PREVIOUS WINNERS

PREMIER LEAGUE WINNERS

1923 Dovercourt 1960 York Road 1991 Happy Valley 1924 Dovercourt 1961 Mistley & Manningtree 1992 Thorpe 1925 Dovercourt 1962 Frinton 1993 Thorpe 1926 Elmstead 1963 York Road 1994 Thorpe 1927 Elmstead 1964 Mistley & Manningtree 1995 Thorpe 1928 Brightlingsea 1965 Mistley & Manningtree 1996 Thorpe 1929 Elmstead 1966 Mistley & Manningtree 1997 Happy Valley 1930 Brightlingsea 1967 Mistley & Manningtree 1998 Happy Valley 1931 Frinton 1968 York Road 1999 Thorpe 1932 Walton 1969 Mistley & Manningtree 2000 Wivenhoe 1933 Walton 1970 Clacton 2001 Happy Valley 1934 Brightlingsea 1971 Mistley & Manningtree 2002 Wivenhoe 1935 Brightlingsea 1972 Frinton 2003 Wivenhoe 1936 Frinton 1973 Wivenhoe 2004 Wivenhoe 1937 Frinton 1974 Clacton 2005 Wivenhoe 1938 Parkeston 1975 Happy Valley 2006 Wivenhoe 1939 Wivenhoe 1976 Clacton 2007 Frinton 1940-46 No Competition 1977 Clacton 2008 Frinton 1947 Brantham 1978 Frinton 2009 Frinton 1948 Brantham 1979 York Road 2010 Clacton 1949 Brantham 1980 Clacton 2011 Frinton 1950 Mistley & Manningtree 1981 Clacton 2012 Wivenhoe 1951 Mistley & Manningtree 1982 Brightlingsea 2013 Dovercourt 1952 Frinton 1983 Brightlingsea 2014 Wivenhoe 1953 Mistley & Manningtree 1984 Brightlingsea 2015 Clacton 1954 York Road 1985 Clacton 2016 Happy Valley 1955 Kirby 1986 Wivenhoe 2017 Dovercourt 1956 Frinton 1987 York Road 2018 Brightlingsea 1957 Frinton 1988 Clacton 2109 Brightlingsea 1958 Mistley & Manningtree 1989 Frinton 2020 No Competition (COVID) 1959 Mistley & Manningtree 1990 Thorpe
STANFORD LEAGUE 1996 Dovercourt 2009 Holland on Sea ‘A’ 1997 Happy Valley 2010 Wivenhoe 1998 Dovercourt 2011 Frinton 1999 Happy Valley 2012 Clacton 2000 Happy Valley 2013 Kirby ‘A’ 2001 Frinton 2014 Wivenhoe ‘A’ 2002 Happy Valley 2015 Clacton 2003 Wivenhoe 2016 Happy Valley 2004 Happy Valley 2017 Holland on Sea 2005 Clacton 2018 Kirby 2006 Wivenhoe ‘A’ 2019 Clacton 2007 Wivenhoe ‘A’ 2020 No Competition (COVID) 2008 Wivenhoe ‘B’ CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE WINNERS 2010 Frinton
THE WINDSOR ‘A’ LEAGUE (TRIPLES) 1986 Wivenhoe 2004 Clacton 1987 Happy Valley 2005 Dovercourt 1988 Dovercourt 2006 Clacton ‘A’ 1989 Dovercourt 2007 Frinton 1990 Parkeston 2008 Frinton ‘B’ 1991 Kirby 2009 Frinton ‘A’ 1992 Kirby 2010 Happy Valley ‘A’ 1993 Parkeston 2011 Wivenhoe 1994 Dovercourt 2012 Wivenhoe 1995 Dovercourt 2013 Clacton ‘A’ 1996 Clacton 2014 Clacton ‘A’ 1997 Kirby 2015 Wivenhoe 1998 Brantham 2016 Happy Valley 1999 Wivenhoe 2017 Happy Valley ‘A’ 2000 Wivenhoe 2018 Happy Valley ‘A’ 2001 Wivenhoe 2019 Happy Valley ‘A’ 2002 Dovercourt 2020 No Competition (COVID) 2003 Dovercourt
