ARDS BOWLING CLUB: VETERANS

ARDS VETERANS TEAM

Fixtures 2024

ZONE B Section 3

6th May 2024 Ards v BYE

13th May 2024 Ballywalyer v Ards

20th May 2024 Ards v Pickie

27th May 2024 Donaghadee v Ards

3rd June 2024 Ards v Comber

10th June 2024 Ards v Londonderry Park

17th June 2024 Ward Park Utd v Ards

24th June 2024 BYE v Ards

1st July 2024 Ards v Ballywalter

22nd July 2024 Pickie v Ards

29th July 2024 Ards v Donaghadee

5th August 2024 Comber v Ards

12th August 2024 Londonderry Park v Ards

19th August 2024 Ards v Ward Park Utd

ZONE B Section 3A

6th May 2024 BETS v Ards 2

13th May 2024 Ards 2 v Pickie 3

20th May 2024 Ards 2 v Donaghadee 2

27th May 2024 Ards 2 v Ward Park Utd

3rd June 2024 Ards 2 v Pickie 2

10th June 2024 Ards 2 v Pickie 3

17th June 2024 Ards 2 v Ward Park Utd

24th June 2024 Ards 2 v BETS

1st July 2024 Pickie 3 v Ards 2

22nd July 2024 Donaghadee 2 v Ards 2

29th July 2024 Ward Park Utd v Ards 2

5th August 2024 Pickie 2 v Ards 2

12th August 2024 Pickie 2 v Ards 2

19th August 2024 Ward Park Utd v Ards 2

Zone B, Section 3, Northern Ireland Bowling League Champion's

Ards Bowling Club Veteran's number 1 team 2022.

Cecil Ralph, Veteran's President 2022

Veterans President day

Monday 13th Sept 2021

George Bennett Snr, Veteran's President 2021.

George Bennettt (Sen)

1st Prize - Ian Smyth

2nd Prize Crawford McIvor

3rd Prize - Will Smyth

Visitors Prize - George Gibson

A big well done to the Veteran's section in raising £207.00 in todays ballot which they have kindly donated to the

Macdermott Unit at the Ulster Hospital.

Thanks also to Drew Melville and Brian Blake for the work they do to keep the Veteran's section running smoothly all year round.

Sunshine and smiles all around
2019 VETERANS PRESIDENT'S DAY

26th August 2019

The weather was absolutely brilliant, wall to wall sunshine) and the green was in great condition (Thanks to James)

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who turned up on the day and gave me their support in making the day a great success.

The amount of ballot prizes provided by members was exceptional and allowed the ballot to Raise £215 which id going towards Mac Millan Cancer Support

The 'Battle of the Sexes trophy'

Before the match started everyone took part in the 'spider' and the closest bowl to the jack was Lilians (a toucher carrying the jack with it) nice play Lilian and it was rewarded by an Easter egg.
The green was a it heavy and it proved a tester and a 'good warm up' for both teams before the season gets underway.

The game was played in a good friendly spirit along with a bit of 'bragging' but generallyit proved a close and entertaining match

The game finshed after 14 ends with two rinks up and two rinks down

The charity fundraiser - Total of £64

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KNOW YOUR TEAM MATES

George Hollinger 2018 President

George has been a member of Ards B.C for the past eight years and is a regular player in the Midweek and junior squad. His previous club was Londonderry Park.

George is both a versatile and competiive player and always willing to help out in anyway possible within the club plays an important role in selecting the Veteran teams.

Before retiring George was a builder with his own business in construction, and although he has no particular favourite T.V. programmes he enjoys exercising in the local leisure centre enjoying keeping fit by regularly completing several lengths in the swimming pool.

