The Ronald

Paston Cup  

This cup was presented to Cuddington B.C. by Charles Paston and is inscribed - “In memory of the lads, including my son, Ronald, who spent their younger days on the sports grounds in the Borough of Sutton and Cheam and would have possibly become our future bowlers, but who lost their lives during the war”. (1939 - 1945)  The cup was competed for by the champions of the clubs which played on greens in parks belonging to the Borough, that is Cheam Park (not Peaches Close), Cuddington, Rose Hill, Sutton Common and NALGO.  After the 1955 A.G.M. Cuddington B.C. offered the cup to the Association for competition between champions of all the clubs affiliated to the Association.

Of the current members of Epsom Bowling Club there are only two members who have won the coveted Ronald Paston Cup.

Graham Pilbrow has won the cup for a record six times (1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 2008 & 2009).  He has also been runner up on one occasion (2002).

The other winner is Les Owen (1999). John Huxford was a Finalist in 2014.

The President’s Bowl

There was no trophy for the Paston Cup runner up until 1967 when an 8” high silver bowl was presented.  It is not known who presented this bowl, but that year H. A. Sandall of Banstead Neville was President of the Association. His wife, Mrs E. Sandall was President of Sutton & District Ladies the same year.  There may be some connection here, but it is unclear.

Graham Pilbrow was awarded this trophy in 2002.  John Huxford was the Finalist in 2014.

The

B.L.E.S.M.A.

Men's Pairs

B.L.E.S.M.A.

Ladies' Pairs

The correct name for this Trophy is The Elsie Blane Trophy.  The name was chosen by Ron Hart who at the time was Secretary of The Sutton & Merton District Branch of The British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association.  Elsie had been very helpful when Ron was setting up this branch circa 1950.  Elsie Emily Blane had been elected to serve the North West Ward of the Borough of Sutton & Cheam in May 1945 and she remained a Councillor until May 1958.  Sutton & Cheam had not at that time become part of Greater London.

The trophy was presented to Sutton & District Bowling Association at the first A.G.M. held on December 5^th 1950.  Originally the trophy was played for in a 15 ends pairs competition, held annually on the first three Sundays in September.  It is recorded that 78 pairs took part in 1954.  In 1955 £243 was sent to the new BLESMA home in Southsea.  That home is now closed, but the continued generosity of Sutton & District Bowling Association is recorded on a plaque in the BLESMA home in Blackpool.  The entry for the competition in 2002 was 116 pairs.

Epsom has never won the The Elsie Blane Trophy.

The Ladies' BLESMA Pairs started in 2018.

The Memorial Cup

This Cup is for the Runners Up of the BLESMA Pairs.  It was not presented until 1973.  The Cup was originally spotted in a cupboard, and was obviously not needed so it was thought it would be just right for the runners up.

There has only been one winner of this trophy from Epsom.  Peter Pearce and Les Owen lost in the final in 2000. (Les was a substitute for Jim Scott from the quarter finals).

The

Arthur Hughes Triples

This is a silver plated cup first presented in 1983.  Arthur joined Cuddington B.C. in 1975.  He is thought to have worked for some years in Government Service in South Africa.  He was captain of Cuddington in 1980.  Elected President of Sutton & District Bowling Association in 1982 he sadly died in December of the same year.  The cup was presented by his widow who, it is believed moved to the Isle of Wight.

Bill Lawrence, Bill Sandford & George Sperring reached the Semi Finals in 2004.

Epsom won this trophy for the first time in 2021. (Dave Pearce, David Bragg & Fred Read).

The Loriwyn Plate

This plate was first presented to the runners up in the Triples competition in 1984.  It was first mentioned at the Council Meeting held in October 1982.  Quote from the meeting - “The Loriwyn Trophy, the President enlightened the members more about the trophy and asked them to go away and think about the suggestion for a competition and report back at the AGM”  At the AGM it was said “…due to the absence of the Tour Secretary the question of the Loriwyn was not decided,  it is essential that something be agreed at the March meeting”.  Unfortunately the March minutes are not in the minute book!! - so will we ever know??

Epsom lost in the 1985 Final against Malden & Coombe B.C.  The team of L Crowhurst, W Stevens & B Jenner lost 13 - 20

The other success was when W Lawrence, W Sandford & G Sperring were beaten 16 - 19 in the semi final to Cheam.

The

Ted Peirce Trophy

This trophy was presented to the Association by Mrs Peirce in 1983.  W. E. (Ted) Pierce was a member of Cheam Village B.C. and was President of the Association in 1978 and Secretary  1967-81.  The singles competition is open to all Delegates, Officers, Life Members and Honorary Vice Presidents of the Association.

The Langham Tankard

This Tankard was first presented in 1984 to the runners up.  Apparently it may have originated from a tour.  W.C. Taylor of Epsom Court B.C. was President in 1984 and took his tour to Eastbourne.  Where else would they have stayed but The Langham Hotel.  The Tankard is not mentioned in the minutes.

The

St. Raphael’s Cups

There is no history attached to these cups (mixed pairs competition).  The suggestion for this competition came in 2003.

It seemed appropriate that the competition should start in 2004 because the Sisters, members of a nursing and teaching order founded in Belgium in 1883  “…for the education of girls, and the care of the sick” were celebrating their centenary at North Cheam.  They had purchased North Cheam house part of which was the original Lord Nelson coaching inn and seventeen acres of garden and orchard for £4,625.  The red brick building was built in 1914.  Work on the current hospital started in 1973.  In 1986 after consultation with the Regional Health Authority plans were drawn up to build a hospice.  The Sisters provided the site and paid for the building, but the running costs were, and still are, dependent upon voluntary donations and fundraising.  The Health Authority meet one third of the cost.  Apart from inpatient care the hospice provides specialist nurses for home care for all in need in the Boroughs of Sutton and Merton.

The winners cup was donated by Ken Shopland of Carshalton B.C.  The finalist’s cup was donated by Denis Austin of Worcester Park B.C.  The first venture into mixed matches had 107 pairs entering, and the Association donated £500 to the hospice.

Eileen Mills and Graham Pilbrow were Runners Up in this competition in 2005.

Sandra Huxford & David Sowdon won in 2011. Sandra & John Huxford won in 2016.