"Hampshire's Premier Annual Bowling Event"
Sponsored by the Southampton District of the Oddfellows
Atherley Bowling Club – Headquarters & Finals Venue of the Southampton Open Bowls Tournament
The Southampton Open Bowls Tournament was first held in 1952, following the collaboration of Southampton Borough Leisure Services and the S&DBA, at the Southampton Sports Centre Greens, with a tent erected at the side of the green for the organisers! In the early days it was a “Men only” tournament of singles, pairs and triples competitions, with the finalists receiving prize money in the form of vouchers which could be spent in local shops.
As the popularity of the tournament grew other local Clubs were recruited as host greens for the early rounds and the prize vouchers were replaced with actual prize money. However, by the 1990’s a dispute between the two organisations led to the S&DBA assuming sole responsibility for the running of the event, which switched bases to the Atherley Bowling Club after they kindly offered the use of their greens and facilities as the new headquarters and finals venue for the tournament.
Over recent years the Tournament Committee has developed and improved the tournament, with the expansion of the competitions to include Ladies singles, pairs and triples and an open consolation pairs competition. Our tournament is fortunate to attract entries locally and from many other parts of the UK, the Channel Islands and we have even welcomed competitors from South Africa, Canada and the Netherlands over the years.
The ongoing success of the tournament has only been possible with the support of our various sponsors over the years, in particular our current
sponsors, the Southampton District of the Oddfellows, who have sponsored this event for over 20 years, the Atherley Bowls Club and our host Clubs, and all our Tournament Programme Advertisers, and we are most appreciate of their support.
Tournament Entries
Entry Forms are available to download on this website, with paper copies also available at all S&DBA Clubs and Channel Island Clubs from early April each year. They can be submitted either by post (with cheque payment) or by email (for Bac’s payment) Entries close each year on the 31st May.
Please note that the full entry fee’s must be paid for each competition entered, including for any “ANO” team members. It is also very important that the Entrants Contact & Payment Box on the Entry Form is fully completed, for Bac’s payment verification, for the organisers to be able to speedily contact entrants to advise of any late with drawls or changes to the draws, and to send your entry receipt via your email address?
Competitions Format
The Tournament is a weeklong annual event held during the last week in July, from Monday to Saturday.
Following the Opening Ceremony at Atherley BC at 9.45am on Monday morning, play commences in all the main competitions from 10am to 9pm
Monday to Friday as follows: 10am. Ladies & Men’s Pairs, 2.30pm Ladies & Men’s Singles & 6pm Ladies & Men’s Triples.
The Finals are played on Saturday Afternoon, with some morning Semi-Finals (dependant on entries for each competition) The Prize Presentation Ceremony takes place at approximately 5.30pm on Saturday with all Finalists in all 6 main Competitions receiving Commemorative Awards in addition to the Perpetual Trophies and Prize Money.
All Competitions are played under the current Bowls England laws and subject to the Tournament Regulations published on this website.
Tournament Programme Advertising
We are able to offer you Advertising space to promote your Business or Bowling Club in our Tournament Programme, as follows:
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Half Page Black & White Advertisement £35
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Full Page Black & White Advertisement £55
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Full Page Blue Colour Advertisement - Inside Back Cover £65 (subject to availability)
For more information or to place your order please contact: Kerry Clements: Tel: 02381 229774 or email: kcclements1@sky.com
