Club History

The Young Ones

The predominant success story of the last decade is Nicky Brett (Right). His career in bowls has spanned nearly two decades already, even though he only 29, and in recent years he has become one of the most talented bowlers in England. He has won the British Isles Singles (2000) and the E.B.A. Singles in 1999. He was also selected for the England International team in 2000 and is a regular in the Indoor International Team. In total he has won 5 National outdoor titles. That's an impressive career for a young lad from Warboys. He has also qualified for three of the last five televised BUPA Care Open indoor tournaments, as seen on the BBC.

The club currently has a large number of youngsters making them the core of the Huntingdonshire Association Under 30's squad. They include, Nicky Brett, Jamie Reynolds (A former U25 international), Andrew Thurston and Matthew Marsden. All these, and a former Warboys member Scott Wisniewski, played in the Under 25 Team's greatest achievement when the team reached the E.B.A. National Semi-Final back in 1996. Unfortunately they lost to the eventual winners, Cornwall, on an extra end.

Achievements

The club's A Team had a particularly successful year in 2001. The team won the Huntingdon League Division 1 by a huge margin, it also won the Dilley Cup (A local knock-out tournament) and were runners up in the League 4-rink triples final. Most of the team were also present in the Warboys 2-Fours which lost in the Area semi-final.

The club have also won the Durham Trophy, back in 2000. This is a mixed competition consisting of 4 rinks of triples. In 1999 the club won the Huntingdonshire County version thus qualifying for the chance to play at the National finals the following year at Skegness. During the 2000 season the team of 12 claimed their second successive County title and also won through to the National final, which they won, to claim the title. Click here for the team photo.

Although the players' successes are far greater in number, the players still consider the inter-club matches as an important part of their outdoor season. The camaraderie amongst the players is something to behold and will push them on to more success, both now and in the future.

Ever since the mid-sixties, players from the White Hart have been winning competitions at County level. Early successes included a singles triumph by one of the club's great bowlers, John England. He won a total of 4 County titles. Other early greats include Geoff Manchett (3 titles) and Ernie Cole (4 titles). In fact from 1963-65 a member of the White Hart held the H.B.F. 4-wood singles crown.

The White Hart club has always been a family affair. Over the years there have been the likes of the Swannell's, Brett's and Manchett's. This continuity has helped the club through difficult times. Although small in numbers (approximately 40 members) the club continues to breed winners.

The grounds

The club's green, situated behind the White Hart pub, was originally three-rinks but has since been extended to 6.

The white clubhouse (right) has been there since the club's inception back in 1925. It has two changing rooms, with WC's, enough room to seat 30 bowlers after a game and of course a bar.

The green itself is one of the largest in the area. Currently doing the unenviable task of maintaining the green is Derek Rose. He and a number of fellow bowlers put in many hard hours work to keep the surface to the player's liking.

One of the features that set it out from other local club's is the large pond at the rear of the clubhouse. Happily swimming on the pond you find various species of duck, but don't ask me what they are, I am not an expert!