News & Announcements

Due to ongoing circumstances, league matches scheduled for tonight may be cancelled and rearranged to take place before 31st August. If teams & clubs do not contact each other then it is assumed that the game is going ahead.

Please also note: 

• If the situation continues, midweek matches may also be affected and potentially cancelled. 

• If the U25 Trial is impacted, players will be notified directly with further information and updated arrangements.

We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. Please keep an eye on our social media & website for the latest updates.

FAO Team & Match Secretaries

A reminder that, under League Championship Rule 11, master scorecards must be submitted by both teams within 5 days of the match being played.

Unfortunately, we are seeing an increasing trend of scorecards not being returned. Going forward, match results will only be published once scorecards from both teams have been received and matched. Late submissions will result in delays to results being posted and league tables being updated.

A new feature has been added to the league website which now highlights outstanding scorecards awaiting submission. These must be submitted ASAP!

How to submit your scorecard:

Via the website: https://nipgl.co.uk/send-us-your-match-results/

Download PDF & Excel master scorecards from the same page .

Send a photo of the completed scorecard via WhatsApp in the PGL groups or directly to the League Secretary on 07812 111427 .

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jno4RGHZb9OGnB01HczGaC?s=sh&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=1

Email: leaguesecretary@nipgl.co.uk

Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep league records accurate and up to date.

Honorary League Secretary

Damien Bintley

The following players have been selected to play in the NIPGBL Junior Inter Association Trial at Ballymena B.C. on Thursday 11th June. Please arrive at 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start.

All players are advised to bring 4 bowls. Dress code - Club colours. No catering will be provided.

The Inter Association Series will be held at Ballymena B.C. on Sunday 26th July. If any player is Not Available for the Trial or the Series please let William Watters know ASAP (Tel: 07821 120635).

The following NIPGBL players have been selected to represent Ireland in the British Bowls International Series to be held in Ayr, Scotland from Thursday 25th June – Sunday 28th June.

Follow live updates on today's scores at the following link

Now that the season is well underway could I ask all clubs to carefully check their registration / capitation figures. Our new player tracking system has indicated that 14 clubs have already played more players than they have registered.

Hopefully this has just been a result of new members joining after the club accounts were paid. It should be noted that no club should be using more players than registered. Additional fees should be forwarded to the Treasurer asap.

A further review will be carried out towards the end of the season and any missing payments will be added to club 2027 invoices.

Many thanks for your cooperation.

John Nicholl.

The following players have been selected to represent the NIPGBL in the 15 Man Senior Inter Association Series on Sunday 31st May. Team to report to Belmont B.C. at 9.15am.

Should any player be unavailable please contact William Watters (tel: 07821 120635).

* NEW CAP # RECALL

Due to a clash of dates involving the IBA U25 Assessment Day on Sunday 24th May
and the IBA U18 International Practice on Sunday 5th July, the following competitions
will need to be rescheduled to accommodate these events.

Competitors are requested to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time.

• Youth (U18 Singles) - now Sunday 7th June @ Ards B.C.
• Preliminary Round Games commence @ 12noon
• Quarter Final Games commence @ 2:30pm

• Under 25 Pairs - now Sunday 21st June @ Old Bleach B.C.
• Preliminary Round Games commence @ 11am
• Quarter Final Games commence @ 2pm

Ards B.C. will host their annual Rinks tournament on Sunday 24th May.

Please forward any entries to

• David McCloy on: tel 07891 810467

The following players have been selected to play in the NIPGBL 15 Man Inter Association Trial at Belmont B.C. on Thursday 7th May. Please arrive at 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start.

• Singles - (4 bowls) first to 21 shots or 2 hours 15 minutes including trials
• Pairs - (3 bowls per player) - 18 ends or 2 hours 15 minutes including trials
• Triples - (2 bowls per player) - 18 ends or 2 hours 15 minutes including trials
• Fours - (2 bowls per player) - 15 ends or 2 hours 15 minutes including trials
• There will be no burnt ends with the jack being re-spotted on the tee
• Games will start and finish on a whistle/hooter. Completing the end when hooter sounds.

Dress code - Club colours. No catering will be provided.

The 15 Man Inter Association Series will be held at Belmont B.C. on Sunday 31st May. If any player is Not Available for the Trial or the Series please let William Watters know ASAP (Tel: 07821 120635)

Clubs are reminded that all competition fees should now have been paid.

