News

This year's AGM will be on Thursday 9 April 2026 at 7 pm.

Tom Branton left school at sixteen and started an apprenticeship with a company who designed, printed and made tins for Huntley and Palmer based in Reading. His career eventually led him to joining Thomas de La Rue in Basingstoke as a bank note designer and unknowingly you have had some of his designs in the palm of your hands when you have been abroad! A small exhibition of his work is available in the Club and prints will be available to purchase – details to follow.

Some of the money raised through raffles and donations has been used to purchase this rollator to assist those Club Members looking for somewhere to rest at the end of the rink during a game.

Pete Ward is through to the national final of Champion of Champions. And it's going to be just down the road in Poole, next week, Please sign up on the events board if you would like a lift or can offer a lift.

Tickets are available at the bar, you could win free membership for next year.

This season's quiz night will be on Friday 16th January at 6:30. We have room for 8 teams of 4 players. There will be jacket potatoes all round and prizes for the winners. To secure your place please pay at the bar by Tuesday 13th.

The second of our refurbished bar tables has arrived.   This one features Wilton. A huge thanks to Chris Marshall.

The closing date is 19th dec - next Friday! So sign up in the club or email John at competitions@fiveriversibc.com . You can sign up as a pair or individually, individuals will be sorted into pairs. Each game will be within a one or two week window so you can arrange a day and time to suit the players, like we did in the summer leagues.

There's still time to get your raffle tickets for next week's draw. They are on the table by rink 3. The draw will start at 7pm on Friday 12th, come & have a drink and a chat, doors open at 6:30. If you have a prize to donate please add it to the prize table by rink 4, or hand bottles to the bar for safe keeping.

The Five Rivers men's team played our second match against Banister Park IBC on Saturday. After a gallant effort  we  lost overall but Five Rivers did win on one rink away. Congratulations to  Paul Mortimer, Martin Berry, Michael Christodoulou and the skip Bob Armstrong for winning their rink.    With the one rink win Five Rivers pick up a point in the league table. Full results table is on the External leagues page.   Thank you all who played on Saturday.   Our next two matc

We had a great day of bowls with Waterside. Five Rivers won 3 of the 4 rinks. Well done everyone.

Don't forget to get your raffle tickets in time for the draw on 12th December. You can but tickets at the club, just write your name on the sheets provided and drop the money in a cash envelope in the safe. There is a table heaving with prizes, plus bottles in safe keeping.

This was a great afternoon of bowling, everyone enjoying themselves and having a good time. Very good play on both sides but Five Rivers managed to win the 3 rinks.

This year's race night will be on Sat 22nd Nov. Book by the 19th to secure your place. You can bring friends & family. There will be a pasta bolognese meal (meat or vegetarian) and a dessert, and a series of races. Pay £8 per person for entry and the meal, bring cash on the night to buy horses and bet on the races.

The mens team got off to a good start in the Bramley League with 2 rinks won. Congratulations to Paul Mortimer, Martin Berry, Michael Christodoulou and skip Bob Armstrong who won their match at Victory IBC and to Allan Wilson, Fred Morris, Dale Forwood and skip Kevin Chubb who won their match at home.

A group of Five Rivers members went to Potters resort this week and swept the board with a win by Steve, Cate, Michael & Mandy and with runners up Debs, David, Eileen & Lorraine.

We had a great day with Disability Bowls England, who had a commonwealth game player on their team, and the chair of the Indoor Bowls Association. Well done to all players.

Bowlswear direct will be bringing their shop to the club on Saturday 1st November. There will be a range of bowls shoes, clothing, bowls and accessories available. It's a good time to buy bowls as you can try them out on the green before deciding. You can contact them beforehand with queries at https://bowlsdirect.com/ .

On the 12th October Five rivers hosted the EIBA (indoor bowls governing body) to the last of our 40th Anniversary celebration matches, which coincided with the date of the first match that FRIBC played 40 years ago. We were honoured to have so many officers, Presidential team and past Presidents in attendance, for what was a most enjoyable afternoon, both on and off the green. We’ll gloss over the score, suffice to say we did marginally better than we did against the Barbaria

We had an exciting friendly against Stour Vale on Sunday. Five Rivers started strongly and took the lead at first. Then Stour Vale found their feet and raced ahead. Gradually Five Rivers pulled level to 63 all. Then, the last bowl of the last end on the last rink, brought a victory to Five Rivers on points. Still a great match for both teams winning two games each. It was lovely to have them here and we're looking forward to them returning next year.

Due to the increasing popularity of social bowls, there will be a new session starting on 29th October, for Wednesday afternoons 2-4pm. Please arrive by 1:45 so that everyone can draw for their team & rink for the afternoon. We will be playing Aussie pairs or Triples depending on numbers - you don't have to know the games beforehand, they are easy to learn as you play.