About Ulster Transport Bowling Club

utbcgreen1

HISTORY

Ulster Transport Bowling and Tennis Club was formed in 1944 as the LMS Bowling Club and shared the bowling green at Grove Park in Belfast. The club affiliated to the IBA in 1945.

At the end of the Second World War, the club’s members approached the LMS to ask for financial assistance to help provide a private bowling green, tennis courts and a clubhouse for the staff of the company. This was agreed to and plans were put in place for the development on land close to the local railway line.

The land (now Lynda Avenue) in Jordanstown belonged to farmer Johnny Jenkins and after a number of discussions he agreed to sell it to the club, allowing work to begin on building the facilities. The Jenkins family still have ties to Ulster Transport to this day with his grandsons John and Trevor Hanvey both active members of the club. John is also a past president of the club.

In 1946 the tennis courts were opened and July 1948 saw the opening of the bowling green by Lord Masserene and Mrs F. A. Pope. With the advent of the newly formed Ulster Transport Authority, the club changed its name from LMS Bowling Club to Ulster Transport Bowling and Tennis Club and all LMS employees were able to join (at that time membership fees were deducted from their wages).

The Ladies section was formed in 1965 and known as Jordanstown Ladies Bowling Club. The founder President was Mrs Meta Wilson, wife of Robert who founded the club.

Membership was declared open in 1971, having previously been restricted to transport workers and with increased membership the club house has had numerous extensions over the years.

The ladies section was unified with the men's section in 1990 and carry the same club name.

GREEN, ASSOCIATIONS AND TEAMS

Ulster Transport Bowling Club has one green with six rinks and floodlights in the quiet residential setting of Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

The club is affiliated to the Northern Ireland Private Green League (NIPGL) and Irish Bowling Association (IBA) as well as the Northern Ireland Women’s Private Greens League (NIWPGL) and Irish Women's Bowling Association (IWBA).

During the bowling season we field five teams in the NIPGL (Saturday A, B and C teams and two Midweek teams), two teams participate in the Veterans’ League and the Ladies have two teams in the Senior and Junior Divisions of the NIWPGL as well as three teams in their East Antrim League.

The club also participates in various cup competitions run by the governing bodies and holds multiple club competitions.

All visitors are welcome with coaching available on selected days between April and September and open days are also held throughout the season.

Throughout the club’s almost eight decades as part of the Newtownabbey community, it has been successful on and off the green (see Honours Section below) and hosted the finals of many local and national outdoor Association Competitions.

Short Mat Bowls is played indoors during October and March and the club is in two leagues - Carrick and District and Six Mile Water. There are six mats with practice on a Monday afternoon and multiple club competitions for members as well as Saturday Fun Days which are open to anyone.

MEMBERSHIP, ACTIVITIES AND VALUES

There are over 100 bowling members and a thriving associate membership (free membership is available to anyone under 16 years of age).

There is a very active social scene with Quiz Nights, Bingo, Line Dancing, Live Music, Snooker, Pool and a function hall for larger club events which is also available for hire for many activities, including parties, wedding receptions, society meetings, dance classes and indoor markets.

We are immensely proud of our heritage and keep the Club’s original values close to our hearts and put them into action every day, providing excellent and memorable service to our members and guests is an honour that creates a great sense of satisfaction for all our staff.

We strive not just to provide entertainment but also a hub for people to meet, learn, and create memories and stories that they pass on and tell for generations to come.

FEES

All fees are due by the end of March.

Full Member: £120 per year
Associate: £50 per year
Under 16: Free

See the Membership Menu for full details and an application form.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 2022 - 23

President: Alex Hurley
Vice President: Geoff Dickey
Secretary: Liz Jones
Treasurer: Joel Shannon
Match Secretary: Joel Shannon
Other Members: Alison Thornbury, Billy McGrath, Karan Tate and Mark Trew.

LADIES COMMITTEE 2022 - 23

President: Marie Trimble
Vice President: Ann Spence
Past President: Rosemary Arthurs
Secretary: Moyra McCandless
Treasurer: Linda Cornhill
Match Secretary: Lynda Saberton
NIWPGL Reps: Ann McLaughlin and Roberta Tinsley

SHORT MAT SELECTORS 2022-23

Ann McLoughlin, Joel Shannon and Peter McKnight.

OUTDOOR SELECTORS 2023

MEN - Mark Trew, Peter McKnight (A Team), Alex Hurley, Jackie Hammond, John Montgomery (B Team), Bryn Rea and Joel Shannon (C Team and Midweek Teams).

LADIES - Ann McLaughlin, Linda Cornhill, Roberta Tinsley

SPORT

All league and cup fixtures, draws, live scores, results, tables, teams and individual player statistics for Ulster Transport Bowling Club are available in the Sport Menu with links to Match Reports and other related content in the News Menu and social media.

