The 2021 domestic season is now over as the final four competitions in English Lawn Bowls were decided at Royal Leamington Spa’s Victoria Park.
Two action-packed days saw the best clubs in the country bid for success in the Men’s Club Two Fours, the Men’s and Women’s Top Club and the Tony Allcock Trophy.
Kings (Devon) took back-to-back victories in the Women’s Top Club competition in 2018 and 2019 and came into 2021 hungry to repeat their success. The Torquay-based club progressed to the final and faced-down Appleyard (Kent) to complete a memorable hat-trick.
Claiming their second victory in four years, Banbury Central (Oxfordshire) took the Tony Allcock Trophy. With just one end left to play against Bromley (Kent) the score was level, but Banbury coped best with the final-end pressure to win 28-27.
Clubs from the south remained on form throughout the weekend, with Reading (Berkshire) triumphing in the Men’s Club Two Fours competition. Reading’s Robert Newman returned an eight-shot win as they defeated Burton House (Lincolnshire).
The closing final of the 2021 domestic season was the Men’s Top Club. With the overall match tied at 2-2, the title hinged on the result of the Fours. Culm Vale (Devon) trailed Bromley (Kent) by one shot going into the final end but scored a single to force an extra-end. It was Bromley however who bowled the vital shot of the extra end to take the coveted crown and make up for their disappointment in the Tony Allcock Trophy.
Alistair Hollis, Head of Sport Development at Bowls England was delighted to of been able to deliver a full season of domestic competitive events in 2021: “The season provided many challenges as we sought to enable all bowlers to participate safely whilst navigating through the gradual relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions and we thank everyone for the part they played in a full summer of competitive bowls. 2022 promises to be a great year for our sport, particularly with a home Commonwealth Games for us all to look forward to in addition to our domestic competition programme”.