Welcome to...KILWINNING BOWLING CLUB Inst.1855

Club History

In tracing back the 150+ years of Kilwinning Bowling Club the first ten years were fairly easy inasmuch as the original minutes of the first meeting in 1854 to talk about the forming of a club to the laying out a green to the actual opening of the green in July 1855 were at hand. These minutes took us through to 1865 recording that we first played in the Glasgow/Ayrshire in 1859 and four rinks would represent the club. Also in 1860 the club received from the right honourable the Earl of Eglinton and Winton a gold medal which was to be played for as the club championship. The medal is still played for today and is a very handsome medal of gold, silver and platinum. It is priceless and irreplaceable.

Also in these early minutes was the proposal from the Earl of Eglinton to play a grand tournament in 1865 and would be run by joint secretary D Gardiner and DG Simpson on Eglinton Estate Bowling Green. (More detailing of this on a seperate item.)

Unfortunately the minutes from 1966 to 1900 cannot be traced and obviously club champions and any honours in that period are not included. Some names were found in the local history library but not all, as newspapers only printed the information passed onto them, by then Club Secretaries.

The centenary year of 1955 did not shed any great light on any celebrations, but as a S.B.A. councillor explained that being so near the end of the Second World War, few clubs had any amount of money to celebrate in the way we do today.

I think it would be fair to say that if any of the first members were to be beamed down today they would still recognise the site of the green but also recognise that many changes have been made and many changes in the surrounding areas I.e. town by-pass, James Watt College, Caley House and many more. Gone are the two hedges, the Arched Portal, the railway lines and station, the market garden, the burgh lawn, but strangely enough the lane from the Howgate to the entry gate to the green is still there.

Yes 150+ years of history and hard work through the years, but a pround history with a Latin motto on our badge which says "Sine Te Domini Ne Cuncta Nil" which translates to "Without Thee Lord All Things Are Nothing". A proud club with a long history and an Honourary President in the name of the Earl of Eglinton without whom our club and indeed many others would not be in existence today.

1865 Eglinton Bowling Tournament

The tournament which was organised by Kilwinning Bowling Club in 1865 and played on Eglinton Estate Bowling Green, was a very prestigious affair, attracting over 500 entries from all over Ayrshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Dumfriesshire and Galloway.

Joint secretaries were DG Simpson and R Gardiner and the competition commenced on Tuesday 27th June 1865

By all accounts the weather was good and large crowds flocked into Eglinton Estate to spectate. The tournament was concluded on the Saturday of that week.

Excerpt from Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald:-
This grand and highly successful tournament was brought to a close on Saturday night under the most formidable circumstances. The sky was clear and cloudless, and as the day advanced a brilliant sun shone overhead cheering the hearts of bowlers and intended visitors. By noon the circle got so narrow that all those not out were engaged: each his own place in the prize list, so that the scene then presented was one of intense excitement. The playing was now in most cases very close, and those that were beat struggled hard before they gave in. The day was lovely throughout, giving every facility for beautiful bowling, which certainly was witnessed in the playing of Mr. Hay and Mr. Cameron and others. The weather being so fine there was a very large crowd of visitors, upwards we believe of 1500. These treaded the grounds in every direction, and seemed intensely pleased with the excited, moving scene and the delightful scenery around.

The arrangements seemed to give great satisfaction, and we think they could not have done otherwise under the able management of the committee, and the very active secretaries, Mr DG Simpson, Kilwinning and Mr. Robert Gairdner, jnr., Weirston who were most indefatigable in their exertions to bring all under their charge to a successful termination, which certainly has been the case, as decidedly the tournament has proved itself to be a great success.

The Kilwinning band was in attendance during the day, and very much added to the day's enjoyment by their exhilarating airs.

Before the prizes were handed to their victors, Mr. J Copeland made a few remarks showing the beneficial effects of outdoor sports, and the love of such friendly gatherings in putting the beautiful green and policies at their disposal. He then intimated that the tournament had been a complete success, and announced that owing to the great patronage bestowed on them the treasurer was in sufficient funds. Great cheering followed this announcement. Three cheers were given with a will for the Earl of Eglinton, and three cheers followed for their secretaries, Mr. Simpson and MrGardiner.

At the close, the bowlers and spectators proceeded to the upper end of the green in front of the veranda, where the prizes were presented to the successful competitors by Mr Copeland vice president of the Kilwinning Bowling Club.

George Hay (Ayr) First Prize £40
J Cameron (Kilmarnock) Second Prize £20
J Dunlop (Pollockshaws) Third Prize £12
D Brown (Dundonald) Fourth Prize £10
J Hannah (Kilmarnock) Fifth Prize £8
W Wilson (Wellmeadow) Sixth Prize £7
W Haig (Rothesay) Seventh Prize £6
J Husband (Kilwinning) Eighth Prize £5
W Govan (Pollockshaws) Ninth Prize £5
J Cowan jnr (Wellcroft) Tenth Prize £4
A Muir (Kircudbright) Eleventh Prize £3
W Forester (Stirling) Twelfth Prize £2



2008
On Thursday 3rd July the 7 rinks representing Kilwinning BC in the annual Ayrshire v Glasgow match were the highest up club for the victorious Ayrshire side and will receive the prestigious Eglinton Jug as part of a celebration day on Sat 27th Sept which includes a match against 6 rinks of the Ayrshire & Glasgow councilors and a rink from Tollcross BC who were the highest up Glasgow club.Congratulations to the team as this is only the second time in the club's history that we have acheived this accolade.