Knockout competitions
Within the Club, there are seven knockout competitions in place, with matches arranged between individuals and taking place throughout the season.
Men’s championship (Committee Cup) and women’s championship (Howard Cup)
The Committee Cup was first presented in 1919 and is still competed for today; the Howard Cup was presented by Mrs. Bradley, the first Ladies President of the Club and has been competed for since 1970, women having been accepted as members in 1968.
Matches in both competitions are resolved with the winner being the first to reach 21 shots.
2025 winners: Andy Carnegie; Cindy McLaughlin
2025 runners-up: Michael Hopkins; Shirley Stoten
In 2026, in the Committee Cup, Andrew Carnegie and Mark Slade progressed to the first semi-final, Andrew coming out on top, while the other was contested between Dave Taplin and Dave Clipsom, with Dave Taplin winning; Andrew and Dave will meet in the final on 29 August. Turning to the Howard Cup, Judith Towerton and Cindy McLaughlin fought out SF1, with Cindy emerging victorious; while Jackie Kingston and Cathy Hopwood competed in SF2, with Cathy winning the match. Cindy and Cathy will thus compete in the final on 29 August.
Women’s 2 wood (Eason Cup) and men’s 2 wood (Ada Ponting Bowl)
Matches in these competitions sees Club members matched against each other, men and women separately, over a maximum of 21 ends, each restricted to two woods per end.
The Eason Cup has been competed for since 1972; the Ada Ponting Bowl is named after the former wife of the mayor who was, as such, therefore also president of the Club and has been competed for (in different competitions) since 1924.
2025 winners: Cindy McLaughlin; Andy Carnegie
2025 runners-up: Sue Milton; Les Reeves
In 2026, the semi-finalists for the Eason Cup were Cindy McLaughlin and Jackie Kingston; and Sue Milton and Angela Aspinall; Jackie and Sue came out on top and will contest the final on 29 August.
The semi-finalists in the Ada Ponting Bowl were Robin Kingston and Nigel Sharpe, with Nigel winning; and Dave Bradbury and Pete Anthony, Dave emerging victorious. Nigel and Dave will meet in the final on 29 August.
Royston Turner Cup for novice singles
This competition is open to all members within three years of first becoming a member and who have not won any other singles tournament in that time.
Matches are settled on the basis of the winner being the first to reach 15 shots.
2025 winner: Steve Trim; runner-up: Steve Pople
In 2026, the semi-finals are to be contested between Pete Shergold and Ady Aspinall; and Simon Leadbetter and Ron Bainbridge.
Handicap (Fletcher Cup)
Open to all members on an open basis, the handicap seeks to even the differences in abilities between the players by giving one player a number of shots start over their opponent in each tie based on experience. This is a singles competition, for a Cup presented by and named in honour of Lt. Com. R. Fletcher MP, and has been competed for since 1924.
Matches are won by the first bowler to reach 21 shots.
2025 winner: Brad Godden; runner-up: Evan Lewens
In 2026, the semi-finalists were Pete Anthony and Mick Corden, Pete Anthony coming out on top; while the other was contested between Calvin Allen and Dave Bradbury, with Dave emerging victorious. Pete and Dave will contest the final on 29 August.
Drawn pairs (Eyles Cup)
This competition sees entrants drawn by the Club, pairing a novice member with an experienced one.
Matches take place over 18 ends, each bowler playing four woods on each end.
2025 winners: Pete Anthony and Ady Aspinall; runners-up: Les Reeves and Steve Trim.
In 2026, Steve Trim and Judith Towerton will play Dave Taplin and Ron Bainbridge in SF1; while the second was contested between Ady Aspinall and Tim Poynter, and Jim Catchpole and Kate Hopkins, Jim and Kate coming out on top to go into the final on 29 August.