Bowls England would like to congratulate Oxfordshire’s Alan Ley, who recently played his 900th game for the County in a recent friendly fixture against Hertfordshire at his home club, Oxford City and County BC.

71-year-old Alan began his career with Oxfordshire in 1966 playing for the old Blue Circle club at Bunkers Hill near Kidlington. He was awarded a full county badge 12 months later. Success in the County Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours championships has put him in the small group of Oxfordshire bowlers to achieve such a record.

For many decades Alan skipped a rink for Oxfordshire in the Middleton Cup and was an England Trialist is 1980 & 1981.

Since his start at Blue Circle, Alan moved between Oxford City & County and Summertown clubs, finally returning to City & County after the closure of the Summertown club.

His most recent appearance at the National Championships was at Leamington in 2014, partnering Mike Petersen in the Senior Pairs where they unfortunately lost on the last end in the final.

Alan’s 35 years working for Blackwell’s bookshop in Oxford enabled him to take time off for midweek friendly games, a practice which continued as a porter at the Bodleian library. Retirement allows him to play for the various Associations that he his also a member of.

Bowls England, Oxfordshire Bowling Association and Bowls Oxfordshire wish Alan future success and look forward to his 1000 game celebration which could be in as little as five or six years’ time.