Introduction to PICKERING BOWLING CLUB
Established 1912
Affiliated to Bowls England and Yorkshire Bowling Association
This very active and successful lawn bowls club was founded in 1912 and for 14 years played within the walls of Pickering Castle. After a period on a Green situated on land at the corner of Ruffa Lane (now part of Eastgate Car Park) the club moved, in 1949, to its present home on Mill Lane.
The Green replaced unused tennis courts that had been part of the Recreation Ground left in trust to the residents of Pickering in 1938. The bowling club is currently one of three organisations sharing the ground with the Recreation Club under the terms of a Charitable Trust. The other two are the Cricket and Football clubs.
The club has had many team and individual successes. The most notable being Betty Stubbings who was an England International from 1978 until 1992 and won double Gold Medals in the 1981 world Outdoor Championships in Toronto and Bronze four years later in Melbourne. She also won two Bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1982 in Brisbane and 1986 in Edinburgh. Betty also held the National Title in 1977.
Pickering Bowling Club is proud of its local competitive successes achieved over many years.
Whether it is in competition or during friendly play, the Club participates in the true spirit of sportsmanship. As with any other sport there are rules that need to be complied with to ensure fair play exists for all those who participate. Bowlers are generally a friendly group of people who are only too willing to guide new players but as with all sports, confusion can exist if there is not clarity over rules and conduct of play. The definitive rules applying to bowls at Pickering Bowling Club are those laid down by Bowls England which can be found on their website www.bowlsengland.com
Lawn bowls remains one of the few sports where common courtesy and etiquette still prevails, and this helps to ensure the game is as enjoyable as possible for everyone. Here are a few of the important rules. Shoes must always have totally flat soles so as not to damage the Green. Always enter and leave the Green by the steps provided. Do not walk across rinks that other people are using and do not sit or stand on the banks of the Green. Do not drop bowls onto the Green as this can cause damage to the Green. Introduce yourself and shake hands with your opponents both before play and after the game is completed. When behind the mat, keep quiet and don’t rattle bowls when your opponent or teammate is about to deliver a bowl. When standing at the head, stand well back, keep quiet, keep still and do nothing that would distract players about to deliver a bowl.
Pickering Bowling Club currently play in 4 leagues: Hovingham League (Thursday evening), Scarborough Veterans League (Tuesday afternoon), Ryedale Veterans League (Wednesday afternoon) and BATAgas Triples League (Monday and Friday evenings).
In addition to the league games Pickering Bowling Club also encourages “social bowling” which is where any member can turn up and play. The number of rinks used, and format of play is then agreed depending on the number of members present. Social Bowling is for members who do not want to commit to regular league games and is especially valuable to new members who wish to learn the game and gain experience of playing in a match in a more relaxed and sociable atmosphere.
Social bowling takes place on Saturday’s at 2pm from the beginning of May (weather permitting). Anyone who is interested in playing bowls or wishes to have a go, without any obligation to join the club, is welcomed on these days, and there will always be a member of the club present who can help. Equipment is available to borrow, but flat soled shoes must be worn.
The Green is open to members daily from 1pm to have a social “roll-up”, or practice. When home league games are being played on a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon and Monday, Thursday and Friday evenings, members are welcome to play on any unused rink if the league captain agrees and there is no interference with the league game. Members can check in the fixture booklet for the dates of all home games. Spectators are welcome at all home games and for new or inexperienced players this is an excellent way to learn. Here you can meet members of the club and have a chat with other spectators.
The Green is closed to all members each morning so that our volunteer Greenkeeper and his helpers can do any work that is needed to keep the Green in good playing condition, to the benefit of every player.
If you attend for a roll-up and no league match is taking place, then there will be no access into the clubhouse from the bowling green. Toilets will be available from the front door of the Recreation Club but only when open, which is normally Saturday and Sunday afternoons and most evenings.
When social bowling or having a practice/roll-up, please use rinks in the order shown on the white board attached to the wooden shed. This ensures even wear and tear of the Green. The Greenkeeper decides the rotation, and this must be adhered to, e.g., the top number is the first rink to be played on but if this in use then the next rink number is to be used etc.
We believe Pickering Bowling Club is a friendly club where new members are always welcome. Should you require further information or simply chat about bowling then
please email the Club Secretary Jean Smith on the email Contact link above, (opens new window), or simply turn up on a Saturday