Vets Teams News
20th August - Kev
Great win today over Tonge Park to knock them off top of the vets table and go top by 3 points. Every match was a pleasure to watch with some cat and mouse games - with the result being 9 -3 after 22 matches a piece and 4 matches to play - this is going to be an interesting finish to an exciting season.
Well done all the team whatever the score - every point adds up.
Thanks to all the supporters who came to watch and support their team - a really good atmosphere - and buzzing with the quality of the matches. 10/10 marks
For table positions and matches to be played click 'HERE'
posted 2nd August 2024 - kev
Another cup for Astley Bridge
Today was the Betfred Vets - random mixed pairs competition - held at Darbishire park on a sunny day - made welcome by members of Darbishire park. - There was a good turn out with 15 pairs drawn from all who entered. - The bowling was really enjoyable with some exceptional first class ends - resulting in many cheers from the crowd.
In the end the final was between our club member Lawrence Catterall with playing partner Rita Dunn ( from Egerton park ) v Karen Fletcher and playing partner Howard Boyd with Lol and Rita winning 15 - 11 in a thrilling final.
The photo below shows Rita and Lol with their well -deserved cups
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Updated 25th May
The Vets league Fraser Huyton pairs comp. finals were played last Friday 24th May on Tonge Park on an overcast day.
All 3 of Astley Bridges' pairs had got through to this final day with two of them competing in the final round.
In all the matches we saw very good bowling in a relaxed atmosphere and a good green - so thank you Tonge Park and also Clive Fenn for organising the comp.
The final 2 pairs were Barry Trevitt/Mick Fletcher and Johnny Mort/Mark Bradshaw, with eventual winners being Johnny and Mark.
Well done to them for bringing the vets pairs cup back to Astley Bridge.
The photos below show all 4 finalists with their trophies.
27th January 2024 - committee
Bolton Vets league - Vets AGM meeting this week was uncontrolled now that Clive Fenn was not there.
The chairman didn't turn up till meeting was nearly over, and with everyone talking throughout , nobody could hear properly.
The following were the main points: - Vets season starts on April 9th.
- No news on council fees but they have a meeting on Feb 24.
-Vets starting age lowered to 58.
- In all probability the vets league could lose Bet Fred sponsorship which would leave the Vets with a £600 deficit.
9th November 2023 - kev
hi Everyone
The vets presentation night was last night at the Railway Club Great Lever.
The turnout was less than normal - maybe due to the 8pm start [ as the club is used as a school during the day temporarily].
Although our club won a number of trophies and cups we only had 3 club members turn up - that's a poor showing - say no more.
On a happier note our trophies and cups were won as follows:
Vets A team won the league champions cup - see Barrie Howarth [captain] below.
Vets A team won the runner up trophy for the A section knockout cup - see Barrie Howarth [captain] again below.
Kevan Latham received the Betfred knockout competition singles cup - see below.
Johnny Mort received the A section Merit knockout singles trophy - see below
Well done to our club/team players for another successful bowling season.
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updated 31st January 2023 - committee
The Vets League AGM – Thursday, 26th January 2023 – at The Railway at 13:30 did not result in any changes to last years format of teams/players/age limits etc.
Thanks to our team captains/secretaries for attending.
posted 1st December 2022 - kev
Below are photos of the vets presentation on 30th November at The Railway Club
For all the results please click 'here' to go to the vets league link
with Astley bridge team/members being mentioned 11 times
vets team players with a table of trophies
from left Mick Fletcher/Dave Cardwell/Gordon Butler/Johnny Mort/Barry Winrow/Joe Council/Kevan Latham taking photo
vets team players with a table of trophies - again
from left Barrie Howarth/Joe Council/ Mick Fletcher/Dave Cardwell/Gordon Butler/Johnny Mort
Ray Forrest with pairs/mixed trophies
Table of trophies for presentation and Clive Fenn
updated 20th September 2022 - kev
Well done to our Vets 'A' Team for becoming Bolton Parks Veteran League section 'A' champions 2022
posted 12th September
Well done to our club members :
John Mort for winning The Vets League 'A' section averages [ with Gordon Butler 2nd ]
and Kevan Latham for winning Conny League section B averages - another 2 Astley bridge trophies .
updated 3rd October 2022 - kev
BET FRED TROPHY
- The finals were held on 2nd September at Tonge park .
