Drum roll please for the Gloucester Ladies Skittles League who have been going for so many decades they’ve lost count. Wendy Campbell, who’s played in the league for 43 years and been secretary for nearly three decades, takes up the story.
‘The great thing about the League is that we get to play all round Gloucestershire,’ she says. ‘Every team has its own alley so there’s quite a bit of visiting pubs and clubs for all the matches. Everyone from those in their twenties to their 80s are involved. It’s very much the social side we enjoy, playing with family and friends. But I have to admit I do enjoy winning. I get annoyed with myself when I’m not playing well.’
The League currently boasts thirty teams across two divisions. Inevitably some teams faded away during Covid but constant efforts are in place to attract new younger members.
What makes a Gloucester Ladies league game different to others?
‘The social side extends beyond the alleys,’ says Wendy. ‘We organise Christmas get togethers and other events like our singles, pairs and triple pin competitions in May every year.’
Triple pin competitions are a speciality in Gloucestershire. The front pin known as the triple, is usually black and white and it has to be struck first for the player to score. So if the skittler knocks down several pins but not the triple, then the score is zero.
The winners and runners up of the two leagues win trophies and then are invited to compete in a four team event to decide the Champion of Champions. That team then goes home with another piece of silverware. This year’s proud winners were the Robinswood Ladies with Screwloose runners-up
Wendy also captains the Grasshoppers, who come away regularly on our Serious About Weekends. Once heard, they’re never forgotten. Instead of cheering and chanting, the team blow whistles every time a team member scores a spare or a strike
‘It could be worse,’ says Wendy. ‘We used to take away football rattles on tour! The year after Covid, we put our money where our mouth is, and actually dressed up as Grasshoppers for the fancy dress night party.’
