‘Unheard of’ achievement as five Barnstaple players from same club selected for Devon bowls cup squad

Five Barnstaple bowlers from the same club have been selected for the Devon squad to compete part in one of the most prestigious team cups in English bowling.

The quintet from United Services Bowling Club of Colin Woodcock, Adam Loveridge, Paul Dobbs, Darren James and Derek Dennis were all chosen to play in the Middleton Cup.

The achievement has been hailed as unheard of, because it is incredibly rare for so many players to be chosen from a single club – and it is believed five North Devon players have never been selected from the same club at the same time.

They have already played and won against Herefordshire by 16-6 and today (Saturday) they played away against Wiltshire.

A senior member for USBC said: “It is almost unheard of for any player from North Devon to play for Devon, there have been many trials and individuals have played in past years, but generally team selection has not included North Devon players.

“To get five North Devon players in the Devon team is a truly remarkable event, but from just one club is exceptional!”

The Middleton Cup Each sees matches is played on six rinks, which is 24 players. The competition starts off in group stages of four games. Points are awarded for winning rinks and bonus points for winning games.

From the group, the winners progress to quarter finals on neutral greens. Then the semi-final and finals are played at Leamington, the national centre for Bowls England.

USBC provided a run down on the Barnstaple players who are competing, starting with Colin ‘Chuckie’ Woodcock, who has been a mainstay in the team for a number of years and has been a part of a Devon team which won the cup in previous years.

Colin is multiple times county champion and qualifier in national championships and a multiple tournament winner.

Adam Loveridge is also multi-time national qualifier and tournament winner, who has developed into a great bowler and person.

Darren James holds numerous titles. With bowling in his family, it's not surprising. His grandfather, father, uncle and sister are all great bowlers with many achievements.

Paul Dobbs was hailed by the club as one of, if not the best, lead bowlers in Devon. After a bit of badgering by Derek, he joined the team and broke into the Middleton Cup squad at the first attempt.

Derek Dennis has multiple national appearances and county championships and numerous tournament wins, affectionately called ‘the old boy of the group’ by his club. It is thought if not the oldest, he is one of the oldest players in Middleton Cup this season.

The team said: “We are all honoured to represent Devon in the Middleton cup and an honour to be a part of United Services Bowling Club, which incidentally has links by name only with the services of the First World War.”

The last group game for the squad will be home at Topsham on Saturday, July 6, which will also be Derek’s 60th birthday.