The 2024 Provincial Charity Bowling Tournament took place at Fox Lane Sports and Social Club, Leyland. The organising committee arrived at 8:30am on a dull damp morning to find the groundsman already hard at work preparing both greens for our event.
We must give full credit to the hard-working groundsman at Fox Lane Sports and Social Club who single-handedly turned two dew-soaked bowling greens into excellent playing surfaces by the time the contesting brethren arrived at 9:30am.
The tournament secretary Trevor Barber had already prepared his tournament plan. As the brethren arrived, they were registered so the draw could be made for order of play. Refreshments were available from the bar, drinks and various hot cooked breakfasts and lunches were available throughout the day.
As the clouds cleared, the sun shone brightly and remained for the rest of the day. Play started on time at 10:00am with 26 contesting brethren from various groups in the West Lancashire Province, five pairs playing on both bowling greens till all the first-round matches had been completed. The winners of each match were entered into the main Cowper Trophy competition the losers into the McGibbon Cup Competition.
Both competitions were now conducted on a knock out system, the winner going through to play in the next round. The standard of bowling was excellent improving with every round as the determination to win grew stronger and stronger. The finalists for the Cowper Trophy were Keith Carter (Fylde Group) against Paul Davies (Wigan Group) and the McGibbon Trophy, Peter Schofield (Chorley and Leyland Group) against Jeff Brookes (Warrington Group). Keith Carter went on to win the Cowper Trophy 21 – 19 after a hard-fought contest and Peter Schofield won the Mc Gibbon Trophy 15 – 6.
Throughout the day the event was attended by; Deputy Provincial Grand Master and vice patron Frank Umbers, Tournament Vice Chairman Geoffrey Porter, Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, Peter Lockett. Duncan Smith and Stuart Boyd, Assistants to the Provincial Grand Principles Paul Hesketh and John Robbie Porter, group chairmen Jonathan Heaton, Steve Jelly, Patrick Walsh and John Cross.
Due to the late change of date the President Michael Tax was unable to attend and Vice President David Rigby was suffering with Covid. Happily, the incoming President Mark Humphrey and Vice President Mike Silver were present.
The awards ceremony was opened by Trevor Barber, who after thanking all for attending introduced Harry Cox, the Tournament Chairman. Harry welcomed all and presented apologies from those who were unable to attend. John Cross, the Chairman of North Fylde Group, presented a cheque for £1,500 on behalf of the host Fylde Groups to Harry Cox. Harry thanked the host groups for this sum and their generosity, and also brethren, families and friends and all those from the host groups who assisted in preparing for and running the tournament.
The total contributions for this tournament will not be known for a few more weeks. For everyone’s information our last tournament in 2023 hosted by The Wigan and Leigh Groups raised £2,500 for West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and £500 for the host groups’ choice, Wigan & Leigh Hospice.
Moving on to the presentation of prizes, Trevor invited Frank Umbers to start the presentation of trophies and prizes. Frank Umbers presented the Cowper Trophy to Keith Carter of the Fylde Group and the runner up Crewdson Trophy to Paul Davies (Wigan Group). Duncan Smith presented the third and fourth place prizes (a pewter hip flask) to Bill Richmond (The Lancaster and District Group) and Robert Stafford (The Fylde Group).
Stuart Boyd presented the fifth and sixth place prizes (a Masonic wallet) to John Bimpson (Wigan Group) and Ian Tupling (Ormskirk Group). Paul Hesketh presented the seventh and eighth place prizes (Masonic cufflinks) to John Medcalf (Ormskirk and Bootle Group) and David Anderson (Warrington Group). Frank Umbers presented the secondary prize, the McGibbon Trophy and a bottle of malt whisky to Peter Schofield (Chorley and Leyland Group) and runner up prize, a bottle of blended whisky, to Jeff Brookes (Warrington Group).
Harry Cox closed the ceremony by thanking the president Michael Tax and vice president David Rigby for donating first and second place prizes. He also thanked David Bradshaw and the team from Fox Lane Sports & Social Club. He went on to thank the secretary Trevor Barber, treasurer Len Hart, assistant secretary Keith Carter and all the bowling reps across the Province, for without them this event would not be possible. He wished everyone a safe journey home and hoped to see them all again next year for the tournament on 19 July 2025.
Written by Keith Carter, Assistant Secretary West Lancashire Masonic Charity Bowling Tournament.