The league has introduced a new competition to provide the teams in Section B and C with the same number of games as teams in Section A. This will provide the pubs and clubs who support skittles with the maximum amount of games that we can.  

To honour Brian Newton’s long service to the league the cup will be named in his honour. Brian first joined the committee in 1978 and was assistant secretary for the 81-82 season before taking over the Secretary role in 1982, a post he has held ever since.  Until 1986 he was also the fixture secretary.

On the alley Brian’s skittle career spans over 60 years during which time he has been successful in winning Section A with both Rebels and Dewlish Monsters, plus many other trophies down the years.

Brian has been the lynchpin of Dorchester & District skittles always doing his best to keep the league going. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty to encourage new teams to join the league and to ensure that alleys are kept playable for teams.  

Whilst the initial format for the new trophy may not survive beyond the forthcoming season, owing to the unknown structure of the league in the years to come, it is the intention of the league to use it for other new competitions. Such changes will be discussed by the committee and brought to the AGM for endorsement.

The AGM was held at the Colliton Club on Friday evening, here’s a brief round up.

1.The Hon Treasurer Philip Slade reported that for the first time in many years the league recorded a profit in our accounts. There will be no increase on league and competition fees for the 26-27 season.

2.Changes to the rules (a brief breakdown)

The list of registered players will now need to be submitted to the fixture secretary (Terry Gosney) by the end of the second week of fixtures at the latest.

A missing player can join the game as long as they are present at the completeion of both teams second hand.

The score card must contain the full name of each player.

Three teams will be promoted and three relegated from each section. This will be determined by there being 16 teams in Section A.

A maximum of 24 players can register for a team in a single season.

3.We have 44 teams entered with Vixens the last champions of the ladies league re-joining after a season out. We have lost Swan Abbots, Jolly Green Giants and Any Pin Will Do from last season.

The composition of the league will be 16 teams in Section A, with 14 teams in Section’s B and C.

To give the teams in Section B and C the same number of games a new competition called ‘The Brain Newton Cup’ will be played for. The fixtures for this will depend on the byes each week.

The forthcoming season will start week commencing 31st August.

A big thank you to Andrew and Nikki Fowler who presented the trophies at the league’s presentation evening in memory of their dad Roy Fowler who sadly passed away during the season. Roy was a longstanding member of the league, and would rarely miss a Wide Boys match long after he stopped playing, keenly chalking the board. Our Vice Chair-person Sally Childs-Slade presented Nikki with a bouquet of flowers.

Thank you to the Colliton Club and all of it’s staff for their hospitality.

Thank you to our committee for all their hard work throughout the season and on making sure Friday ran smoothly, especially Adam Barnes who took the photos.

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 26-27 season.