This weekend sees the Regional Finals for two more of our Inter- County competitions – the Walker Cup and the Balcomb Trophy. These fixtures take place on Sunday 17 July across the country – with teams battling to line up at the Bowls England National Finals in August & September.
We will post results on our social media channels on Sunday – all the host clubs are open for spectators, so we encourage you to make your way down to the venues and watch the action live!
Walker Cup
North Region – York RI BC, Yorkshire
York is the historic & picturesque setting for an all-North-East clash. Cumbria, fresh from a 40-38 victory over defending champions Lincolnshire in the previous round, will be aiming to secure local bragging rights as they face Durham. The Durham team secured a tight 33-32 triumph over Lancashire in the previous round.
Also taking to the green will be Nottinghamshire, and they will face the host county Yorkshire for a place at BENF22.
East Region – Sandy Conservatives BC, Bedfordshire
Two of the East Anglian counties will meet at Sandy Conservatives BC in the Regional final in a re-match of last year’s Area final! Essex will be aiming for revenge, having suffered defeat at the hand of eventual semi-finalist Norfolk.
Hertfordshire will also take on Huntingdonshire.
South Region – Cranleigh BC, Surrey
Middlesex have not won this competition since 1984, but will be hoping to secure a place at the National Finals in 2022 as they face Hampshire at Cranleigh BC
There’s also a battle of the Home Counties to look forward to as 2021 runners-up Kent will take on hosts Surrey. Kent, also finalists in 2017, will be hoping to go one further this year.
West Region – Kingswood & Hanham BC, Gloucestershire
Kingswood & Hanham BC will host the Regional Finals for the Walker Cup and there’s two excellent fixtures to look forward to. Wiltshire will face beaten area finalist from 2021, Worcestershire.
Devon, last won this tournament back in 2015, and they will take on hosts Gloucestershire, who enjoyed a great victory over a strong Somerset team in the previous round.
Balcomb Trophy
North Region – Dunnington BC, Yorkshire
Once again, the host county will feature in the Regional Finals, with Dunnington BC the backdrop for Yorkshire v Durham.
Also featuring will be Northumberland, and they will take on Nottinghamshire, who will be on a high having defeated 2021 Semi Finalists Cumbria in the previous round.
East Region – Wellingborough BC, Northamptonshire
Huntingdonshire, fresh from beating Northamtonshire in the previous round, return to the county and Wellingborough BC to take on Essex, beaten finalists in 2019.
Winners back in 2000, Norfolk will face Hertfordshire who are yet to reach the final of the Balcomb Trophy.
South Region – Ladygate BC, Middlesex
Ladygate BC is the venue for the South Regional Finals, with two great matches to look forward to. Hampshire, who lost the Final in 2021, will take on Kent.
Oxfordshire, who lost to Hampshire in the area final last year, will face three-time winners Berkshire, who will be aiming for their first title in this competition since 2010.
West Region – Cotswold BC, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire, the host county for the West Regional Final (being played at Cotswold BC), will be looking to build on their victory over Somerset in the previous round. They face Worcestershire who beat Cornwall by two shots in the previous round.
Warwickshire, victors by nine shots over Dorset, face Wiltshire in the other match which promises to be a great spectacle.
Bowls England Regional Finals are the last step for players, clubs and counties ahead of the Bowls England National Finals, which run from Thursday 25 August to Sunday 11 September. You can buy tickets now by clicking here.