Celebrating 25 Years of the Potters Short Mat Cup
September marked a very special milestone at Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea, as bowlers from across the country gathered for the 25th edition of the Potters Short Mat Cup. What began a quarter of a century ago has grown into a much-loved fixture in the short mat bowls calendar, combining a passion for this format of bowls with the unique magic of a Potters break.
How it all began
Back in the late 90s, and having just opened the brand-new International Arena at Hopton-on-Sea, Potters were looking for a way to bring short mat enthusiasts together at Potters. Enter Teresa and Selwyn Goldsmith of Norfolk County Short Mat Bowls Association.
Having won a multitude of county titles as a pair, they’d been playing short mat at the highest level. Selwyn had also represented England and in one year, reached the final of the England Singles. With such expertise, knowledge and contacts they came to Potters to create a tournament with a difference. Initially, competitions were held over 1-Night Breaks and swiftly grew in popularity, as word spread from county to county across the short mat community.
Teresa says: “When Potters asked us to organise short mat competitions on a more regular basis, we said ‘yes’ right away. We’d already had lots of requests from guests asking about staying longer. That was when we organised our first weekend.”
That weekend was named the Potters Cup, featuring both Pairs and Triples tournaments. In the 25 years that have followed since, thousands of players have travelled to Hopton-on-Sea to enjoy not only competitive short mat bowls, but a regular reunion of short mat bowlers within Potters’ fully inclusive setting.
“These group events have enabled short mat bowlers to enjoy the very special magic of Potters Resorts, and experience a fully inclusive holiday with short mat bowls at its heart,” Selwyn says. “What started as a small gathering of friends has grown into a community.”
A special milestone
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Potters Cup, a drinks reception kicked off the celebrations. “Their tireless support of short mat bowls at Potters has been incredible,” said Sallyanne Gooch, Potters Resorts’ Head of Sales. “This was just a small token of our appreciation, and a chance to raise a glass to them before the matches got underway.”
This year, the Potters Cup was claimed by Val Vardy, Carol Taylor, and Bob Taylor, who beat Dorreen Cooke, Derek Barley & Jenny Walker in a well-contested final. The Shield was lifted by Jack Gray, Claire Cranston, and Gavin Gray, beating Hayley Osborne, Steve Easter and Val Easter. But while the competition is fierce, there continues to be a spirit of friendly competition that defines every event Selwyn and Teresa organise.
“Potters has obviously changed a lot, but if anything has stayed the same over the last 25 years, it’s the same superb feedback we receive from the bowlers,” Selwyn says. “We always try to give everyone a great time.”
Also present throughout the weekend was Hopton-on-Sea stalwart, Mark Brewer. “He’s been with us right from the beginning,” Teresa says, as Selwyn recalls trying to calculate the all-important scores on his 64th birthday. “Mark always entertains the bowlers while I finish all the calculations. Normally he leaves me to it, but on that day, there’s me looking at points and shot differences, while Mark is singing ‘When I’m 64’ down my ear with the microphone.”
Keeping busy
As well as the Potters Cup in September, Selwyn and Teresa also organise the East Coast Triples & Pairs in May, plus the Potters Pairs competition in early November. Now in their seventies, and combined with regular matches with their club side Hevingham and their beloved Norfolk Over 60s Team organised by Teresa, they’ve got plenty on their plate.
“We’ve just had some family over from America and it was clear to them that everything we do in bowls keeps us feeling so young. We’re too busy to get old!”
A bowling community
For Potters, the Short Mat Cup is more than just another event—it’s part of a long-standing commitment to bowls of every format and every level. From hosting the world’s best indoor bowlers each January to nurturing tournaments like this, the sport is woven into the fabric of Potters’ history. And Sallyanne Gooch, Head of Sales at Potters Resorts, was quick to highlight the significance of this milestone.
“We are incredibly proud to have supported Selwyn and Teresa in hosting the Potters Short Mat Cup for the past 25 years, as well as their more recent events too. They have been instrumental in creating short mat tournaments that combine the joy of bowls with the camaraderie that Potters is famous for.”
“To see so many bowlers return year after year is a testament to the special atmosphere they’ve helped foster. We look forward to hosting the Potters Short Mat Cup for many years to come.”
It’s a point that is met with a smile by both Selwyn and Teresa. “When we first got involved with NCSMBA we were in our forties and fifties—we never envisaged being in our seventies and still running these events,” says Selwyn. “But the atmosphere changes every time, and the atmosphere over the 25th Potters Cup weekend was unbelievable. We had so many guests coming to see us to thank us.”
Teresa and Selwyn, with Carlie Spillings and Chantelle Hayward of Potters ResortsFor many more years to come
“We still look forward to every event because they’re always so different,” Teresa says. “It’s all the people that make the weekend, they come from all over. The Friday is always so lovely because you hear guests bumping into old friends, and then you realise they probably haven’t seen each other since last year. It’s like a reunion!”
“One of the guests this time even said ‘here’s to the next 25 years’—but we’ll be 100 by then!”
As we toasted this remarkable anniversary, one thing was clear—the Potters Short Mat Cup is about more than just bowls. It’s about people coming together, sharing experiences, and celebrating a sport they love in a place that feels like home.
So here’s to Selwyn and Teresa Goldsmith, to 25 unforgettable years, and to the many more still to come.