THE WINDSOR ‘B’ LEAGUE (TRIPLES) 2019 Thorpe 2020 No Competition (COVID)
T.H.L. TEAM ‘K.O’ WINNERS 1983 York Road 2002 Wivenhoe 1984 Clacton 2003 Wivenhoe 1985 Wivenhoe 2004 Frinton 1986 Happy Valley 2005 Dovercourt 1987 Happy Valley 2006 Clacton 1988 Thorpe 2007 Wivenhoe 1989 York Road 2008 Wivenhoe 1990 Wivenhoe 2009 Clacton 1991 Frinton 2010 Clacton 1992 Dovercourt 2011 Dovercourt ‘A’ 1993 Thorpe 2012 Wivenhoe ‘A’ 1994 Frinton 2013 Frinton ‘B’ 1995 Happy Valley 2014 Frinton ‘A’ 1996 Thorpe 2015 Frinton ‘A’ 1997 Thorpe 2016 Dovercourt ‘A’ 1998 Happy Valley 2017 Wivenhoe ‘A’ 1999 Clacton 2018 Happy Valley ‘A’ 2000 Wivenhoe 2019 Frinton 2001 Thorpe 2020 No Competition (COVID)
T.H.L. TEAM ‘K.O’ PLATE WINNERS 2006 Wivenhoe 2013 Parkeston 2007 Brightlingsea 2014 Wivenhoe ‘A’ 2008 Clacton 2015 Brightlingsea ‘A’ 2009 Wivenhoe 2016 Brightlingsea ‘A’ 2010 Wivenhoe 2017 Thorpe ‘A’ 2011 Clacton ‘A’ 2018 Dovercourt ‘A’ 2012 Clacton ‘B’ 2019 Wivenhoe ‘A’
2 WOOD CHAMPIONSHIP (K.N. BLAND TROPHY) 1966 J. Robertson Holland on Sea 1994 R. Groves Parkeston 1967 Mrs. J. Judd Happy Valley 1995 J. Russell Happy Valley 1968 D.C. Halls Brantham 1996 H. Van Hanegem Brightlingsea 1969 B. Deex Thorpe 1997 S. Vears Frinton 1970 J. Baker Dovercourt 1998 R. Roffe Frinton 1971 R. A. Cook Frinton 1999 B. Johnson Kirby 1972 G. Watton Happy Valle 2000 A. Twells Wivenhoe 1973 J. Dodshon Wivenhoe 2001 D. Hemstedt Clacton 1974 H. Berry York Road 2002 M. Garret Wivenhoe 1975 D. Collins Wivenhoe 2003 S. Vears Frinton 1976 C. Clark Dovercourt 2004 A. Jeffery Wivenhoe 1977 G. Cook York Road 2005 P. Diggle Thorpe 1978 J. Andrews Clacton 2006 S. Vears Frinton 1979 G. Self Wivenhoe 2007 S. Vears Frinton 1980 F. Stenlake Clacton 2008 S. Sheaf Frinton 1981 P. Lungley Dovercourt 2009 D. West Frinton 1982 P. Halligan Wivenhoe 2010 P. Diggle Thorpe 1983 R. Wurr Clacton 2011 S. Vears Frinton 1984 C. Seager Clacton 2012 D. Bloom Dovercourt 1985 I. Mahon Brightlingsea 2013 S. Vears Frinton 1986 H. Taylor Thorpe 2014 D. Wright Frinton 1987 L. Cory Wivenhoe 2015 P. Diggle Thorpe 1988 L. Freeman York Road 2016 P. Halliday Happy Valley 1989 F. Hodgson Wivenhoe 2017 A. Baxter Happy Valley 1990 A. Foster Wivenhoe 2018 P. Halliday Happy Valley 1991 G. Self Wivenhoe 2019 D. Williamson Brightlingsea 1992 F. Hodgson Wivenhoe 2020 No Competition (COVID) 1993 G. Self Wivenhoe

