The ABM Skittles Club was formed in 1964 and is one of the few skittles leagues outside of the hotbed of 9-pin skittles - the West Country. We play most weekday evenings (Monday to Thursday) throughout the year with both a Winter and a Summer league in full swing. We use traditional wooden balls and pins and our players range from 16 to 80 years of age. Although the league is competitive, most players are mainly attracted by the comradery - oh, and the low bar prices! If you are interested in joining us at the Wallingford Sports Park on Hithercroft Road, just pop down and watch a game - you will be made most welcome! Enjoy a drink from the bar. Alternatively, to find out more, email us at abmskittles@gmail.com

That's it for 2024, folks, and it's Lads' Night Out who go into the Christmas break at the top of the tree after a return to form this week in their 8-2 thumping of Big 'Uns. The Lads brought their A-game, hitting a 40 and two 39s in the first three legs to win the game. Big 'Uns were entitled to feel hard-done by, losing the beer leg by just 1 pin, but won a deserved 2 points in the 4th, before missing out by a single again in the last. Tom Morgan top-scored with 37, one of a host of 36+ scores this week; Bert Lovegrove & Jamie Purnell toppled 33 for Big 'Uns. Multiple league champions Last Six are ominously poised in second place after their 8th win in 10, this time 7-3 over Splitz 'n' Giggles. Six weren't at their best, but were strong in the 1st & beer legs, and sneaked over the line in the decisive 5th. Splitz captain Rob Perry hit a fine 33, and Angie Keeler's 32 puts her top of the women's averages and 14th overall. Young & Bald are turning heads in their first season, and are now on the same points as Last Six after their 6-4 defeat of Best Sellers. Sellers started off in control of this one, opening with a 41 leg, but YAB hit back with 37 in leg 2. Sellers counter-punched in the beer leg, taking it 36-34, and looked set in the 4th, but anchor Hoss stumbled and Derek Wilkins smacked 8 to steal. This gave the Young-uns real vim, and they won the decisive final leg. Will Marsden slammed his best ever score with 36, and Oliver Wilkins backed up with 34. Living On A Spare came up short against Alsorts, losing out in a tight contest 6-4. Alsorts took the lowish scoring 1st, but Spares whacked 38 in the second and won the beer leg 35-32 to put themselves in charge. ‘Sorts weren't cowed though, thumping 41 in the next, including an 11 spare from Richard Greenaway, to square the match. The last went down to the final ball, but LOAS captain Matt Wright fell just short and Alsorts won out. More 36s in this one, with both Matt & Richard hitting that mark. The biggest winners this week were the rampaging Spare Ribs, who steamrollered Maclean Smilers 10-0, hitting their best ever total (188) and joint highest ever individual score (41). James Billinge's massive return got the Ribs going in every leg, and the team followed suit gradually improving their scores to hit a massive 46 in the beer, followed by 43 in the 4th. Smilers were shell-shocked, and just couldn't keep up with their opponents. Richard Wicks (36) & Chris Bennett (34) provided ample support to the bobble-hatted genius of Billinge, whilst James Barlow struck 30 to stay at the top of the new player averages for another week. Last up, Newcomers overcame Late Knights 7-3 in a low scoring affair and moved up to 10th. Newcomers were quickly in control here, winning the first two legs, but weren't in thirsty mood - they lost 4 beers out of 6 but somehow still managed to draw the 3rd. A drink clearly did the Knights some good, and they comfortably took the 4th before Newcomers won out in the last. Graham Meacham's 30 was the best score in this one. So, there you have it - a third of the season done, plenty more twists and turns next year I reckon... See you down the alley in 2025!

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2024/5 WINTER LEAGUE

The ABM Merchandise webshop is still packed full of clothing goodies. Just click on any of the items on the right to be taken to the shop…

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