Ladies Captain Sue Bates presenting the trophy to the triumphant Spital Gents team.

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 Barry Holmes Trophy 2026

Scores: Gents 853 -  Ladies 747

This annual in-house competition sees the Spital Ladies competing against Spital men in a usually, I'm afraid to say, fruitless quest to win the trophy, as was the case again this year. The gents however didn't have it all their own way and faced a few scares during the afternoon.  The genius that is Sue Bates devised a slightly different format this year whereby everyone played 8 matches of 5 ends and the first 4 bowls scored 4,3,2,1 no matter to whose team they belonged, played in teams of four with two ladies and two gents and a change of partners every match. Sue kept the score on a spreadsheet as the afternoon unfolded with the result revealed at the end.  The ladies were feeling confident at some points with Sue and Lidia,  Joyce and June,  Jackie and Pauline,  Sue and Pat H, Lidia and Jackie, Sue and Pauline, Joyce and Pat H, Maureen and  Pat H, Joyce and Pat D, Sue and Jackie winning  matches.  Two matches played by Pat H and Pauline,  Lidia and Joyce were draws.  Ultimately, the gents were all on good form and re-claimed the cup, so well played to them. The highest score of the day, 37-13 was achieved by Keith Evans and Alan Hancock. Congrats to all the gents.  Our newest member Janet Taylor,  who joined the club a matter of weeks ago, played really well contributing to the score and proved to be a natural. She is going to be an asset to the club.

It was a fun afternoon despite the faux rivalry in the battle of the sexes!  Thanks again to Sue for all her skills at organizing these events.  

Spital Ladies v Little Aston Ladies

Result: Spital Ladies 43 - Little Aston 30

After the disappointment of our first match of the season being cancelled at Lichfield, we were looking forward to this friendly match against our old friends from Little Aston.  Their numbers were somewhat depleted which meant that their Captain Paula and teammate Chris had to play twice , winning one game but losing the second, when they played the always in form Jackie Fox and Lidia Higson, who played extremely well to gain a 13-7 victory.  As anticipated the visitors played an amazingly efficient match on our ever baffling uneven green, which the home players themselves often find frustrating to bowl on.  Sue Bates and Pat Humphreys claimed the highest score of the afternoon with a 17-3 win over Val and Ann B.  All games were played to 15 ends and all in good spirits as was expected.  The afternoon concluded with tea and a marvelous selection of delicious home-made cakes, chocolate, lemon drizzle, fruit cakes, coffee cake etc. the like of which would rival Bettys Tea Rooms!  Many thanks to Ladies Captain Sue Bates for organizing the event.  We look forward to visiting Little Aston later in the season for the return match.