Latest news, dates for your diary, match reports and more.
PPBC Bowling Matters Issue 1 March 2026
As the start of the 2026 outdoor season draws near, this newsletter aims to keep our members informed of upcoming events, competitions, friendlies as well as opportunities to volunteer and help maintain our club and grounds.
Embracing the electronic age
To save paper and the costs of printing, this newsletter is designed to be available in electronic formats and can be viewed at pirriepark.com/newsletter/. However, if you are happy to automatically receive your news and other club information electronically then please complete the registration form at pirriepark.com/register-for-newsletter/. Legally, the club must be compliant with General Data Protection Regulations, by completing the on-line registration form you are agreeing that your personal information can only be used for specified and explicit club matters and will not be passed on to third parties. Going forwards, you can opt out of receiving information electronically at any time (your personal information will be removed from our database) and we will remind you of this option annually.
News
You may have noticed that Southampton has had 36 cm of rain since the start of the year (approaching half the city’s annual average), the green is waterlogged and more worryingly, the clubhouse roof is now leaking in several places. It is very clear that the roof needs urgent attention and the committee, having received quotes from roofing companies, have selected a contractor to carry out the necessary works.
Reminders
If you have yet to pay your membership fees for 2026, please do so as soon as possible.
1.0 Dates for the Diary: March – May
Please find below a summary of events, friendly matches and opportunities to assist our club. Details concerning Southampton and District League matches are published in the annual fixture list available from the bar and are not repeated here.
PPBC events
| 28 March | Skittles Night | £3.00pp Skittles and Fish and Chip Supper. Please sign up at the noticeboard near the main entrance, selecting your choice of meal. Please pay for your tickets at the bar and pay for your meal on the night. |
| 8 April | Short Mat Finals | 7:00pm Pairs Final, 8:pm Singles Final. |
| 11 April | Opening Day | Dress code Jackets and Whites, Club Photo 14:00, followed by the spider and the first competition of the season Chairman v Captain, Post-match tea, biscuits and cake. |
Friendlies
| 23 March | Totton and Eling (Outdoor Away) | Dress Code greys. 1:00pm start- this friendly is already oversubscribed. |
| 17 May | County (Away) | Dress code Whites. Sign up sheet will be posted on the noticeboard. |
2.0 Match Reports
Once in the swing of the outdoor season our intrepid reporters will provide match reports. Here is a short summary of short mat activities over the winter break.
Four teams have spent 18 weeks playing short mat triples and pairs, there have been several very close matches, a few draws and quite a few games that were not so close. With one round of games to go, Lloyd’s team had already secured the triples league title and the pairs title would be decided between Angie or Lloyd’s team. On the night Lloyd’s pairs team won their final match against Mike’s team and could not be caught. Both Leagues finished with Angie;s team as the runners up , Barry’s team in third place and Mike’s team in fourth. It was particularly pleasing to see some of our newer members consistently playing well with George (Lloyd’s team), Craig (Mike’s team), Andy and Pete (both Angie’s team) all having excellent games in theri first full season. The matches have been well attended, and the Short-mat organisers would like to thank everyone who has participated and played in good spirit and a friendly manner.
March sees the singles and pairs short mat club competitions with matches from the 16th March and finals night on the 8 April. Details of the two draws and fixtures can be found on the Short Mat noticeboard in the corridor. All are welcome to come and watch the games, the bar will be open and as one regular attendee said, “It’s just like being at Potters”, mind you that was fairly late in the evening.
3.0 Thank you
The bar committee would like to thank John Bambrough for his contributions to the work of the committee and specially for all the times over the years that he has volunteered to work behind the bar.
The weekly bingo players would like to thank Keith Andrews for his great bingo calling.
Keith Andrews would like to thank all the wobblers, coughers and quackers…
If you want to thank someone for their contributions to the club please let the editors know.
4.0 And finally
To help our women prepare for the outdoor season eco-friendly fitness equipment has been installed in the Ladies changing room. Only women can use the herbal dumbbells. Thyme weights for no man.
Contact us
All contributions, including better puns, welcome, the editors can be contacted via email (pll@soton.ac.uk) or letter placed on the mail noticeboard in the corridor by the entrance to the bar.