Eastbourne Town Bowls Tournament 2026

The Eastbourne Town Bowls Championships 2026 were held at Gildredge Park Bowls Club over the August bank holiday weekend. The weather on the Saturday was horrendous, and the games had to be cut short.

Sunday provided some moments of sunshine, and with a green now devoid of standing water allowed the games to commence. The Veteran Pairs of Kevin Brooks and Kevin Townsend of Hampden Park Bowls Club eased to a comfortable win against Roger Denyer and Antonio Forte of Parade Bowls Club [24-5]. The Nye Water Pairs game was between Simon Knight and Fred Frensham against Trevor Roberts, and Alec Martin, last year’s winners, both pairs from the Eastbourne Bowls Club, and once again the victors were Trevor and Alec [21-17]. The Centenary Aussie Pairs was another all-Eastbourne affair between Barry Kenward and Kevin Hilton, with the eventual winners of a close contest being Simon Perry and Neil Pierce with just two points separating the pairs [15-13]. The morning session ended with the mixed triples, and it was the turn of a Gildredge Park trio of Andy and Jill Seymour and Jeff Barnes to triumph over John Burrows, Sydney Swan and Beryl Fry from Motcombe Gardens Bowls Club [25-11].

The afternoon session the ‘Blue Ribband’ event the Croall singles, competed for since 1927, was between Fred Frensham and Trevor Roberts of Eastbourne Bowls Club, the start saw a close contest with Trevor eventually drawing away to a convincing win [21-6]. The Lifeboat Singles was awarded to Chris Hales of the Royal Sovereign Bowls Club. The Mixed Pairs game was held in the early evening with Trevor Roberts and Sue Hennock the eventual winners over Chris Hales and Georgina Smith [24-6].

The Tolley Bowl double mixed fours had to be delayed until Monday and was contested by teams from Hampden Park Bowls Club and Eastbourne Bowls Club and saw the Eastbourne Bowls Club team triumph in two close games [40-25].

The final part of the Alice Hudson Triples, started on Saturday, had been delayed until Wednesday evening and was between Jim Billam, Fred Frensham and John Dalton of Eastbourne Bowls Club and Kevin Brooks, Kevin Townsend and Neil Langford of Hampden Park Bowls Club. The Hampden Park team were the victors [20-4].

Francois Celada, [Friendly Collectables, of South Street, Eastbourne] a legend in Eastbourne bowling, and the Eastbourne Open Champion 2026,  was the sponsor of the event and kindly did the prizegiving. Thanks were given to Gildredge Park Bowls Club who hosted the event,  the ladies and gentlemen of the club who provided the catering with a constant supply of rolls and cakes and Terry Boniface, the Senior Umpire, who was thanked for keeping order as everyone stared forlornly at scenes of falling rain. A special tribute was paid to Wendy Davenport who organized the event and ran the competitions, throughout the year, the actual games numbering over 150. Jo Doust, Bowls England Chairman, provided words on encouragement for all who took part and hoped that many more would join the sport which was increasing in popularity universally.

The tournament was conducted in an excellent spirit and showcased the sport to all who attended, and praise was given to all those who supported the tournament by taking part. Supporters enjoyed a spectacle of excellent, competitive, bowling demonstrating that the sport of bowls in Eastbourne is not only alive, but is flourishing, as it has done for over a hundred years and is still an integral part of the town’s community.