Club account fees should be paid no later than Friday 24th April, either by bank transfer or cheque (see details on the account form). Please note that the account form must also be completed and returned to the Treasurer by that date.

Many thanks to those clubs who have already made payment and good bowling to everyone in the season ahead.

Clubs are requested to submit results ASAP at the end of each league & cup game. This can be done via WhatsApp groups, messaging or emailing the League Secretary or by using the Send Us Results link on the website. Master Scorecards must also be returned.

Alex Mills of the Sunday Life newspaper will continue to provide weekly coverage of games. Results must be provided by 7:30 each Saturday evening, for publication in this national newspaper.

Alex is included in the WhatsApp and Send Us Results link, but can be contacted by voice or text on M: 07703649629 or email using either alexmills3@yahoo.co.uk or slsportsdesk@hotmail.com

Please support Alex in providing this important avenue of media coverage for our Association.

A reminder to clubs to submit entry forms for this season's Championships on or before Friday 17th April.

All male & female bowlers aged 18 or under are invited to the IBF Pathway Day.
📆Sunday 19th April
📍Dunbarton Bowling Club
🕙9:30am - 1pm

In attendance will be:

• Paula Montgomery (U18 Ladies Manager)
• John Nolan (U18 Ladies Manager)
• Gary McCloy (U18 Men's Manager)

The Irish Bowls Federation are encouraging clubs to host a Try Bowls Open Day across the weekend of:
📆Friday 24th, Saturday 25th or Sunday 26th April.

All scheduled NIPGBL league fixtures for Saturday 25th April will take precedence over the Try Bowls Open Day and must be fulfilled on this date.

Clubs can also choose a date to host their Try Bowls Open Day that they find more suitable across the season.

📍To register and receive some help and advice on hosting your clubs Try Bowls Open Day, please contact:

📧 chris@irishbowlsfederation.co.uk or 📧 ian@irishbowlsfederation.co.uk

The NIPGBL is proud to partner with Kukri Sportwear as our official apparel partner.

Kukri Sportwear will equip the NIPGBL Inter Association Teams with high quality apparel and are already involved with supplying club teams at Larne, Balmoral & Old Bleach. They will be involved with a presence at some of our events across the the 2026 season.

If any club would like to get further information on Kukri products, please contact:

Colin Roden - colin.roden@kukrisports.com

The NIPGBL G.P. Committee extends it's congratulations to the following individuals on their recent appointments within the NIPGBL & IBA.

• Gary McElroy - Ireland Team Manager
• David McCloy - IBA Governance Officer
• Mark Tait - IBA Competitions Secretary
• Neil Mulholland & David Copeland - NIPGBL Selectors

We wish them all every success in their new roles.

The G.P. committee would also like to place on record it's sincere thanks to outgoing selector Michael Nutt, who has recently stood down from the role. His dedication and contribution to the game and our association are greatly appreciated.

The G.P. Committee is pleased to announce that Ards Bowling Club has been awarded the hosting of the NIPGBL Championship Semi Finals.

The committee thanks those member clubs who submitted Expressions of Interest and appreciate their continued support.

The League Fixtures for the 2026 season are now available to view and download.

The draft calendar for 2026 is now available.

Please note, all dates are subject to change once all Championship entries are received.

Under 25 & Under 18 Singles have 'holding dates' - dependant on entry numbers, these could potentially be played off in one day.

Closing date for Championship entries is Friday 17th April 2026.

The draft calendar for 2026 is now available.

Please note, all dates are subject to change once all Championship entries are received.

Under 25 & Under 18 Singles have 'holding dates' - dependant on entry numbers, these could potentially be played off in one day.

Closing date for Championship entries TBC at the March General Purpose Committee Meeting.

League and Cup entry forms for the 2026 season have now been issued to all club secretaries.
✅ As with match scorecards, electronic returns (text, email, or photo) are preferred
📬 Postal returns are also acceptable
🗓 Closing date: 31st January 2026
Any club requiring secretary details to be updated, please contact:
David McCloy - NIPGBL Honorary General Secretary
📞 07891 810467

If you have any questions (other than contact details), please contact:
Damien Bintley - NIPGBL Honorary League Secretary
📞 07812 111427