George also takes a keen interest in learning and updating his computer IT skills.
A widower with two sons and three grandchildren

2020 President

George Bennett (Senior)

After joining Ards approx. eight years ago George has been a regular 'Lead' in the Veterans Team and made several apperances on our Midweek team. A keen competitor both on the green and on the indoor short mat, not only in the Club but helping run the Indoor Bowling Club in his local Presbyterian Church George has six grandchildren and lives in the nearby West Winds estate along with his wife Betty. Being in the Merchant Navy in the early part of his life George has travelled numerous parts of the world and can tell many stories of the many ships he served on, his tasks and exploits around the globe and the ports he visited. . After serving eleven years in the Navy George was employed and well known in the local farming community and also helping with landscape gardening, where he still maintains an keen interest in the gardening side of things. In his early years and coming from a family of a well known boxers, Geroge was a member of the Millisle Boxing Club and was runner up in the all Ireland Bantamweight class. His brother Bertie (with his fancy footwork)was the KO specialist in the area and was known as 'Pocket Marcheiano' although George also claimed many KO's through out his career.Apart from a keen ineterst in boxing and watching the fights on television he also enoys wildlife programmes. It is good to see George being elected to serve as Vice President fo 2019 and wish him every success in the future

Francis Mullan Francis, a past President has been a member of our club for twenty five years (Plus) Playing for the Veterans for over eleven years Francie has obtained many honours at an indvidal level and also with the team. He won the Veterans pairs three time over, once when President and followed it up by winning the pairs title the following year when Vice President (well done Francis, not any can say the same) He was the first winner of the David Smylie Charity trophy. While playing with the team when they won the Stevenson Cup, Hatch Cup, The May trophy and league champions on several occassions. Francie also helps out by playing the occassional Midweek match. During his early days he served in the Merchant Navy travelling around various places in the world then worked in Pritchett Foods before retiring in 2006. Frances is always willing to assist with 'the backroom chores' with the vets. Married to Maureen they have three children and seven grandchildren. When relaxing at home watching Sport and Quiz shows helps pass his time.

Waring Yorke

Waring has been a member with our club for over 20 years and during during that timewhen representing the veterans playing his part in winning several Cup and League honours.During his working career he was a Foreman fault inspector with W.Ewart and Blackstahh co. in the weaving industry with before spending fifteen years in Donaghadee Carpets before retiring.

His pastimes were mostly ballroom dancing when along with his wife enjoyed several dances. When relaxing Waring enjoys detective stories, mysteries and the odd cowboy movie on television, although he still likes to keep a keen eye on 'Strictly' to remind him his bygone years when he graced the dance floor.

Bryan Lynn Past President

Bryan joined Ards approx. five years ago after gaining experience with Londonderry Park and Pickie B.C. During that period he gained league honours (L'Derry Pk) & Midweek Cup winners, runners up in Vets pairs (Pickie) Further success followed with Ards when he won Veterans singles title, open Pairs and Vets pairs plus Div 5 league promotion, Midweek and Junior Cups wins. Bryan usually plays skip with vets but willing to play any position and enjoys good comradeship both on and off the green. Bryan developed and designd the current website and take a very keen interest in updating the bowling club website along with the organising his walking club's Blog/website.
His interests varies from photography, painting/art work (member of Ards Art Club), hill walking, sequence dancing, storytelling/yarnspinning, getting out to the odd show, DIY and travelling abroad plus spending time with his grandchildren. Bryan is a retired Staff Training Officer, a widower with two children, three grand children

Brian Duncan

Brian has been with Ards B.C for 15 yrs approx. and prior to that he worked as a shipwright in South Africa. During that period in S.A. he proved to be an experienced Provincial bowler. Brian played lead for Durban Bowling Club 1973 - 2003 in South African National Competitions for twenty years and was honoured to be selected from over 300 clubs to represent his club where his matches took him to various provinces playing with his skip and third (who were both Springboks) to Transval, Johannesburg and Cape town.

During his time with Ards, Brian has been a keen member of the veterans squad playing on several winning teams in various cup and league competitions. Now retired for several years Brian is still as passionate as he ever was about his game and shares his experience to encourage his team mates in every way. (Married to Ella who also played and won several competitions with our Ladies team) they have 3 boys an five grandchildren. Brian enjoys watching TV viewing discovery channels, Quest i.e Mighty ships, sport , comedy programmes i.e. Father Ted and Fools and horses.

Updated 3rd June 2019

Members/players