Last Update - 02 March 2015
Many thanks to the Members of
Ards Bowling Club for their sponsorship of this page
New Link 2014 http://ardsbowls.blogspot.co.uk/
Many of the members can trace their family history back to the 19th. Century in Newtownards

15.6.1914 Proposed Bowling Club for N'Ards - Encouraging preliminary meeting held in the town hall. The project was subsequently left in abeyance owing to the outbreak of the European war.

Ards Bowling Club History 1927 – Present Ards bowling club had its beginnings as a Lacrosse club way back in 1927,
Lacrosse is not a game the average bowler would know a great deal about. The skills for which the game call for are completely different, whereas bowling is a lot more leisurely.
Nevertheless, Ards bowling club had its beginning as a section of Ards lacrosse club. In the twenties lacrosse was a popular game in Newtownards and records show that the men had quite a successful team. There were also hockey and tennis sections of the club equally successful .

Bowling was first played at Ards on a strip of grass near the present green and in 1929 the management committee of the lacrosse club give permission for a new bowling green to be laid.

Bowling members and friends subscribed to the effort, with the approximate cost being £380. Well over 35 members and freinds contributed to this amount and it went ahead. Although the majority of these pioneers have passed on, some of the present members have played with or have links to these members.

In 1958 the playing fields surrounding the bowling green were taking over by the education authority and at this point Ards Lacrosse Club became Ards Bowling Club. The pavillion consisted of an old hut of 1914 – 1918 vintage and over the years it soon became increasingly apparent that a new building was urgently needed.

A building fund was set up in 1968 and a sum of £4,000 was raised, a figure which included the sale of the old structure for £35. In March 1973 the new pavilion was officially open by Margaret Spence.

This advance meant that the club could have their own short mat bowling during the winter and hold fund raising bowling tournaments. Thanks to the concerted work of the management and the newly formed social committee all the clubs debts were completely cleared.

All the efforts were then focused towards purchasing ground from the Department of Education and planning another clubhouse, a dream which consisted of the provision of facilities that would be the equal, if not the envy, of those of other clubs. 
On May 9th 1985 the dream became a reality when Mrs Gretta Graham, wife of the Hon Secretary officially opened the building. A ladies section was formed in 1966 Before and after it came into being, the ladies were a tremendous asset in the clubs progress.

A formidable list of honours have come the club's way down the years:-
1933 and 1935 Ards won the Junior NIPGL title, and the Junior cup in 1933, 1937 and 1940
The IBA singles was won by W Curragh in 1973 and the NIPGL singles in the same year.
In 1978 W J Thompson and J Campbell were winners of the NIPGL pairs title

In 1984 the A team were runners up in the NIPGL senior event and won the Castlereagh Cup.
In the Ladies section, the Junior league IWBA championship was won in four successive years, 1970, 71, 72, 73

The NIWPGL Junior league was brought to Ards in 1970, 71, 72, 73, and 74.

Years may have passed since Ards Bowling Club came into being as an off-shoot of the Lacrosse club.

Lacrosse may be a thing of the past, but the foundations laid by those involved were indeed firmly laid by that very ambitious move .

20th. July 1950 - Australian Newspaper Report
The Australian Bowling Team lost to Northern Ireland Provincial green League by 119 points to 112

Click on this link to view Clubhouse Photostream on Flickr    https://www.flickr.com/photos/pickie_bowls/sets/72157644774840386/

Formed in 1927 and the Ladies celebrating their 50th. birthday in 1977 - Anyone help with the names ...
L-R Front = 1 - 2 Sheila Cherry - 3 Rosemary Hamilton - 4 Gladys Savage
L-R Back = 1 Prudence Whaley - 2 Frances Moore - 3 Abby Dorman - 4 Abbys Mother-in-Law Mrs. Dorman - 5 Peggy Adams
Many thanks to Vernon Moore for help with the names

This pic donated 7th.March 2014 by Frances Moore of Movilla Road leading off - Seen here playing a shot
L-R Front - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 Jimmy Caughers - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 Jules Dorrian - 10

This pic donated 7th.March 2014 by Frances Moore of Movilla Road - Seen here receiving a bougqet of flowers
Jimmy Caughers far right with white jumper

This pic donated 7th.March 2014 by Frances Moore of Movilla Road

The Ladies - Details to follow
L-R Rear - Nel Whitlay - Mrs McCormick - 3 - Sandra Bailie - 5 - 6 - Loretta Clarke nee Carnduff - Meta ..... nee Gamble - 9
L-R Front = Sheila ..... - Mrs. Rodgers - Mrs. Meharg - Mrs.Poots - Mrs. Robson - May ........  - Sheila Cherry - Mrs.Mateer - 9


1977 and the Gentlemen celebrate their birthday with centre front the late Sam McKeown President.
L-R Front = 1 - 2 Mr.McNamara - 3 - 4 Mr.McKeown - 5 Mr.Caughers - 6 - 7
L-R Back = 1 Archie Dunlop - 2 - Wilmer Thompson - 4 William Dorman husband of above Abby Dorman and a teacher at Movilla School - 5 Wilbert Heron
6 John Thompson - 7 Allen Graham - 8 Mr.Russell
Many thanks to Vernon Moore for help with the names

And just to show that the club is alive and well here is a 2013 pic of the winners
of the Thornton Cup Veterans Pairs L-R. Victor Wasson and Hugh Caughey

The smiling faces say it all, things are good at Ards Bowling Club in 2013 - Names to follow
L-R Rear = Mr.Bennett - Davy Cowan (hidden) - David "Dinger" Bell - Billy Gazzard - Jonathan Coates on the other side of the camera this time - Charlie Simmons - Robert Gibson
L-R Front = Drew Melville - Bruce Martin - Cilin Gribben - Lee Wilkinson - Cecil Ralph - Robert Fulton - Johnny Bell

Honourable Members - Details and names to follow
L-R Rear = Alan Graham - ? - Hughie Greer - Tommy Greer - John Ellis (Treasurer) - Bill "Rocky" Thompson
L-pR Front = ? - Mr.McAvoy - Davy Murphy - John Thompson

The "A" Team
L-R Rear = Davy McCloy - Robert Fulton - ? - ? - Drew Hiles
L-R Middle = Mr.Gibson - Davy Wilson - Martin Caughey - Johnny Poots - Jimmy Murphy - Raymond McCormick
L-R Front = John Ellis - Peter Thompson - Raif ..... - Ian Smith - Brian Thompson - Mr.Bailie - Tommy Greer