THE PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP (R.H. FLEMING TROPHY) 1974 J. Walker F. Sharman Happy Valley 1997 A. Foster F. Hodgson Wivenhoe 1975 P. Spall D. Collins Wivenhoe 1998 T. Doze R. Plummer York Road 1976 V. Barkham A. Ortis York Road 1999 W. Hawes R. Anthony Happy Valley 1977 G. Allenobe G. Watton Happy Valley 2000 R. Oldfield M. Benz Wivenhoe 1978 D. Collins B. Neville Wivenhoe 2001 D. Bloom T. Stevens Thorpe 1979 D. Collins B. Neville Wivenhoe 2002 G. Dansey S. Clubb Wivenhoe 1980 J. Jones A. Ortis York Road 2003 F. Dean T. Stevens Thorpe 1981 W. Welton K. Eastwick Clacton 2004 S. Sheaf B. Johnson Frinton 1982 W. Weedon R.L. Faint Brightlingsea 2005 D. Hemstedt S. Hale Frinton 1983 R. Metcalfe E. Warner York Road 2006 B. Box R. Groves Parkeston 1984 W. Hawes J. Leaves Happy Valley 2007 T. Stevens R. Marrable Thorpe 1985 M. Sexton P. Halligan Wivenhoe 2008 R. Kendall T. Graham Clacton 1986 K. Smith J. Walker Clacton 2009 P. Diggle T. Stevens Thorpe 1987 P. Rogers R. Rogers Clacton 2010 M. Garrett A. Twells Wivenhoe
1988 R. Varnara A. Day Thorpe 2011 P. Diggle P. Ayling Thorpe 1989 K. Jackson A. Smith Happy Valley 2012 A. Twells A. McKillop Wivenhoe 1990 F. Greenaway E. Birking Frinton 2013 C. Seager B. Jones Clacton 1991 G. Self M. Sexton Wivenhoe 2014 A. Brown J. Burgess Wivenhoe 1992 C. Cannell M. French Brightlingsea 2015 M. Hemstedt C. Mathers Brightlingsea 1993 K. Duffett R. Oldfield Wivenhoe 2016 M. Hemstedt C. Mathers Brightlingsea 1994 D. Noble B. Newby Kirby 2017 B. Hopkins M. Hale Dovercourt 1995 P. Mutton S. Smith Happy Valley 2018 A. Todd R. Buckland Dovercourt 1996 M. Mason R. Buckland Dovercourt 2019 K. Jackson D. Chase Frinton 2020 No Competition (COVID)
MIXED PAIRS 2016 A.Twells & Mrs. M. Twells Wivenhoe 2017 P. Halliday & Mrs M. Crane Happy Valley 2018 A.Twells & Mrs. M. Twells Wivenhoe 2019 P. Halliday & Mrs. J. Flatman Happy Valley 2020 No Competition (COVID) THE TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIP (SHELDRAKE JUBILEE CUP 1973) 1973 Thorpe le Soken 1997 Frinton 1974 Wivenhoe 1998 Brightlingsea 1975 Happy Valley 1999 Thorpe 1976 Clacton 2000 Frinton 1977 Wivenhoe 2001 Wivenhoe 1978 Dovercourt 2002 Wivenhoe 1979 Wivenhoe 2003 Parkeston 1980 Wivenhoe 2004 Brightlingsea 1981 Kirby le Soken 2005 Happy Valley 1982 Parkeston Railway 2006 Brightlingsea 1983 Happy Valley 2007 