Buxted Park Bowls Club

Buxted Park Bowls Club newsletter - July 2026

Welcome to the second of our monthly newsletters which aim to give you all an overview of club news, events and achievements as well as a forward look of forthcoming events. While the series of heatwaves has brought challenges and is by no means ideal for many of us, the generally very good weather has resulted in us being able to undertake a packed programme of bowls this month with very little disruption. It is great to be able to reflect on some significant achievements and successes as we move towards the final stages of a highly successful season for Buxted Park Bowls Club. The July newsletter photo gallery can be accessed via the following link: https://www.buxtedparkbowlsclub.co.uk/galleryview/?gid=7

John Crock Club Competition Day – 19 July 2026

This year saw the 30th anniversary of the John Crock tournament so it was lovely to see so many members taking part both on the green and supporting from the side. The format involved 30 members drawn into triples teams and then playing a ‘round robin’ competition with each team playing five games of four ends leading straight to a final in the afternoon. The points were close with every team winning at least one of their matches. The full results table was as follows, with the top two teams progressing to the final:

After a cup of tea and slice or two of Competition Secretary Tom Melville’s famous Whisky and Ginger cake, the final got underway. Andy’s team managed to get one shot on each of the first two ends to take a 2-0 lead but Jason’s team came back to score four on the third and deciding end and clinch the match 4-2 overall. Anne, Anna and Jason were presented with their well-deserved trophy by the lovely Helen Branch.

A special well done to our Chairman Paul Dunstall who won the spider and will receive his choice of spirit or wine, provide by Tom. A further special mention to Norman Pugsley for all his hard work organising the John Crock day in previous years.

A truly lovely day of bowls, food, sun and friendly competition between friends.

Nicholas Soames League

Matches have now finished for the season. Although we have not fared too well this year, we are looking forward to hopefully improving next season. Most importantly, everyone who has bowled in the competition this year seems to have enjoyed themselves and would like to take part again next year. Another big thank you goes to Norman Pugsley for captaining the games.

John Spriggs League

After a narrow 2-8 defeat at home to Horsham at the end of June, the pressure was on our Spriggs team to get back on track during July. The trip to neighbours Uckfield on 14 July provided a stiff challenge on a very tricky green but we managed to come away with a positive 6-4 result. We then followed this up on 21 July with a convincing 10-0 victory over Haywards Heath at home. On 28 July, an 8-2 victory over Hurstpierpoint put us in a position where top place in the table and promotion to division one should now be guaranteed! Well done to the squad for a very successful season and good luck in the last match away to Horsham on 4 August.

Mid-Sussex League

After an excellent start to the League this year, topping the League table, a few results were disappointing, and we slipped down to the middle. However, we have managed to turn things around and some good results and large shot differences have now given us a chance. With two matches left, one against Lindfield who currently top the league, there is all to play for.

County Pairs Success – 25 July 2026

On 25 July, Christine Barradell and Nicola Drew represented the club in the women’s County Pairs at Preston Park and achieved a resounding victory of 20-7, with the opposition conceding after 15 ends. Everyone at the club would like to offer huge congratulations to Chris and Nicola for a brilliant achievement!

Tom Francis Victory – 26 July 2026

There was further success for the club in the final Tom Francis competition at Burgess Hill on 26 July, with a 40-26 victory across two rinks. Very well done to everyone who has played in any of the rounds and supported the teams. This is the second year running that Buxted Park has won this trophy - what an achievement! Can we make it three years running next year…?!

Across the month of July, we have also hosted several external matches, notably area finals, with the Committee providing hands on support to ensure things go smoothly, helping to enhance the reputation of the club as well as bringing in a little additional income. Thank you to all of those who have helped to organise and support these events on behalf of the club.

Look ahead to August

Sunday, 2 August 2026 – The Committee will be hosting the Mick Read invitation day at the green.

Tuesday, 4 August 2026 – We travel to Horsham in our final match of the season in the John Spriggs league and to put the final stamp on promotion back to Division 1 of the competition at the first time of asking.

Sunday, 16 August 2026 – Following his excellent victory in the area final of the Sussex County Champion of Champions, Alex Paine will be playing in the main semi-final at Worthing Pavilion. https://www.worthingpavilionbowlingclub.org.uk/

Later in August – Syd Allen club competition day, all encouraged to get involved. 

Please continue to put your names forward for friendly matches as it is the best way to learn and develop as well as meeting people from other clubs.

Finally, if you have any comments, suggestions or content for the newsletter going forward, please email Andy Lane, Website Administrator at: andylane67@hotmail.co.uk

Buxted Park Bowls Club Newsletter - June 2026

It is unbelievable that we are at the mid-way point in the season already. Despite some challenges with the weather, we have had a great season so far with a number of new members joining us and getting involved as well as external success at club, team and individual level in competitions and leagues.

