Welcome
The mens Berkshire (Berks) County indoor bowling association was formed in 1987 after splitting from Berks and Bucks CIBA. We have 4 clubs affiliated to the County, Desborough, West Berks, Rivermead and Whiteknights. Links to these clubs can be found at the bottom.
The aim of the Indoor County association is to look after and foster the game in Berkshire by playing matches against other Counties and our own clubs. We currently have around 200 County Bowler’s who apply to play in matches of their choice. In matches vs our own clubs, should they beat the County team they receive a bannerette.
The Counties competitive and best bowlers aim to to play in their Liberty team, a National knockout 6 rink competition against all counties in England. We have reached the final twice, coming runners up on both occasions to Durham. For those trying to get into the Liberty team we also play in the Home Counties League. Again 6 rink matches but these are restricted to no more than 8 Liberty players in the team.
On a domestic front each club supplies its winners in the Singles, Pairs, Triples and Four’s to compete in the Berkshire Champion of Champions. The winners of each then go on to represent Berkshire CIBA in the Home Counties League Championships the following season. Along with these there is also the inter club 6 rink knockout matches vs our own clubs, with each club fielding 2 rinks of unbadged players.
New Bowlers / Visitors
For all of the above to happen on a County level we rely heavily upon our clubs and their members. All of the clubs are keen to have new members, whether to play socially, in leagues, competitions and make the County or even International squads.
For anyone interested please approach your local club, links to our clubs websites are listed below.
Those selected to play for the Berks CIBA can enquire about a County shirt via the email icon above. Shirts currently cost £28.
2025
President Brain Jacobs handing over a cheque for £875 to Reading Family Aid.
County 2025 Tour
President Brian Jacobs took a party of 44 for the County weekend TOUR to Sussex
Very well looked after by the staff at Royal Norfolk Hotel in Bognor Regis
The Clubs at Arun, Preston, Palmerston and Egham, all did us proud
SCORES
ARUN stuffed us by 154 shots to 88
Top Rink CHRIS FREEMAN, BARRY CARTER, TOM SEARLE, KEN NASH
Managed to beat PRESTON by 108 Shots to 80
Top Rink FRED CLANFIELD, CHRIS FREEMAN, ALAN BROWN, JOHN MATTHEWS
Again successful against PALMERSTON by 96 Shots to 84
Top Rink MIKE DRINKWATER, BRIAN ILSLEY, JOHN MATTHEWS, KEN NASH
The weekend took it’s toll and we lost to EGHAM 101 Shots to 113
Top Rink ALAN BROWN, BRIAN JACOBS, TOM SEARLE, BRIAN AMOS
Ken Nash, who travelled up from Cornwall for the weekend, won the Clive Rippingale Trophy
for the individual scoring the most shots during the weekend—87
Jane Porter won the prize for guessing in advance the total number of shots
scored by BERKS CIBA over the 4 matches—393
A very successful and enjoyable 37th TOUR
Charity Information
CHARITY OLLIE YOUNG FOUNDATION
You can read all about the Foundation on Internet, but basically a registered charity which funds paediatric brain tumour research. It was launched in the memory of a brave little boy who lost his fight against an incurable brain tumour 1 day before his 6th birthday and only 12 weeks after displaying symptoms. There was no available treatment for Ollie, no cure, no hope.
Berkshire Bowlers Outdoor and Indoor and their County opponents have been supporting the cause for several years:-
| Steve Rushton | 3126.39 | Outdoor | |
| Jim Wood | 1050.21 | VP’s | |
| Les Pond | 557.95 | VP’s | |
| David Davies | 452.26 | VP’S | |
| Rob Taylor | 1661.53 | Indoor | |
| Maurice Rhymer | 196.40 | VP’s | |
| Peter Oakley | 646.33 | VP’s | |
| Rob Taylor | 1836.53 | Indoor | |
| Total to date | 9527.60 |
President Rob Taylor is collecting again this year and hopes donations will reach another 1.5k. Charity boxes are available at all County matches to include fines if you are unlucky enough to get one. (The answer is do not speak to the President or even look at him—anything is an excuse for a fine)
Those of us who have been lucky enough to bring up healthy children with pride and joy will struggle to understand what pain and anguish Ollie’s parents must have gone through—it does not bear thinking about. Hopefully our donations will help the future
Should anyone feel they wish to make a personal donation to this cause Steve Rushton or Rob Taylor would be happy to receive.
