Peebles Bowling Club set for busy season in major milestone year
Massive plans ahead as club celebrates 150 years at Walkershaugh green
PEEBLES Bowling Club is celebrating 150 years at Walkershaugh green.
The club, one of Scotland’s oldest, was formed in 1829 and moved to its current position in July 1874.
The committee has been busy preparing for the new season, due to start on Saturday (April 13) when president Colin Thomson rolls the first bowl.
A club spokesperson said: “Within the clubhouse, the bar has been refitted providing more space and our development plans are in the final stage as we hope to extend the changing room, toilets, kitchen and provide disabled facilities. With planning permission granted, the club hope to start phase one as soon as the green closes at the end of the season.
“We are financing much of the development ourselves but have also applied for grants via various funders and are also actively fundraising to ensure we meet the required costs which will allow us to move on to the final stage.
“In February the club were awarded Bronze Accreditation by Bowls Scotland which shows the club meeting various criteria set by the governing body and just last week the club were awarded the Silver Accreditation. The committee are now focusing achieving Gold Accreditation and if we do, we will be only the third club in Scotland to be granted gold status behind Nairn and
Freuchie.
“Alan MacDonald from Bowls Scotland presented the club with both awards last Tuesday and completed on how well the club is run and Alan highlighted that we now have the biggest playing membership in the district and are 22nd on the national charts.”
The County League starts on
Tuesday, April 30, and the Borders League begins on the following evening.
The club have entered four teams into the County League, which also sees a welcome return of Walkerburn Bowling Club.
Meanwhile, a joint Peebles and St Ronan’s team will compete in the Border Ladies League, commencing
on May 7.
The annual ‘Traders Trophy’ event will be held on Sunday, May 5.
This sees up to 46 teams from local shops, pubs and businesses in Peebles and surrounding areas entering a team of four where only one can be a recognised bowler.