Dovercourt 1984 Thorpe le Soken 2008 Dovercourt 1985 Happy Valley 2009 Dovercourt 1986 Clacton 2010 Wivenhoe 1987 Clacton 2011 Brightlingsea 1988 Wivenhoe 2012 Clacton 1989 Thorpe le Soken 2013 Clacton 1990 Clacton 2014 Thorpe 1991 Brightlingsea 2015 Brightlingsea 1992 Wivenhoe 2016 Dovercourt 1993 Thorpe le Soken 2017 Brightlingsea 1994 Thorpe le Soken 2018 Frinton 1995 Wivenhoe 2019 Brightlingsea 1996 Wivenhoe 2020 No Competition (COVID) FOUR WOOD SINGLES (V. BARKHAM TROPHY) 1969 A. Keep Wivenhoe 1995 S. Hale Happy Valley 1970 C. Chatten York Road 1997 C. Cannell Happy Valley 1972 T. Cordwell Clacton 1998 S. Walsh Thorpe 1973 D. Collins Wivenhoe 1999 R. Faint Brightlingsea 1974 T. Strathdee Frinton 2000 K. Jackson Happy Valley 1975 C. Clark Dovercourt 2001 D. Polley Happy Valley 1976 B. Neville Wivenhoe 2002 M. Benz Wivenhoe 1977 P. Spall Wivenhoe 2003 H. Van. Hanegem Brightlingsea 1978 D. Collins Wivenhoe 2004 S. Sheaf Frinton 1979 G. Self Wivenhoe 2005 S. Sheaf Frinton 1980 P. Spall Wivenhoe 2006 A. Twells Wivenhoe 1981 D. Bull Wivenhoe 2007 P. Ward Happy Valley 1982 K. Eastwick Clacton 2008 M. Hemstedt Clacton 1983 R. Faint Brightlingsea 2009 D. Bloom Dovercourt 1984 G. Self Wivenhoe 2010 T. Cook Frinton 1985 I. Mahon Brightlingsea 2011 D. Bloom Dovercourt 1986 I. Mahon Brightlingsea 2012 D. Bloom Dovercourt 1987 W. Hawes Happy Valley 2013 B. O’Connor Frinton 1988 R. Sinclair Thorpe 2014 T. Cook Frinton 1989 A. Day Thorpe 2015 P. Halliday Clacton 1990 W. Head Thorpe 2016 R. O’Connor Thorpe 1991 C. Cannell Brightlingsea 2017 A. Baxter Happy Valley 1992 D. Bloom Parkeston 2018 B. Halliday Happy Valley 1993 G. Self Wivenhoe 2109 P. Halliday Happy Valley 1994 J. Moody Brightlingsea 2020 No Competition (COVID) RINK CHAMPIONS (MAURICE STANFORD MEMORIAL CUP) 1983 Thorpe 2002 Happy Valley 1984 Wivenhoe 2003 Thorpe 1985 Frinton 2004 Clacton 1986 Frinton 2005 Dovercourt 1987 York Road 2006 Thorpe 1988 Frinton 2007 Frinton 1989 Parkeston 2008 Wivenhoe 1990 Dovercourt 2009 Clacton 1991 Happy Valley 2010 Parkeston 1992 Clacton 2011 Brightlingsea 1993 Happy Valley 2012 Parkeston 1994 Frinton 2013 Frinton 1995 Brightlingsea 2014 Wivenhoe 1996 Parkeston 2015 Dovercourt 1997 Brightlingsea 2016 Brightlingsea 1998 Wivenhoe 2017 Brightlingsea 1999 Happy Valley 2018 Clacton 2000 Wivenhoe 2019 Thorpe 2001 York Road 2020 No Competition (COVID)

