Andover Bowling Club is making its final preparations for its first-ever Bowlathon, which will take place at the club’s Vigo Park green in Andover this Saturday and Sunday.
The centrepiece of the event will be a triples bowls match between the ‘Owls’ and the ‘Larks’, with club member Brad Godden attempting to bowl continuously for 24 hours — from noon on Saturday until noon on Sunday. He will be supported by 37 fellow club members, both men and women, who will take part in shifts throughout the event as the club looks to create a memorable piece of history.
The Mayor of Andover, Cllr Linda Lashbrook, is set to attend and will bowl the first wood to officially begin the match.
Alongside the bowling, there will be plenty for visitors to enjoy, including a variety of stalls featuring a tombola, plants, a teddy raffle, “name the zebra”, refreshments and a range of other activities, including some light-hearted bowls-themed games. These attractions will be available on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
The Bowlathon is being held to raise funds for the club, with plans for a new Vigo Park clubhouse in mind, while also supporting the Countess of Brecknock Hospice. Proceeds from the event will be split evenly between the two causes. In the lead-up to the weekend, club members have been donating raffle and tombola prizes, securing sponsorship from local businesses and supporting a thriving JustGiving campaign.
Club President Steve Baker said: “I’m completely knocked out by the support that our Bowlathon has attracted so far from the community here in Andover and from further afield. Local businesses and individuals, both club members and others, have been extremely generous.”
Roger Coveney, the club’s membership secretary, added: “What better way to kickstart your Bank Holiday weekend, and indeed your summer, than by spending some quality time in the sunshine up at our atmospheric green, right in the heart of Andover? See you at the weekend!”