Championship 2026 - Triples
2026 Czech Republic Bowls Triples Championship: Drama, Twists, and a Title Renewed
On June 6, 2026, the Czech Bowls Association, in cooperation with the bowls club at TJ Sokol Liboc, organized the seventh Czech Republic Three-Player Team Bowls Championship. A record number of eight teams competed, facing off in two groups and then in a playoff for the national championship title.
A Shaky Start, Improving Quality
The start of the competition was surprisingly tense—there were an unusually high number of missed throws, and even the favorites on paper struggled to find their rhythm for a long time. The more challenging surface of both lanes played a role, but so did perhaps the nerves of competition, which hampered even the experienced players. As the ends progressed, however, the quality of play gradually improved, and in the final playoff matches, the spectators were increasingly able to reward successful shots with applause.
It’s also worth noting that several newcomers appeared in the lineups, and they didn’t do half bad! For the new players, it was a valuable experience at a top-tier tournament and, at the same time, a great motivation for further training.
The favorite stumbled but stayed in the game
The team consisting of Karel Šturm, Jindřich Svatoň, and skip Craig Hurry was considered the tournament’s top favorite, but they lost their very first group match, setting the stage for a dramatic turn of events. However, the team managed to shake off that initial stumble, began playing better, and ultimately secured a spot in the semifinals.
They were joined in the knockout stage by two strong TJ Astra teams, led by Petr Žalud and Ivo Hadrava, as well as the combative Liboc–Astra combined team with skip Honza Létal. The semifinal lineup thus promised exciting matchups between traditional powerhouses of the domestic scene.
A Merciless Semifinal
The semifinals ultimately turned into a clear-cut affair for the teams favored on paper, and both matches ended prematurely. The team led by Petr Žalud delivered a focused performance and, thanks to precise play, easily defeated Ivo Hadrava’s trio. The second semifinal was a rematch—Craig Hurry’s trio faced Honza Létal’s team, to whom they had lost in the group stage. This time, however, Hurry’s team left nothing to chance, tightened up their play, improved their tactics, and clearly outplayed their opponent.
In the third-place match, the steadily improving trio of Zuzana SKUHROVCOVÁ, Radek FIALA, and Ivo HADRAVA secured the bronze medal with a strong performance, defeating the gradually faltering team led by skip Honza LÉTAL.
The Final Blockbuster: TJ SK Liboc Defends the Title, TJ Astra ZM Takes 2nd and 3rd Place
The final delivered exactly what is expected from a championship showdown—a closely contested battle, shifts in the score, and top-notch performances. Initially, the TJ Astra team led by Petr Žalud had the upper hand, building a slight lead. From the middle of the match, however, the trio from TJ SK Liboc, skipped by Craig Hurry, improved their play, executed several brilliantly managed finishes in critical ends, and turned the match around. In the end, the experienced trio did not allow their opponents another comeback and led the match to victory. Karel ŠTURM, Jindřich SVATOŇ, and Craig HURRY thus claimed the title of 2026 Czech Republic Champions. The latter two also defended last year’s victory and repeated their success against the champions from the year before last and last year’s finalists, Mark SEDLÁK, Radovan ŠIMŮNKA, and Petr ŽALUD.
Representatives of TJ Astra Zahradní Město took home more medals from the championship and once again confirmed that, especially in team competitions, they are now fully equal rivals to the teams from the cradle of Czech bowls, TJ Sokol Liboc. And that’s a good thing!
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Improving level of play and high-quality service
The tournament once again demonstrated that Czech bowls is advancing both in terms of performance and mental fortitude. In addition to technical and tactical maturity, results are increasingly being decided by the finer details—the ability to maintain concentration during long matches, mental resilience, and a disciplined diet and hydration regimen throughout the day. Another positive aspect was the disciplined conduct of the tournament without any unnecessary incidents.
The pleasant weather, the dedication of the organizers, and the traditionally excellent local catering all contributed to the positive impression of the championship. A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped—especially Craig, Jana, Jirka, Radek, Zuzka, and others. A big thank you also goes to Katka Žáková for the valuable prizes for the winners. High attendance, a great atmosphere both on and off the greens, and high-quality matches confirmed that the Czech Republic Triples Championship is a solid and very attractive part of the domestic bowls season.
Thank you all! And we look forward to the 2027 Czech Republic Triples Championship…
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