AGE Concern

Updated 19/08/2026

Opponents for 2026 

Aldiss Park Woodpeckers -  Norwich Road, Dereham, NR20 3PX

Cringleford Patterson Room  -  Newmarket Road, Cringleford, NR4 6UE

Hethersett Social Club  -  38 Queen's Road, Hethersett, NR9 3DB

Saxon  -  54b Norwich Road, Wymondham, NR18 0NT -  ( NB Saxon are playing home matches at Wymondham Dell ) 

Shotesham  -  The Street, Shotesham, NR15 1XJ

Thorpe Rec.  -  Laundry Lane, Norwich,  NR7 0XQ

Wymondham Dell  -  54b Norwich Road, Wymondham, NR18 0NT

 

All matches start at 2pm

Members should refer to the play schedule issued on Registration Day and published in the clubhouse to confirm when they are scheduled to play.

Members unable to play on selected dates are asked to contact Karen Smith, Secretary and AGE Concern Captain, as early as possible before the match day.

Through the AGE Concern League the Club has also entered the Mrs Clifford King Cup (Horsford, Saturday 6th June) and the Joe Taylor Memorial Trophy Tournament (Hunstanton, Wednesday 2nd September). Further details of these will be posted in the Clubhouse. 

Match Reports and League

Match reports and league tables will appear below the fixtures table.

Updated 07/08/2026

Match Reports

Shotesham - Home - 17th August

On Rink 1, Phil Downs and Patrick Hurst Skipped by Ivan Freedma contested a very tight game with the score  seven shots all after ten ends. After the fourteenth end they had a lead of two shots and then pick up five and one shot on the last two ends to achieve an eighteen to ten victory.

On Rink 2, Ivan Howman Skipped Pat lockwood and Pat Goody against a team of two as Shotesham were a player down. After end four they trailed by four shots but picked up five shots on the next end to go ahead by one shot. Leading seven shots to six. They then gradually edged ahead losing only two of the remaining eleven ends to win by twenty shots to ten.

The overall match result was Priory Garden 38, Shotesham 20. Another six points gained by the Priory Garden team.

Ivan Howman 

 

Hethersett Social Club - Away - 5th August

After a slow start for our team, skipped by Ivan Howman with Mike Attwell in lead and Karen Smith as second, after being 12 shots down to 2 shots after 6 ends, we won the next 6 ends to be drawing 12 shots to 12 shots after 12 ends. We then took the lead in the next end by 2 shots.  However, our opponents switched their lead player with their second player and stormed ahead in the final 3 ends winning 3 shots per end with a final score of 21 to Hethersett Social and 14 to Priory Gardens.

Our other team, skipped by Phil Downs with Pat Goody in lead and Bet Davies in second were winning by 13 shots to 6 shots after 12 ends but our opponents made a steady recovery after our opponents also switched players,  with a final score of 14 shots to Priory Gardens and 13 shots to Hethersett Social securing 2 points to us.

Sadly we were beaten on total shots so we lost 4 points to 2 points.

Karen Smith - AGE Concern Captain

 

Thorpe Rec - Home - 31st July 

Unfortunately, our opponents were held up in traffic so we got off to a late start and it certainly wasn't a good start for us!

Our team, skipped by Mike Betts with Bet Davies in lead and Karen Smith in second were trailing after 4 ends with 7 shots to zero but in end 5, we scored 5 shots.  By end 14, we were level with 13 shots each but Thorpe Rec scored 3 shots in end 15 leaving an impossible task to do in end 16. Despite all our team's best efforts, we managed to win the last end with 2 shots with an overall score of 16 shots to our opponents and 15 shots to us.

On the other rink, our team with Ivan Howman as skip, Pat Lockwood in lead and Derrick Kemp as second were losing by 10 shots to 2 shots after 8 ends, but then Derrick's family arrived, supporting over the fence! Clearly this encouragement  helped as our team then went on to win 7 out of the 8 ends in the second half resulting in a draw of 11 shots each.

Sadly, we lost overall by just 1 shot meaning our opponents were awarded 5 points and the Priory Gardens BC 1 point.

Karen Smith - AGE Concern Captain

 

Saxon - Home - 29th July 

Our home match got under way against Saxon after a discussion as to how many ends we should play in the extreme heat. These 'hardy' players of both teams agreed to play the full 16 ends with a break after 8 ends.

During the first half, our team headed by Ivan Howman, with Karen Smith in lead and Jonathan Cobbold in 2nd had stormed ahead at 10 shots to 4.  Our other team, skipped by Ivan Freedman, with Sue Betts as lead and Howard Fuller in 2nd  however, were trailing by 13 shots to 4 shots.

What a comeback in the second half by Ivan Freedman's team when they scored two consecutive 5 shots in ends 10 and 11 putting them into the lead by one shot. There was no stopping them after this with a very convincing win of 19 shots to 14 shots.  However, sadly Ivan Howman's team lost the lead in the second half and were pipped at the post by 16 shots to 15 shots.

A tremondous effort by everyone and a well-earned 4 points to our team out of a possible 6 points.