It really was “flaming June” weather-wise although there was some rain as well as the heatwave conditions. We had a several matches cancelled throughout the month but mainly managed to keep playing despite the weather. Perhaps as a symbol of us overcoming the weather challenges, Sue Hanlon took a lovely picture of a rainbow through the trees during a Nicholas Soames match on 8th June v Lindfield.

The club had an excellent start to both the Tuesday evening Mid-Sussex (MSL) and John Spriggs leagues, with our teams recording wins in the first three rounds of matches, both securing top spot in their respective divisions. However, hot off the press, both teams suffered 8-2 defeats last night (30 June), away to Lindfield in the MSL and at home to Horsham in the John Spriggs. The Horsham result was particularly close, with just a single shot separating the overall scores of the teams, emphasising the fact that literally every end and shot counts in these competitions! Best wishes to our squads in these leagues to get back on track in the next round of games.

The extreme weather was particularly noticeable on Saturday 27 June, when we slipped to a comprehensive defeat at home to Haywards Heath and experienced some heavy rain as well as scorching sunshine. Howver , as you will see from the photos (link below), the weather did not dampen our spirits!

On Sunday, 28 June, Buxted won the Tom Francis match against Lindfield. This competition involves simultaneous home and away fixtures. They will next be playing Haywards Heath on Sunday 12th July at 10am (one home, one away) in the semi-final – please do come along and support the home team if you are able.

Our green is such a lovely setting, and the Friday night social evenings have continued to be popular – those attending last week’s roll-up enjoyed a pizza evening alongside the bowls.

Look ahead to July

• Sunday 5th July - Leah Hawkins, Mel Bridges, Nicola Drew and Chris Barradell will be travelling to Seaford for the Quarter finals of the Gladys Rowland and we send them all our very best wishes for a successful match.
• Sunday, 12th July – Tom Francis semi-final (as above, please do come along and support then team).
• Sunday, 19^th July – John Crock Trophy internal club competition day, all encouraged to get involved.
• Sunday, 26 July – Syd Allen club competition day, all encouraged to get involved. 

Please continue to put your names forward for friendly matches as it is the best way to learn and develop as well as meeting people from other clubs.

Finally, please remember to get those internal club competition matches played as we move towards the quarterfinals.

June photos can be found here: June 2026 Newsletter Photos

John Crock and Syd Allen Club Competitions, 19th and 26th July 2026

Dear Members,

We hope you are all enjoying your season. We wanted to let you know some details about two forthcoming club days in July when we will be holding the John Crock and Syd Allen club competitions. We would like to encourage as many of you to get involved as possible. These competitions are a great opportunity to meet and play against other club members in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. 

John Crock Trophy, 10:00, Sunday,19 July 2026

For those of you who don't know, the John Crock Trophy is a drawn triples competition, with short matches played in a mini league format.  It's a fun, brilliant one-day competition, played to a finish, and is a great opportunity for newer or inexperienced bowlers to play alongside some of our experienced bowlers.  The format is two mini leagues played throughout the day with the two league winning teams then playing in the final at the end of the afternoon.

We will ask people to arrive by 10am on the day so we can draw the teams and get the competition underway as early as possible. We will play or a couple of hours and then break for a "bring your own" lunch before finishing off the leagues ahead of the final during the afternoon.

To enter, there is a sheet of names on the board at the clubhouse, sign up via the website or speak to one of the Committee members.  At the moment we have a good list of names, but it would make it an even better day if we could get more names on the list.

This year, to encourage more players to sign up, we will be running a FREE "Spider" competition (everyone bowling to a jack in the centre of the green).  The winner will receive a bottle of Spirits or Wine of their choice!

Also, for the day, the bar will be open and Competition Secretary Tom  Melville will be making not one, but two of his world famous Ginger Cakes - now who can possibly resist that?!

Syd Allen Club Competition, 10:30, Sunday 26th July 2026

This is a two-wood singles competition in a straight knockout. There will be an opportunity for those that want to to have a go at marking the first round of matches. This competition is played up to and including the semi-finals, with the final to be played on finals weekend of 5/6 September 2026.

As with the John Crock, to get involved, there is a sheet of names on the board at the clubhouse, sign up via the website or speak to one of the Committee members.

These are two enjoyable days which enable us to get together, mix and mingle as a club, play some bowls and cheer on those that reach the later stages. Please do get involved!

Best wishes,

Andy Lane, for and on behalf of the Committee,

Men's and Ladies' Top Club Competitions

Men's Top Club Competition

On Friday night our men played at home in the first round of the National Top Club competition against The Crouch. Everyone played brilliantly but it just wasn’t to be this year despite us winning in two of the five disciplines. The games were incredibly close with us losing by just one shot in both the two-wood singles and the pairs. Spirits remained high though as cooking on the BBQ were bacon rolls and burgers ready for the hungry competitors when the game finished!