A Weekend to Remember

After settling into life at Hereford Bowling Club and writing about everything from breaking the stereotype around bowls to seeing what makes our club so special, I recently had the opportunity to experience something completely different.
A group of Hereford Bowling Club juniors (including me) had the privilege of representing Herefordshire at the White Rose in Oxford. It was my first White Rose, and what made it even more special was that it was the first time Herefordshire had entered a team in the competition for a number of years.

From the moment we set off for Oxford, you could tell it was going to be a memorable weekend. It wasn’t just about the bowls; it was about spending time with a brilliant group of people, representing the county, and experiencing one of the biggest junior competitions in England.

After arriving at the hotel, we headed out for a meal together, watched the football, and enjoyed the evening before the competition began the next day. To make the weekend even more entertaining, we introduced a fines system. What started as a bit of harmless fun somehow ended with us collecting an impressive £170 in fines between the five of us. Looking back, I’m still not entirely sure how we managed that!

Sunday was when the serious stuff began.
Walking onto the green wearing the Herefordshire badge and competing against such a high standard of opposition was a brilliant feeling. Although we didn’t manage to come away with a win, every game gave us the opportunity to test ourselves, learn from some outstanding young bowlers, and experience bowls at a very high level. Our final match wasn’t played, meaning we finished the weekend with three points, but the experience was worth far more than the results.

Personally, I was pleased to finish the weekend with a couple of shots I was really happy with in our final game. Having encouragement from our supporters gave me a real confidence boost and reminded me how important supporting one another is, regardless of the score.

One thing that really stood out throughout the weekend was the atmosphere. Every team was friendly, welcoming, and there to enjoy the competition. The format kept every game close and competitive, making for a fantastic showcase of junior bowls.
I’d also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who travelled over to support us throughout the weekend. Knowing people had given up their time to come and watch us represent Herefordshire meant a great deal to the whole team. Whether you were there for one game or stayed for the entire competition, your support never went unnoticed and was very much appreciated.

Looking back, the White Rose wasn’t just about results. It was about representing Herefordshire with pride, spending the weekend with a fantastic group of people, and creating memories that will stay with me for a long time.

The weekend gave me an even greater appreciation for bowls and showed me the opportunities the sport can offer. Hopefully this was the first of many White Rose appearances, and next time we’ll be aiming to come back even stronger… while maybe keeping the fines total below £170!

Cain Delahay
21st June 2026