Hi there, I'm Janet and I would like to introduce Lea Short Mat Bowling Club to you.  I have  enjoyed playing there for more years than I like to remember.

As From the date of the 2008 AGM the following members are appointed to the Managment Committee

          Chair person   :  Don Dickenson       Secretary  : Jack Smith  

Treasurer : Ieuan Roberts    Internal Comps Secretary : June Smith

Committee Member Ken Ambury

The Lea Bowling Club

Lea Short Mat Bowling Club, was  formed in 1991, when a few enthusiasts got together in April to play in the new Village Hall.  The group blossomed from the original sixteen, to some forty members over the next few years. 

In 1992, under the inspiratation of Norman Davies, the chariman of Lea Short Mat Bowling Club, Lea joined with Fownhope SMBC to pioneer the formation of a County Short Mat Bowling Association. Only two clubs in Hereforshire were interested in this move at the time. Therefore, the orginal association was formed with three clubs from Gloucestershire, Listers, Quedgeley and Brockweir in the Forest of Dean. This joint arrangement remained until 1999 when by mutual agreement each county formed its own seperate association.

Today the club has a membership of 22, and is affiliated to the National ESMBA through the Herefordshire Short Mat Bowling Association, it has a team in the senior league of the county.

During the summer months, internal competitions are organised. these consist of singles, doubles triples and fours. Winners are presented with trophies or cups at our annual dinner in Aprilof the following year. 

In 2006 we were able to raise £510 for Sport Relief by 'Walking and Bowling a Mile' This was a unique way of bowling using two mats side by side, not for the faint hearted! For more details see below under the title Bowl a Mile.

We enjoy entering bowling competitions organised in aid of charities, these are very popular with club members.

Friendly matches are also arranged between Lea club and other clubs, particularly we seek to encourage  newer clubs wishing to gain experience.  During the winter - October to April - Lea SMBC  have a team playing  in the Herefordshire Senior League.

Lea SMBC members may play in a national competition, with the winners from Herefordshire qualifying to play against winners from other counties. The finals of this national competition are normally played at Kettering.

Recently some of our members have helping the players at a newly formed club at Long Hope in Gloucestershire  (June 08)

Club members with their 'Bowl a Mile' certificates

Club Badge

Friendly match against Quedgeley 2006

First Match at Lea Village Hall

Ieuan Roberts winner of the Bill Smith Trophy 2006

with Mrs Rachel Smith 

 donor of the cup

Cutting the cake

Lea and Bartestree players at the inaugaration of this Web Site

The Beginnings at Lea Village Hall

In 1991, Lea Village residents, replaced an older leisure centre with a new Village Hall, situated in a playing field behind the Primary School. It was in the same year, seven years after the formation of a national association, that a group of enthusiasts came together to form the Lea Short Mat Bowling Club.

Although Lea Village Hall was not due to open officially until August, Lea Short Mat Bowling Club bowled their first woods in April. Mr Norman Davies, the first Chairman, and founder member was given the honour, in front of fifteen other would-be bowlers who constituted the club membership. Rolf Zimmermann the first Captain of Lea club, is still a valued member, playing  regularly in club and league.

At one time membership ran at forty, but generally a number between twenty and thirty has been maintained. This is a viable number allowing the club to field a team able to challenge most other clubs in the Herefordshire league.

Meeting regularly on Tuesday evenings and Thursday afternoons the club is a ‘Mecca’ of social and sporting activity for people of the area, always enjoying a good ‘chat’ in the half time coffee and biscuits break. All visitors will find a warm welcome and a hand of friendship.