The ABM Merchandise webshop is packed full of clothing goodies, including a range of technical polo shirts and T-shirts, along with some newly designed baseball caps. Just click on any of the items below to be taken to the shop…

supported by JAMES GESNER - ESTATE AGENTS -

Happy New Year, skittlers! We were back on the alley for the first games of 2026, and Gutter Nutters kicked things off with a thumping 10-0 win over Sianie’s Angels. Nutters were in imperious form, recording their highest total of the season (196) and the Angels just couldn’t live with them. Dave Quinn’s team hit two legs of 40+ and five out of six players whacked 32 or more - the best efforts came from Dave & Becks Hildred who both made 36. Ralph Weldon toppled 30 for the Angels. Gutter Nutters’ big victory moves them to just two points behind the leaders. The rest of the matches this week were closer affairs. Young & Bald overcame a spirited Big ‘Uns 6-4, hitting 182 pins in the process. Big ‘Uns started better, winning leg 1 35-30, but YAB were up and running in the 2nd with a 36- pin leg. Big ‘Uns hit straight back, taking a tight beer leg 38-35, and taking 5 drinks on the way, but YAB put on the afterburners and took the last two legs with scores of 41 & 42 with Will Marsden hitting an 11 spare in the last. Marcus Groves was top of the Young pile with 36, while Nick Cooper hit 30 for their opponents. Last Six won 6-4 against Spare Ribs in a lower scoring game. Six rushed out of the blocks, smacking 39 in the first, and followed up with the 2nd & 3rd to take the win, as Ribs struggled to get going. Things changed in leg 4, with Spare Ribs snatching the points by a single pin, and they followed up with their best leg of the game to win the last and bring an air of respectability to the match score. Brian Turner & Mick Keeler made 33s for Six, whilst Richard Wicks was prime Rib with 32. Lads’ Night Out had a similar 6-4 win over Splitz ‘n’ Giggles. Lads were at it from the off, rattling off leg scores of 39, 40 and 39 to take 6 points and the victory, but Splitz remained competitive and came good themselves in the end. They won legs 4 & 5 as the Lads wilted - all Splitz leg scores were between 33 & 35 pins with their 35 coming in the last. Ethan Gibbs was the player of the match with 37, backed by a new PB (34) for Josh Hart. Chairman Newton made 33 for LNO. Newcomers hit their best pin total of the season, and were rewarded with their biggest victory so far, 7-3 over Remnants. It was a quiet start, with the first leg drawn 28 pins all, and Remnants got their noses in front, winning leg 2, 31-29. A competitive beer leg (34-32) saw Newcomers level things up, and they hit top form as the match went on. A 12 spare from John Underhill helped them to 37 in the 4th, and a 38-leg followed to seal the win. John finished on 33 and Bill Bruty provided staunch support with 32. Alsorts managed a 7-3 victory over Absolutely Skittled, though both teams hit their lowest totals of the season. The first leg was the strongest for both sides and they shared the points, 36 pins each including a 9 spare from Danny Paxton for AbSki. ‘Sorts then took control, winning the next three legs and the match, though Skittled didn’t score higher than 28 in these. They did find some form in the last, taking 2 more points with a 33-30 leg win. Mark “Quiet Arm” Grainger finished with 33, and Ben Collis got to 30 for Skittled. Living On A Spare sneaked past Rollin’ Pins 6-4 in a close contest. Andy Bell’s team drew first blood, with the captain hitting a 9 at anchor to take the first, 37-34. LOAS struck back in leg 2, despite another 9 from Andy, and they took 5 out of 6 drinks on their way to a successful beer leg. Kieran Parsley hit 9 himself as Spares whacked 39 in the 4th for the game. Pins were back to their best in the last, with the returning Glenn Dearlove getting a 9 this time as they won out 40-37. Great individual scores in this one - Andy Bell hit the score of the week with 38, Kieran Parsley ended with 36 and there were 34s from Glenn Dearlove & Simon Clark. Finally, Maclean Smilers just squeaked a win over Late Knights in a low scorer. Leg 1 was the closest, Smilers taking the spoils by a single pin, but Knights were on the board in the 2nd with 32 pins. Macs were back in front after the beer (35-30) and had the match won by the end of leg 4. Knights finished strongly, hitting their best of the night in the last (33). Nathan Rickards was the only player to break 30 with his 33. 8 more games to come next week - see you down there…