Welcome to Ropner Park Bowling Association, elsewhere on this site you
will be able to follow links to everything you need to know about, what I believe,
are the best bowling greens in the North of England !!
As Chairman since its inception in 1991 I would very briefly like to tell you
how dedication, perseverance, and very hard work has achieved this.
This was a council run facility, and they were finding it very difficult to cope
with the two greens, so they asked the 6 different clubs who played at the park if
we would like to take over.
After a meeting of all 6 clubs we decided to have a go, our Association was
formed; all of the clubs were represented on the committee. The council did
help us a lot, but our own dedicated members were fantastic. We also obtained
a lottery grant of £14000 to improve the pavilion, and a grant from
the sports foundation of £8000 for a watering system.
Please go through the rest of the site, to see just what we have on
this very friendly, and welcoming facility.
Sincerely,... and looking forward to welcoming you personally .. |
The Clubs of The Association | ||
Ropner Park Bowling Club |
Ropner Ladies Bowling Club |
Ropner Vets Bowling Club |
Rooks Bowling Club |
Stockton United Bowling Club |
KBC(Formerly Kvaerner Bowling Club) |
The Bowling Greens or Ropner Park are affectionately known as "The Park"
by Association members - and in particular by the members who make up the team of volunteer green keepers.
Here we see our Head Green keeper (Standing Right, in picture), waiting to get started on
routine greens maintenance with one of the other volunteer men who make up the dedicated team that has produced
such excellent greens.The facilities are ,we believe, second to none and have been achieved through sheer hard work
coupled with correct training and application of basic principles.
Such is the standard achieved, that in 2001 (and again in 2002) The Ropner Greens and environs won
the prestigious "Northumbria in Bloom" competition. This standard remains today.
More about greenkeeping ........
As part of the management effort the lottery grant has enabled further continuous improvement to take place.
Facilities now exist for disabled bowlers - and here we see one of them playing in a league match.
The future will see further improvements in the provision of better
facilities for spectators - these may include provision of more car parking, a new pavilion
extension which may have an "all weather" viewing area. "We are not just fair weather bowlers"
We are also active in maintaining a community effort, and to encourage all ages to participate,
a "Schools Liaison Team" has arranged with local schools for pupils to enjoy learning the sport
as extra curriculum activities. Here we see pupils from Oxbridge School, Stockton, being taught various skills
-- and having great fun at the same time!!