The bowlers at Bishop’s Cleeve are eagerly looking forward to the new summer season.

The opening of the green takes place on Saturday 13th April and while that is an important date on the club calendar, don’t for one minute think that the club’s 140-plus members have been sat at home twiddling their thumbs over the winter months.

That’s because Bishop’s Cleeve Bowling Club have a thriving indoor short mat set-up that keeps members busy from October through to March.

And secretary Sue Matthews is certainly delighted that the club is active all the year round.

“I love it,” she said. “Joining the club was the best thing I ever did.”

She joined in 2007 and is in her sixth year as secretary, a role she thoroughly enjoys.

The club itself is celebrating its 20th anniversary having been formed in 1999.

Initially they were just an indoor club, playing short mat at The Tithe Barn and Methodist Church Hall in the village, although the intention was always to become an outdoor bowls club as well.

Their clubhouse and green at Bishop’s Cleeve Sports Field was built by the parish council with grant funding in 2005 and Sue Matthews added: “We are primarily a lawn green bowling club.”

And while that is true, they certainly enjoy their short mat bowls.

“We’re part of the Gloucestershire Short Mat Bowling Association,” explained Sue. “We’ve got one team in Division One – they’re called the Cougars – and another in Division Two who are called the Pumas.”

Someone at the club clearly likes their cats, while the players clearly like their indoor bowls because the teams are made up of 14-strong squads with eight players playing in a match.

The outdoor season sees even more players involved and Sue added: “We run in-house club competitions and one of the biggest is our triples day. We also organise a club finals day in September.”

And they also take part in county-wide competitions as well.

“We have three men’s teams in the Sunday League and another men’s team in the North Gloucestershire League,” continued Sue. “And we have two ladies’ teams in the County League.

“We host county matches and we have men and ladies who play in county competitions as well as representing the county.”

As Sue says it is a thriving club, before adding: “It’s also very sociable, it’s a very friendly club.”

And as if to emphasise the point chairman Dave Pulsford added: “We hold an annual school event with Bishop’s Cleeve Academy and have had new younger members join as a result.

“We also welcome less abled people giving bowls a try.”

Meanwhile, Margaret Davies is continuing as the ladies’ captain while Phil Harvey has taken over as men’s captain.