advantage. After six ends they led 6–3, and by the halfway stage had moved further ahead to 9–4.

The decisive phase came in the middle of the match, where the lead was extended to 16-5 . A valuable three-shot count on the tenth end was supported by regular singles throughout.

Peter and Margaret staged a late fightback, picking up shots on ends fifteen and sixteen, the latter producing a three-shot score. However, the gap proved too large to close.

75 POINTS

Russ Doherty 75 Gordon Walker 52

A second title for Russ on the day.

It was Gordon who made the stronger start, opening a ten point lead after three ends, 20-10. Russ, however, responded over the next several ends, reducing the deficit and then moving ahead. Consistent scoring enabled him to turn that early disadvantage into a 31-29 lead after six ends.

The match continued at a fast pace, with both players regularly collecting valuable points. Gordon remained in contention through a series of steady scores across several ends, preventing Russ from breaking decisively clear. By the halfway stage the score remained close, reflecting the quality of play from both competitors.

However, Russ' consistency ultimately proved to be the decisive factor. A number of strong scoring ends, including further counts of seven and six, enabled him to gradually extend his advantage. While Russ continued to produce quality bowls and added important scores to keep pressure on his opponent, Gordon maintained momentum and consistently found ways to convert opportunities into points.

However, as the match progressed, the gap widened. Russ' higher scoring throughout the middle and latter stages of the game saw him move beyond the target and end thirteen saw him reach the target of 75.

The match was marked by Bill Porter, with thanks.