A big thank you to Ben and Sam Rose who presented the trophies at the league’s presentation evening in memory of their dad Colin Rose who sadly passed away before the start of the season. Colin was a longstanding member of the league, and was an original member of the Heathens team. Our Vice Chair-person Sally Childs-Slade presented Colin’s sister Carolyn Hallett with a bouquet of flowers for Colin’s wife Kim who unfortunately could not be present.

All photos were taken by Chris Whitefield Wedding Photography, as always a big thank you to Chris.

Thank you to the Trinity Club and all of it’s staff for their hospitality, the security team on the door and Sound Star for the entertainment.

Thank you to our committee for all their hard work throughout the season and on making sure Friday ran smoothly.

Lastly thank you to all of you skittlers who supported the evening. Enjoy your summer and we’ll see you all back on the alley for the 25-26 season.

Tuesday’s two matches brought the curtain down on 50 years of Ladies League fixtures in the Dorchester and District Skittles League. As a league we had a proud tradition of keeping the Ladies League active when many skittle leagues had ceased having separate sections for ladies. We tried to go on as long as possible for the teams still playing, but with the dwindling numbers entering as an all ladies team each year the committee had to make the difficult decision on ending the Ladies League as from the end of this season.

There are still some competitions for the ladies to finish off the season with, the captains and sticker ups have their competitions on Thursday 17th April at the Trinity Club, but these are Open competitions. The last ladies only competition will be the Ladies Singles that takes place on Monday 28th April at the Colliton Club.

The Ladies league started in 1975 and was first won by Goldies Bunnies. The late 70’s and into the 80’s the league was dominated by the Ladykillers and the Liverbirds. Ladykillers won the league eight times between 1977 and 1988, while Liverbirds won it seven times between 1978 and 1996.  In 1979 a second section was added and was first won by Castaways. A third section was added in 1991 and was first won by Grove Virgins. Section B lasted from 1979 until 2013, while Section C ran from 1992 until 1996.

The Dorchester & District League was at its strongest in the 1994-95 season with ten sections, three of which were ladies. The ladies three sections consisted of thirty eight teams.     

During the 90’s Pen Pushers became the team to beat as they won three titles and finished runners up on three occasions. From 2001 the team changed their name to Crackerjacs and won two more titles in 2018 and 2023.

In the 2000’s it was Oakettes and Devils who were the most successful teams, Oakettes won eleven titles and Devils nine (including one in 1994).

In recent seasons Vixens have been the top team, firstly as runners up in 2019 and 2023 before becoming champions in 2024, and this season finished on top again after a close battle with Crackerjacs.

The league would like to thank each and every one of the ladies who have played over the years and made the Ladies League so successful and competitive,  also we would like to take the time in remembering lost members who have passed away.

For those ladies still wanting to play skittles there are teams in the Open League that are looking for players. Please contact Brian Newton or Terry Gosney if you would either like to find a team, or if you are interested in starting up a new team. Teams in Section A, B and C can be made up of any gender.

Here’s a list of ladies teams that have played in the league (some team names may be repeated). Please take note that this is not a detailed list of how long they were active, and there are teams which carried on and just changed names, or added their venues name. It’s purely to see some of the past names that have played in the Ladies League. This should bring back some memories to you all.

