Draft:58th Old Boys Bowling Club

The 58th Old Boys Bowling Club, are an outdoor bowls club, that was formed in 1957 in North Belfast, Northern Ireland and are currently affiliated with the Northern Ireland Bowling Association (N.I.B.A)[1]

The club is best known for being home to the late Irish international, John Higgins.[2]

The 58th Old Boys Bowling Club is associated with the 58th Boys Brigade and Alexandra Presbyterian Church, whose Minister was former South Belfast Member of Parliament (MP) Martin Smyth. They are the last Boys Brigade associated bowling club in Northern Ireland as of 2023.[3]

Given past members such as, John Higgins, as well as having members that held the role of Secretary & President of the N.I.B.A as well as President of the I.B.A (Irish Bowling Association) through the years,[4] [5] [6] the 58th Old Boys had a long standing reputation of one of great standing. However, during the mid 2000's, the club took a downward spiral and almost disbanded in 2014. A new Management Committee took over the club and in 2016, the club won the division they competed in [7] for the first time since 1998 [8]

2018 saw N.I.B.A rules change that now allowed female players to compete within the association, which led to the first female members joining the 58th Old Boys Bowling Club in 2023.

Recently, individual success has been at the forefront of the club with success for members in the 2023 N.I.B.A Pairs Championship[9] while one member became only the second 58th player ever, after John Higgins to be selected for a N.I.B.A Inter Association Team, albeit, within the Junior (Under 18) Association section. [10]

References

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  1. ^ "58th Old Boys – Northern Ireland Bowling Association". 4 June 2018.
  2. ^ "History – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  3. ^ "Member Club – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  4. ^ "Past Officials – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  5. ^ "Past Presidents – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  6. ^ "History – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  7. ^ "Past Winners – League Division 6 – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  8. ^ "Past Winners – League Division 4 – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  9. ^ "Past Winners – Junior Pairs – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".
  10. ^ "Junior Inter-Association Team 2023 – Northern Ireland Bowling Association".