Karen Smith - AGE Concern Captain

 

Wymondham Dell (Green) – Away – 20th July 

This return match against our neighbouring Club in Wymondham got under way with full steam from both our teams.  Our team, skipped by Ivan Howman with Stuart Aldis and Phil Downs took the lead by 5 shots to 2 after 5 ends but the Dell slowly worked their way back into the match leading by 7 shots to 6 after 10 ends.  Unfortunately, our opponents secured a further 3 shots in end 11 but, by end 14, the Priory had recovered to make it 10 -10.  Sadly, we were pipped at the post in the final two ends losing 10-13. 

On the other rink, our team, skipped by Ivan Freedman, with Mike Attwell and Mike Betts stormed ahead from the very beginning and were leading by 16 shots to 6 by the ninth end.  The Dell did their best to recover but our “boys” were on form and couldn’t be caught, securing a victory of 21 to 11 shots, ensuring we won overall with 4 points out of 6. 

Well played by everyone and it was a pleasure to watch and support our team on a lovely sunny afternoon

Karen Smith – Age Concern Captain

 

Shotesham - Away - 17th July

On a bright sunny day the Priory Garden team, much changed from their previous match, failed to build on their recent achievements. Both rinks took a few ends to come to terms with a Green slower than that to which they are accustomed. As they began to read the Green an evenly balanced match evolved between the teams with the number of ends won between the two sides being almost equal. The finalmatch score was Shotesham 33 shots, Priory Garden 21 shots.

Ivan Howman 

Cringleford - Home - 13th July

A very warm and blusterly day was the setting for the return match against Cringleford. Both Priory Garden rinks were changed compared to the previous encounter and an enjoyable afternoon of bowls was had by all. Ivan Freedman, John Austin and Sue Betts contested a very tight game. After an early lead they were pegged back during the middle ends but recovered to lead by one shot with two ends to go. Unfortunately they couldn't maintain their comeback and finished the game losing by two shots. 

On the other rink, Stuart Aldis and Mike Betts, skipped by Ivan Howman led from the start and, although the visitors changed Skip after eight ends, went on to win by sixteen shots to six.

With the rinks shared, the overall match score was Priory Garden 26, Cringle 18, securing another four points for the home team.

Ivan Howman

 

Cringleford - Away - 6th July

Our third match of the season was played on a very hot afternoon, but we managed the 16 ends with wonderful hospitality from our opposing team.

Karen Smith and Jonathan Cobbold, skipped by Ivan Freedman were trailing by 4 shots after 9 ends but it all changed on the next end when they scored 4 shots to bring them even at 10-10 after 10 ends and put them back in the game. Priory then stormed ahead winning overall 19 to 11.

On the other rink, Pat Goody and Derrick Kemp skipped by Pat Hurst were also trailing after 9 ends and were 5 shots down.  This, however, didn’t deter the Priory and they came fighting back and, after 15 ends, were down by just one point at 16 to 15.  It was all down to the last end and they succeeded in winning the last shot to make it a draw at 16-16.

Well done to both rinks.  The overall score was Cringleford 27, Priory Gardens 35 securing us 5 points out of 6 points. 

Karen Smith - AGE Concern Captain

 

Mrs Clifford King Challenge Cup - 6th June

Congratulations to Bruno (Brian) Sturman, Ivan Freedman and Ivan Howman for their success in this season's tournament. 

After playing in the rain for the entire morning session the rink went into the lunchbreak with a 100% winning record and a healthy shot difference. Following lunch they continued their winning ways and, after only being behind for one end during the whole tournament, finished with a maximum eight points and a positive shot difference of twenty-eight.

This is the first season for many years in which the Club has entered the tournament and the first time they have won it since 1987. Previous wins in this tournament were in 1981, 1979 and 1975 when it was shared with Aylsham.

Ivan Howman

 

Thorpe Rec - Away - 29th May

The first away match of the season saw the Priory Garden Team return with all six points. 

John Austin and Howard Fuller, skipped by Ivan Howman trailled by six shots after dropping five shots on the second end. They then edged their way back into the contest and after taking a one shot lead after end twelve went on to win by thirteen shots to twelve.

On the other rink, Jonathan Cobbold and Ivan Freedman, skipped by Mike Betts were two shots ahead at the mid-point of the game and then took command of the Rink and went on to win by twenty shots to eleven.

Well done to both Rinks. 

The overall match result was Thorpe Rec. 23, Priory Garden 33, adding 6 points to the seasons total.

Ivan Howman

 

Wymondham Dell (Green) - Home - 28th May

Following the postponment of the first match the league season finally got under way with a match against neighbouring Wymondham, who this season have two teams in the competition. Priory Garden entertained the Dell Green team.

Well done to Howard Fuller and Pat Hurst, skipped by Mike Attwell, who contested an evenly balanced game coming from 2 shots down after end 13 to win by 15 shots to 13.

Derrick Kemp and Bet Davies, skipped by Ivan Howman, also contested a tight game and although taking 4 shots on end 9 to make the score 9 all, they dropped 6 shots on end 11 which they could not recover. The game ending in a 12 shots to 20 loss for the home rink.

The overall match result was Priory Garden 27, Dell Green 33. Giving the home side 2 points to start the season.

Ivan Howman