Bessy Boobs, Cyderettes, Cornwall Ladies, Cornwall Wenches, Eight Belles, Goldies Bunnies, Ladykillers, Milborne Madams, Milborne Misfits, Pats Girls, Rebelettes, The Dolly Mixtures, The Leighers, The Bulletts, The Swingers, Cascades, Compasses Coronets, Goldies Mixtures, Goldilocks, Knicker Thrashers, Liverbirds, Nearly Nameless, The Gazelles, Trinity Club Ladies, Woodentops, Panca’s, The Smurfs, New Inn Ladies, Trinity Triers, Three ‘n’ One, Bed Pan Scrubbers, Castaways, Dribs & Drabs, Poppies, Swan Sweets, Teeny Boppers, Tigerettes, Westernettes, Knighton Follies, Milborne Supersonics, Coach Fillies, Delectabulls, Flyers, Merrymaids, Mikes Girls, Pins and Needles, Trinity Busbys, Betty’s Bloomers, Bulldozers, Damers Damsels, Colliton Comets, Grunhalle Girls, Portesham Pips, Swan Swingers, Goldies Girls, Trinity Dreamers, Victoria Plums, Crazy Gang, Dolly Birds, Brewers Droops, Faust Fillies, Golden Wonders, Magpie Misfits, Pen Pushers, White Hart Fawns, Magpie Maidens, Trinity Oxos, Moreton Maids, Skittlers Widows, White Hearts, Wobblies, Vic Alley Cats, Bulls Crumpets, Nik Naks, Jesters, Frampton Failures, Carousals, Colliton Pin-ups, New Pins, Trinity Yo-Yos, Watchamacallits, Colliflowers, Dolphinettes, Hobnobs, Knighton Belles, Newquay Steamers, Ugly Ducklings, Blackbirds, Marabits, Misfits, Bully Girls, Compasses Crumpets, Gremlins, White Horse Wenches, Pink Ladies, Skittle Bashers, Vixens, Westenders, Argonaughts, Cockeroos, The Hit Squad, The Rascals, Swanie Rivers, Colliwobbles, Junction Witches, Frampton Frisbies, Frampton Frogs, Grove Virgins, Whitcombe Warriors, Fillibusters, Simply Skittlers, Witches, Sparklers, Krazy Gang, Delectables, Forget-Me-Nots, Kings Arms Ladies, Leftovers, Quantock Scraggends, White hart Follies, Blue Belles, Colliton Simply Skittles, Red Devils, New Inn Vibes, Colli-Cats, Rainbow Drops, Trinity Dropouts, Wasted Maniacs,  Bloomers, New Inn Nightmares, Ladybirds, Trinity Virgins, Woodpeckers, Corn Dollies, Goldies Giants, Merrymaids, Old Codgers, Sisters of Mercy, Smooth Operators, Snow Queens, Us Lot, Woodentops, Colliton Specials, Blackjacs, Krazy Kollies, Little Gems, Charlies Angels, D’Urbervilles, Crazy Ladies, Colliton Fillies, Cornwalleys, Alley Catz, Bull Brights, Colliton Nik Naks,  Cornwall Babes, The Flying Ducks, Ball Breakers, Dolly Mixtures, Framtastic, Nightingales, Colliton Ladybirds, Bovy Banshees, Cut ‘n’ Push, Oakettes, Hardyes Harlots, The Deliverers, Top Shot Breezers, Breezers, Colliton Bloomers, Colliton Devils, Blow Jobs, Woodenspooners, Crackerjacs, Aftershots, Goldies Golden Girls, Goldies Uncut, Robins Rebels, The Vic Seals, Terri-vics, Brewers Bumpkins, Cheeky Pinky Girls, The Rivals, Vic Divas, Borough Bomb Shells, The Better Misfits, The Rivers Charms, Oakydockes, Nutty Tarts, Colliton Criminals, Perky Pikes, Oakeydoked Off, Colli-Flowers, The Bombshells, Oakey Dockeys, Colliton Apprentices, Devils, Odd Bulls, Colliton Cowslips, Meloncollis, Colli- Frolics, Galley Maids, Colliton Potshots, Cornwall Girls, Crossfire Ladies, 50 Shades of Colli, Top Kats, Trinity Troopers, Colli Rogers, Top Cats, The Good The Bad The Ugly, Colli Wobbles, Mix Ups, Team Unicorn, Trinity Sourz, Vixens, Al-Colli-Frolics, Colliton Ladybirds,  Wonder Women, Super Colli-Ders, The Easy Beats, Trinity Mix Ups, Hot Cheese Stampers

Prostate Cancer UK support comes to Dorchester Skittles League via Puddletown Nomads.

The Goldies side conceived the idea to support Prostate Cancer UK back to the dark days of COVID, and like many things was curtailed by the pandemic.

Puddletown Nomads, an eclectic bunch of men of varying vintages resurrected the idea not only to raise money (unlikely to be a huge amount) but more importantly Prostate Cancer awareness.

Subsequent dialogue with PCUK Events Team resulted in the supply of not only promotional equipment (banners and posters) but also Prostate Cancer information (pocket guides). 

Enhancing the Charities profile further Prostate Cancer UK’s “running shirt” has been adopted as Nomads Team Shirt.

Nomads match night team would make a small financial contribution (a sub) to the PCUK pot.

On match nights “The Nomads” will make available the supplied Prostate Cancer information, shake the tin (with the permission of venue management) and offer Man of Men pin badges for a requisite fee, (currently £2 each). 

We have little doubt that many involved with Dorchester Skittles League will unfortunately have known someone who has contracted or personally suffered from this disease. 

1 in 8 men will contract Prostate Cancer in their lifetimes, potentially 1 player per all male Open League side.

It’s the most common cancer in men, but the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. 

Start that conversation with your mates and why not take the Prostate Cancer UK 30 second self check at prostatecanceruk.org/kqu-risk

Please help us fund further research into this Cancer with the hope of making this totally preventable.

Thank you

“Puddletown Nomads”