IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ! THE BOWLING GREEN AT BALAIA IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

THE CLUB HAS RELOCATED TO VALVERDE BC NEAR ALMANCIL AND SHARES WITH THEM
Rollup days and times during June and July will be MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS meet at 09:30 for 10.00 start

WINTER LEAGUE - BALAIA BOWLS CLUB WITHDRAW

It is with great regret that the Committee has withdrawn the Club from the Bowls Algarve winter league. The decline in membership since the loss of our green has not been arrested. We do not have enough players to commit to entering this winter. Those who are available to play will, we hope, form the core of a third team of Valverde Bowls Club. That arrangement is now being discussed with them.

We do intend to hold our own competitions as per this year, but in early 2026 rather than October and November as orginally planned. This will allow those who can only be here for a few short weeks to enter. More about that when the time comes.

Players can enter the Bowls Algarve Inter-Club competitions as in previous years.

THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB IS AT STAKE!

There has been a gradual decline in membership since we lost the green at Balaia in December 2023. This did not come as a surprise. The Committee is now considering the future. If you are reading this and live near Albufeira or Almancil (where we now play) and would like to play lawn bowls, please read on. . It doesn't matter if you haven't played for a while. Even if you have never played, the basics are easy to grasp! All you need to start with are a pair of flat shoes. We have sets of bowls that you can use. There is a charge for normal play, but we will consider a free introductory session for those really keen.

We are more than willing to get beginners into the game. If you are in any way interested, please contact our club captain Jill by email - captain@balaiabowls.org and many thanks in advance if you do.

BALAIA BOWLS CLUB COMPETITIONS 2025 - 2026

Members please note that the following WEDNESDAY afternoons have been booked for our club competitions - October 22nd and 29th; November 19th and 26th. We shall hold short game formats as last year for Open Singles; Men's Pairs and Mixed Pairs. The call for entries will go out early in September. For those not here until the Spring, it is planned to hold a supplementary Spring Cup probably in February. This may be singles or pairs, depending on numbers. Members will be contacted about this early in the New Year.

TOURING TEAM VISITS SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER

There will be a very busy programme of matches against touring teams during late September and pretty much right through October. In fact between September 29th and October 17th there will be a match EVERY DAY except Sundays. Plenty of opportunity for practice before the winter league season starts around the third week of October. The call for names will be going out early in September. Best way to get your name down is to go the Valverde Club and put it on the sheets when they are up.

BOWLS ALGARVE SUMMER LEAGUE CUP 2025

NO JOY AT THE ALVOR AUSTRALIAN PAIRS TOURNAMENT

Geoff Upton and Henk Veenstra faced tough opposition in the initial group stages and failed to qualify for the top spots. In the end, they finished third in the Plate round. At least they had some sunny days!

WINTER LEAGUE SEASON NOW OVER

After a poor start, during which we claimed only 32 points from out first ten matches, we improved considerably during the second half. We won four matches, tied one and lost another by only 1 point.
Many thanks to the 17 different players who represented the club. Season's complete results here. Now a few weeks off, games against tour sides excepted, before the summer league gets under way.

Final Table

Mixed Pairs Competition Monday 24th March

Six teams convened on a sunny afternoon after being denied by very stormy weather the previous week. Winners were Colin and Suzanne Le Poidevin, Runners-Up Pat Smith and Paul Frampton. Some pictures here.

Photos from the tour match on Friday 14th March and the Valverde BC presentation dinner. Alison, Jill and Roy were among the awards.

A rare sunny day. We had just finished the match when the rains came. To see the pictures, please click or tap this link.  Click a picture to see it in a larger size.

More success on the green!

Alison Wooding won the Valderde Ladies open singles on Thursday afternoon last week, playing Mary Lowe.The game was hurriedly brought forward to beat the expected bad weather.  Earlier in the week, David Brooks lost 14 - 21 to Russ Malin in the final of the Bowls Algarve two-wood singles. Well done to both. Jill Dunkey won the drawn pairs, playing with Jack Romano.

Balaia Bowls Club Open Singles Competition Monday 24th February

A nice sunny afternoon and some serious bowling.Henk Veenstra won all three group matches and his semi final to meet Gary Chadwick in the final. Gary qualified second in his group by virtue of shot difference, followed by a comprehensive semi-final win. Henk's bowling proved accurate over the eight ends final, giving him a winning margin of 10 - 5. Thanks to all those who took part and also to those helping out with the marking, a task vital to the smooth running of the afternoon. Click or tap a picture to see it in a larger size.

Balaia Bowls Club Men's Pairs Competition Monday 17th February 2025

A successful afternoon of mostly very close games. Each pair played matches of eight ends against the other three. Gary Chadwick + Gabriel Noonan won two matches as did Alan Camplin-Smith and Tom Allen. Gary and Gabriel won the trophy on overall shot difference +1 opposed to -4. Alan and Tom lost their first game heavily, the only one that wasn't close.
Click or tap a picture to see it full size, if you dare! Club captain Brian Denyer is in the centre of the right hand picture.

MEMORIAL DAY COMPETITION 2025

CANCELLED