November 12th and 13th 2011
The County Singles and Pairs Competition
There were 29 individuals who took part in the Singles Competition on Saturday November 13 which was keenly contested throughout the day with John Stannard from Fownhope narrowly defeating Tony Vitale from Larruperz in the Finals.
On the Sunday, 28 pairs assembled to do battle for the title of County Pairs Champions 2012. Many old rivalries were renewed during the day, each game being hotly fought over in the best of bowling traditions.
However, at the end of the day Hazel and Tony Vitale, who had played faultless precession bowls throughout the tournament, finally took the honours defeating former champions, mother and son combination, Sandra and Anthony Rogers.  

Tributes should be paid to Jamie Harris, County Chairman, who set up the Championships and Tony Lee for all the impeccable organization and management of the Championship weekend. Also many thanks to Tim Rigden and his wife Gill for successfully and smoothly managing their first bowls tournament for the County.

November 12th 2011
The Annual Macmillan Cancer Relief Fours Competition.
On Saturday 12th November 160 Short Mat Bowlers descended on Bromyard Leisure Centre for their annual charity tournament in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
The 40 teams of four players came from clubs across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire and were divided into two groups. Each team played four games within their group of twenty teams scoring 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. The team with the greatest number of points and shots was declared the winner at the end of the day. There was intense speculation throughout the day as to the winning team and it was not clear until the last shot was played who that team would be. Lea’s second team won by one shot! The team consisted Jo Claessen, Colin Smith, Gwyneth Jones, and Merion Attwood. The runners up were from Bishopswood, and included Jim and Maureen Tingle, Sandra Rogers and Ian Hergest.
Peter Rowland and Jenny Goddard from Macmillan as always did an excellent job selling raffle tickets for the huge raffle and the refreshment table with its wealth of homemade cakes and biscuits helped to contribute to the success of the event which raised an amazing £1,873 for the charity. This event has taken place annually since 1992 and has raised a total of £17, 500 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The HSMBA would like to thank Rudy and Jane, the managers of Bromyard Leisure Centre who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. Without their help the event could not have taken place or been such a success.

October 18th 2011
Win for the English Ladies Short Mat Bowlers
Three ladies Shirley Cox, Becci Cox and Isobel Wardley from Herefordshire Short Mat Bowling clubs of Woolhope and Fownhope, were selected to play for England against the Irish team on 1st and 2nd October at Kempston.
It was a close fought game and an exciting match but in the end England came out top with 63 points to Ireland with 49 points.  The shots were 667 to England and 662 to Ireland.  The game of short mat bowls had its roots in Ireland and the Irish have always played to a very high standard so this was a very creditable result against formidable opponents.  Well done Herefordshire!

September 19th 2011
Success at Bristol A team of four bowlers, John and Sue Stannard, Isobel and Mark Wardley from the Fownhope club, won the Avon Open Fours in Bristol on Saturday. They swept through the round robin stage in fine style with 19-2, 16-2 and a draw, in the Quarter finals they scored 8-4, and in the Semi finals they met their match but managed to win by one shot. This result urged them on to prove they could do it and they had a convincing score of 10-5 to beat their opponents in the final. A great achievement.
Success at Hardwicke A team of three ladies, Megan Powell, Glenys Biggs  and Jenny Green from the Llangarron club were runners up in the Ladies Triples for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in August.  Llangarron are a small club but have taken the county by storm over the last couple of years winning all the way.

September 12th 2011
A stunning start to the new season of Short Mat Bowls!
National Success at Kempston. Two players, Shirley Cox and Isobel Wardley, of HSMBA were chosen at the English Short Mat Bowls Association trials in July, to play for the England Ladies team.  They will play again for a practice on September 18th before they play for England Ladies against the Irish Ladies team from Armagh on October 1st and 2nd 2011
Other players from Herefordshire selected to compete at the trials were Becci Cox, Dawn Cox, Jean Austin and Sheila Whittingham.  Well done Herefordshire!
Further success at Kempston. Each year the President of the English Short Mat Bowling Association invites players from all over the country to enter for a place in the President Select Team to play against the England Team.  This year Herefordshire entered six players and all six were chosen to play in the match.  Congratulations to Becci and Shirley Cox from Woolhope Club, Isobel and Mark Wardley from Fownhope Club, Jo and Brian Claessen from The Lea Club who will play in the Presidents Select Team on Sunday, September 18th 2011 at Kempston.