FACILITIES
The club has a wide range of facilities, including two bars, lounge, live sport (Sky and BT), function room, snooker room, viewing gallery, modern kitchen for catering, committee and changing rooms, bowling green, large car park, disabled access and is located within 50 yards of the Jordanstown Railway Station.

The bar is open from 6pm - 11pm Monday to Thursday, 6pm - 12.30am Friday, 12pm - 12.30am Saturday and 1.30pm - 11pm Sunday.

Facilities Group 1

Facilities Group 2

WEDDING RECEPTIONS

The very spacious main hall is available for hire and used for many different types of functions (for example birthday parties, discos, indoor markets etc) as well as a venue for wedding receptions. Contact the club using the online form for full details including prices.

Facilities Group 3

Facilities Group 4

CATERING

The club appointed new caterers in April 2023 and a wide range of excellent food is available every week from Thursday to Sunday (see the Catering Menu for full details).

A new Breakfast/Brunch Pre-Match Bowlers Fry is now available every Saturday from 12 noon - 2pm during the outdoor season.

New Catering Hours at UTBC 500x500     New Menu for Fri Sat Sun 500x500

ENTERTAINMENT

The club has a very active social calendar throughout the year, including quiz nights, bingo, music, fun bowls, BBQ, fitness and a lot more, see the calendar in the Events Menu for full details as well as regular articles in the News Menu.

TOURS

The club has organised many tours since 1944 and an annual trip to Potters Resort in January to see the World Indoor Bowls Championships is part of the plans for 2024 (see the Tours Menu for full details).

CLOTHING

A range of personalised and Ulster Transport Bowling Club branded clothing is available, see the Store Menu for a full list of products and how to order.

ADVERTISING

If you wish to support Ulster Transport bowling Club through our Official Partner Programme, see the Advertising Menu for full details and an application form.

HONOURS
The club has multiple league, cup and individual honours since it was founded in 1944.

MEN

NIPGL Presidents

Stuart Frew 1957
Sam Baxter 1984
Peter McKnight 2022

NIPGL Competitions Secretary

David Irvine 20+ years

IBA International Players

Brendan Thompson 1995 - 2005, 2007, 2009 - 2011

Paul Daly 2001 - 05, 2008 - 2012

IBA Under 25 International Players

David Coulter, Stephen McKinley

NIPGL Association Players

Brendan Thompson, Paul Daly

IBA Cup Winners

IBA Intermediate Cup 2023

NIPGL League Champions

Division 1 Champions 2001
Division 2 Champions 1985, 1989
Division 3 Champions 2022*
Junior Division 1 Champions 2004*
Junior Division 2 Champions 1989
Midweek Division 1 Champions 2008*, 2009, 2010, 2012*, 2014
Midweek Division 2 Champions 1988

NIPGL Cup Winners

Senior Cup 1997, 2000, 2005
Junior Cup 2004*, 2022*
Midweek Cup 2008*, 2012*

League and Cup Double*

NIPGL U18 Singles Champions

Daryl Green 2007

NIPGL U25 Singles Champions

David Coulter 1995
Stephen McKinley 2000

NIPGL Singles Champions

Paul Daly 2011
Mark Trew 2020

NIPGL Junior Pairs Champions

Davy McCartney, Mark Devlin 2022

NIPGL Pairs Champions

David Thompson, Brendan Thompson 1990
Paul Daly, Brendan Thompson 2004
Paul Daly, Brendan Thompson 2005
Paul Daly, David Coulter 2006
Paul Daly, Brendan Thompson 2009

NIPGL Triples Champions

David Thompson, Robert Craig, Brendan Thompson 1991
David Coulter, Stephen McKinley, Rodney Fiddis 2003
Paul Daly, Brian Daly, Brendan Thompson 2005
Paul Daly, Stephen McKinley, Brendan Thompson 2011

LADIES

IWBA Presidents

Meta Wilson 1982

NIWPGL Presidents

Meta Wilson 1979
Ann Phillips 1999
Linda Cornhill 2018

NIWPGL Treasurer (2000 - present)

Ann Phillips

IWBA International Players

Margaret Hanvey, Roberta Tinsley

NIWPGL Association Players

Meta Wilson, Meta Baxter, Margaret Hanvey, Tillie Simms,  Ann Phillips, Bridget Craig, Meta Orchin, Ada Pauley, Roberta Tinsley,  Ann McLaughlin, Linda.Laughland

NIWPGL Fours Winners 2000

Bridget Craig, Margaret Ferguson, Cecilia McCalmont, Ann Phillips

NIWPGL Junior Pairs Winners 2023

Alison Thornbury, Lynda Simpson