Devon & Cornwall Police Host National Police Lawn Bowls Tournament
Devon & Cornwall Police hosted this year’s Police Service UK Lawn Bowls Tournament and were aiming to do well against sporty colleagues from the home nations.
Madeira Bowling Club in Exmouth was the setting for the competition earlier this month and the teams were lucky enough to enjoy hot sunny weather across the three days.
Inspector Dave Turner, from Devon & Cornwall Police, has been playing lawn bowls since the age of 12 and helped to organise this year’s tournament.
The local policing Inspector, who works across Exeter, East & Mid Devon, said: “Devon & Cornwall Police force last hosted the UK police lawn bowls competition many years ago and it was fantastic to welcome officer and civilian police staff colleagues from across the UK to beautiful Exmouth.
“The teams who qualified for the South West region this year were Devon & Cornwall Police and Gloucestershire Constabulary and we were proud to have the event on home turf.”
Sixteen mixed pairs and sixteen singles matches took place during the event which was held earlier in September. The winner of the singles competition was Nottinghamshire and the pairs competition was won by a father and daughter team from Warwickshire Police. All Devon & Cornwall Police officers and staff took part in their own free time.
Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper, from Devon & Cornwall Police, also went along to support the teams and hand out trophies.
Sue Harriott, Chair of the Greens Committee at Exmouth Madeira Bowling Club, added: “The members of Madeira Bowling Club were very honoured that we were asked to host the National Police Championship this year. We have excellent facilities at the club which is situated about 200m from the beach.”
“Club life member, Bob Burch, was a long serving police officer and club member and became the British Isles Police Singles Champion in 1976. Sadly Bob died in December 2021 but he would be so proud that Madeira Bowling Club hosted this event. I hope we lived up to his incredibly high standards - we miss him, his knowledge and his guidance.”
Sue continued: “We would also like to thank Dave Turner and his team for all their hard work in putting on the Championships. We hope that the competitors, families and supporters from all over the British Isles enjoyed their time in Exmouth and had chance to explore the wonderful area in which we are situated.”
The club enjoys two first class outdoor greens, a three rink indoor green, a large clubhouse and award winning gardens which run alongside the greens and are tended by Joy the gardener and her helpers.
The annual national police lawn bowls competition did not take place last year due to the death of her Majesty the Queen. For more information about the club please visit Welcome | Madeira Bowling Club, Exmouth
Pic by Tarkatography shows the police bowls competitors. ACC Nikki Leaper (wearing police uniform) is in the centre of the photo, Insp Dave Turner is on the back row (wearing glasses) under the 'B' of the word Bowling
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