Brightlingsea won the league in 1934 & 1935
The picture shows the league winning players outside their Brightlingsea clubhouse in 1934.

Frinton then took control of the league winning in 1936 and in 1937.

It was at this time that the lady bowlers were gaining strength in this area of Essex with the first inter-county match being played in Colchester with some local bowlers involved. A newspaper reporter stated that “Many men have expressed their surprise at the grace and skill exhibited by the ladies. However, bowls is a game pre-eminently suited to women and is free from all those harmful violent forms of physical exertion which I deplore among the fair sex”. “The ladies know how to dress and in this respect are a pattern the men could well follow. A tailored coat and skirt, three-quarter length in cream serge with white jumper or blouse, brown shoes, brown stockings and white felt hat, and very nice too. It makes the men seem quite agricultural”.

For some unknown reason Brightlingsea dropped out of the league in 1938 and the same year a new name went onto the league trophy Parkeston Railway. Brightlingsea were still missing in 1939 when Wivenhoe won the league and at that time all competition stopped on the commencement of WW2.

Part 2 – 1946 to 1957
During the war years some clubs continued to operate but the Tendring Hundred Bowling League shut down until early 1946 when a meeting was attended by representatives from Wivenhoe, Parkeston, Brightlingsea & Frinton together with Kirby & Brantham who now joined this group.
Parkeston reported that their green was not yet repaired after being damaged by enemy bombs and the greens at both Kirby and Frinton were unplayable. Clubs discussed playing some league matches on neutral greens or home & away matches on the same green but with only Wivenhoe, Brightlingsea & Brantham having greens ready the League Secretary cancelled the 1946 league. The clubs met again in January 1947 and agreed that the league would resume with six clubs, Brantham, Brightlingsea, Kirby, Wivenhoe, Mistley & Maningtree and Frinton Queens.
With a shortage of players at most clubs it was proposed that lady members be eligible to be registered for the men’s teams – the proposal was accepted. Brantham won the first post war league title.

Some sort of upset occurred in 1948 and Brightlingsea withdrew their EBA & ECBA affiliation but then received a stiff letter from the Group 1 officers warning them that in future Brightlingsea would not be able to play any affiliated club. Brightlingsea rescinded their withdrawal.

Brantham continued to show their strength winning the league again in 1948 and in 1949 when they also won the first TH Triples Competition which was played at each club and the finals played at Kirby The prize was £3.3s.0d.

At this time Holland-on-Sea had two clubs and they both joined the Tendring Hundred Bowling League in 1950.

The oldest, established in 1935, were based at the Roaring Donkey Public House and the other, established in 1949, was in York Road. The Roaring Donkey Club was officially known as Holland-on-Sea B.C. and consequently the other club became known as York Road B.C. Mistley & Manningtree won the league, Wivenhoe the Triples and Brantham a new TH Fours competition.

Happy Valley B.C. were formed in late 1950, had their first season in 1951 when they were also elected to join the Tendring League. Mistley & Manningtree won the league again in 1951 heading Frinton on shot difference.

At this time the league agreed to pay 10 shillings to the greenkeeper where competition finals were held. At the AGM in 1952 Clacton were invited to join the league but for some unknown reason they declined and in fact did not join the league until 1963. Mistley & Manningtree became league champs again in 1953 and were presented with a photograph of their winning team.

In the Tendring area there were many very good lady bowlers but they were yet to establish a ladies league so at the TH League AGM a lady, Miss Culling (1938 National singles winner), became the Brightlingsea delegate and together with other ladies was allowed to enter the men’s TH Competitions.

York Road won the league for the first time in 1954 with Brightlingsea so short of players they struggled to complete their fixtures and finished bottom. Evening league matches started in 1955 with Kirby winning the league just ahead of Holland’s Roaring Donkey club.

Another first in 1955 was a lady winning a TH Competition – Brightlingsea’s Miss Culling became the TH 4 wood singles champion.

In 1956 after an objection about rinks selected for league play, it was agreed that prior to play the score cards would be placed face down and the visiting captain would have the right to nominate the rink numbers – a procedure we still continue to follow.

Happy Valley were suddenly faced with increased season ticket charges by Clacton Council and in 1957 were forced to resign from the TH League when the Council terminated the use of their green. The club had no option but to disband. We would not see them return to league play again until 1965.

2017 NEWS
PARKSTON RAILWAY CLOSE DOWN

Parkeston Railway were founded in 1929 and joined the Tendring Hundred League in 1933. With them in the league at that time were Brightlingsea, Frinton Queens, Frinton Town, Elmstead Market, Walton –on- Naze & Wivenhoe.

Parkeston soon became a very active and competitive club winning the league in 1938. There was then a wartime break and a post war period when the club facility had to be rebuilt. Parkeston came back strongly with players winning the County Pairs in 1950 and there membership grew.

The club have continued to give support to the Association with members on Association committees and holding the position of Association President in 1987 and in 1997.

Their last league match was last Thursday 7th September 2017 in the Windsor League when they entertained Kirby B.C. and won by 6 points to 4.