The finalists were as follows:
Alan Foster, Michael Hilton, John Mort, Clive Fenn, Ray Forrest, Kevan Latham, Mike Bailey and Ray Ankers
The Trophy was won by Kevan and so it is back at Astley Bridge Park again.
updated 7th July 2022 - kev
The vets 'Fraser Huyton Pairs Cup Competition' was well represented by our club members - with 5 pairs reaching the finals day on 23rd May.
The winning pair were Ray Forrest (Astley Bridge vets) and John Wolfendale (Haslam park vets) with Mick Fletcher and Barry Trevitt (both Astley Bridge vets ) as runners up .
Well done as the finalists were a strong line up.
updated 24th August 2021- kev
Vets League Section A cup winners Astley Bridge A team beat Haslam Park by 2 points after giving 20 points start - pictured here on Moss Bank Park (top green) Thursday 19th August.
The match was played on a poor green after raining all morning.
A nip and tuck match was only decided in the last game after Astley Bridge reached 10 points after being 10 to 4 down.
Well done to our A team for another cup in the trophy cabinet and a big thank you to Barrie Howarth for running the team during this difficult year.
posted 27-April 2021 - kev
A pre-season friendly was organised on Tuesday 27th april between Astley bridge B and C vets.
Although the weather was occasionally drizzley - (after 3 weeks of sun - sods law) there was an upbeat mood - back to bowls - with maximum 4 blocks on the green.
Everyone was looking forward to playing as a team on the bowling green - despite the aches and pains of 18 months layoff and arthritis creeping in.
The match was won by the 'B' team and the photo below shows the two teams battling it out .
Looks like we have a good start to our season in the vets league - thanks to Norman Jones/Barry Winrow for organising it.
updated 12th April 2021
Here is a photo from november 2019 showing all the cups our club A team and club members accumulated - 'come on the Bridge' for 2021 - just let us loose on those greens.
picture posted 7th November 2019 - kev
Vets Presentation at 'The Railway' yesterday with cups
for the 'A' team in winning Vets league section 'A'
for John winning the A section merits
for Gordon +John in winning 'Betfred Pairs'
for Kevan in winning 'Betfred singles' knockout comp.
-well done - another good year for Astley Bridge Park bowling club.
posted 2nd October 2019 - kev
Vets ''Champions v Rest”was Thursday 26th at Moss Bank pk .
Our 'A' team finished up winning by 5 points.
Bowling was good despite a heavy green. The weather stayed reasonably pleasant even though there was a rain forecast.
What a good last match - John Mort came on last with A team leading by 3 points and John did the business in a thrilling game - corner to corner winning 15-13 - well done John.
see photos below of line-up of last few matches.
updated 5th September - kev
Section A champions 2019
-Top photo -last match
Centre stage on top photo is our 'one and only' John Mort the 2019 section A averages winner .
updated 19th September - kev
Astley Bridge park Vets 'C ' team lost to Great Lever in the B section Cup Final (Norman Little memorial Trophy) yesterday at Merehall Park. - it was a lovely day and the competition was keen as mustard .
Astley bridge had a good strong team out on the day and it turned out to be a good match with some exciting ends - but Great Lever were just too good on the day - hard luck lads !! - maybe next year ?
photo - The team relaxing in the sun at the start of the match
posted 19th July 
The BETFRED vets singles final
on Monday 15th July 2019 at Great Lever Park was won by Kevan - another cup for Astley Bridge Bowlers.
The last 16 from last week's preliminary round was played on a good green in very hot weather.
All matches were good and competitive.
Vets Betfred pairs competition final
-was held on Tonge Park in May and was won by our Astley Bridge Park players - Gordon Butler and John Mort - well done - keeping the flag flying for the club.
Lovely sunny day and competitive opposition.
For other success stories click 'HERE'