TORBAY  AREA  INDOOR  BOWLING  ASSOCIATION

BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  OUR  CLUB.

The building of the 4 rink club started in January 1974, the club opened later that year. 1982 saw the club extended which included an office, meeting room, storage rooms and larger changing facilities. The whole building had a new roof in 1986. Since then when needed the club has improved the lighting and heating and installed an electronic scoreboard.

The club is situated in the grounds of Oldway Mansion which Isaac Singer (sewing machines) had built in the 1870’s. We are affiliated to the English Indoor Bowling Association and the Devon County Indoor Bowling Association, also the Devon County Ladies Indoor Bowling Association. The club is run by a management committee backed up by a men’s and ladies committee. There is a house manager who looks after the day to day running of the club. Our catering facilities we consider are the best of any bowls club in Devon. They not only provide day to day drinks and meals they also have a carvery some Sundays and cater for other functions within the club, and for those with special dietary needs.

On the playing side we have approximately 450 playing members of which 41% are ladies. There are also social and junior members.  

We run 13 men’s and mixed leagues and 4 ladies only leagues.The men have 2 teams in the D.C.I.B.A interclub league plus 1 in the over 60’s. Our ladies have teams in the Foxlands and  Lane Trophies.

We also have many who just like a “roll up” and the rinks are full most mornings. On Saturday we have coaching sessions for new bowlers with our qualified coaches.

We welcome many touring and local sides throughout our season which is from late September to late April. (9-30am to 10-30pm)

Over the years the club has had success in National and County competitions. With the men winning the:-

National Men’s fours in 1977, Denny Cup in 1980/81, runners up in the National Triples 83/84, runners up in the over 60’s double rink in 2008/09 and more recently runners up in the Denny Plate 2012/13.

A mixed four won the national competition in 1977 and a mixed pair won in 1985.

Our ladies have been runners up twice in the Yetton Trophy, firstly in 1990 and again in 1998. They were also Yetton Plate finalist’s in 2016.

On top of those National honours the club and individuals  have had success in many of the D.C.I.B.A and D.C.L.I.B.A competitions.