Whitchurch & District League
Andover Bowling Club is a founder member of this league, formed originally in 1934.
The league, which has an open format, encompasses clubs in the Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover envelope and is based on four divisions. The league is subject to relegation and promotion of the bottom two teams in each higher division and the top two teams in each lower one
Matches are triples, with each taking place across three rinks. Matches last 18 ends and are played on Wednesday evenings, all with a start time of 6.15.
The full rules of the league have been revised and the new version - as of December 2025, can be found in the attachment below. The major change from previously is that each match is now scored on the basis of a maximum seven points, up from five, with two points for the winning team on each rink and one further point to the team with the highest aggregate (draws see the points split).
Andover Bowling Club fields four teams, each having their own dedicated page which you can access either via the menu on the banner above below the picture; or otherwise via the following links for each of our teams:
2026 was another exciting season in the W&D league: Lions, who played in Division 1, were sadly relegated but Stags were promoted from Division 3 as champions with 68 points, while Eagles, second on shot difference, were promoted alongside them, both being 4 points ahead of Howard Park Kestrels in third. All three teams will play the 2027 season in Division 3. Acorns, promoted to Division 3 in 2025, had a rather slow start and flirted with the relegation spots for much of the season but ended strongly as one of the division's form sides, finishing in sixth some 13 points clear of relegation.
The tables after the final week of the season can be seen in the attachment at the bottom although they are not quite the final standings as a result of a few previously postponed games still needing to be played; while the Whitchurch and District Bowling League has an excellent website, updated promptly and at least weekly, with the results of that week's games.
Spencer Trophy
In addition, the Spencer Trophy is presented in memory of Derek C Spencer by his wife, Chris, both successful bowlers at the Club. It is competed for annually by our four teams in the Whitchurch and District League and, in 2026, took place as a series of triples matches between three teams from each side drawn randomly.
The Trophy match took place on 2 September and was won this year by Eagles, who triumphed on all three of their rinks, followed by Acorns in 2nd, Lions in 3rd and Stags in 4th. Thanks to Mick Corden for organising a very enjoyable evening.
1. Eagles P3 W3 D0 L0 57-27 Pts: 6
2. Acorns P3 W2 D0 L1 39-46 Pts: 4
3. Lions P3 W1 D0 L2 34-44 Pts: 2
4. Stags P3 W0 D0 L3 29-42 Pts: 0
Brookhouse Cup
This competition is for two nominated players from each club affiliated to the league and, where possible, the current club men’s and/or Women's singles champion, played as a knock-out singles competition throughout the normal playing season, each round being played as one game of 21 shots.
Both Andrew Carnegie and Cindy McLaughlin reached the quarter finals where they played each other, Andrew coming out on top in a hard-fought game which kicked off at the unusual time of 6am as a result of the heat, and thus advancing to the semi-final. There, Andrew triumphed by the magnificent score of 21-3, progressing to the final where he played Andy Lowe, of Hook Bowling Club, rolling out the winner - and again the champion of champions - by 21-10. Congratulations, Andrew, who has now won the trophy for the third time - read more in our news release.