2025 BCGBA Ladies Veterans County Championships
The British Crown Green Ladies Veterans Championship was held on Tuesday 24 June in Shrewsbury, UK, over four greens – Meole Brace Green 1 & 2, Hanwood BC and Bicton BC. Competition was played as a round robin format of four groups with each group consisting of four county teams (8 players plus a reserve) with the winner of each group progressing through to the semi-finals and then final. The IOM Ladies Veterans team of Alison Stockham, Margie Tasker, Caroline Whitehead, Lynda Cadamy, Sue Gawne, Hilary Kermode, Elaine Moore, Sue Collier and Judy Kelly, was drawn in Group C along with Yorkshire, Merseyside B and Lancashire playing on Meole Brace No.2 green. The first match pitted the IOM against the highly fancied Yorkshire Team. The green was tricky, in that it was quite slow in places but fast in some especially when playing along or towards the edge of the green. Despite a spirited performance by our Manx ladies, Yorkshire won 6-2 (106-77). Second match saw the Island ladies play Lancashire – like their first game, they played well but lost 5-3 (111-78). Our ladies put in a sterling performance in their final group match when they took on Merseyside, drawing four all on games but winning on points (102-88). Unfortunately this was not enough to see them through to the semis. Not losing a group game, Yorkshire went through to the semis.
In the semi-finals, Yorkshire played their rivals South Yorkshire winning 6-2 (112-91). The other semi-final saw Greater Manchester take on the Welsh ladies. Although this match finished 4 all, Greater Manchester won on points (102-93). The final was played on Meole Brace No.2 green and with both teams playing well, the spectators were treated to some fine bowling with Yorkshire eventually winning 5-3 (113-81).