Carluke Bowling Club celebrates 150 years in April 2014
History of Carluke Bowling Club
It was in 1864 that " A bowling Green having by many been considered a desideratum in Carluke, a number of gentlemen friendly thereto consulted together during the summer of 1864 as to the propriety of instituting a Bowling Green in the district." Thus the records detail the birth of the Club. A colossal sum of £87-2s-6d was raised, the current site originally leased, a Committee formed, and local banker Thomas Matthews elected President.
The first game ever played by the Club was against Galahill, for a very handsome pie, which was duly served to the players involved, in the Commercial Inn. The first challenged match played at Carluke was against Lanark with a 104 - 77 victory on 25/9/1865. The first club trophy was a rinks competition, played for a gold medal presented by the President.. The first Clubhouse was built in 1866 for £20.00, and replaced in 1887 with a new Clubhouse costing £84-5s-2d.
The first game ever played by the Club was against Galahill, for a very handsome pie, which was duly served to the players involved, in the Commercial Inn. The first challenged match played at Carluke was against Lanark with a 104 - 77 victory on 25/9/1865. The first club trophy was a rinks competition, played for a gold medal presented by the President.. The first Clubhouse was built in 1866 for £20.00, and replaced in 1887 with a new Clubhouse costing £84-5s-2d.
Tom Frame Snr.
Rink play was the main form of play in those early years. Prizes were invariably donated by members or friends. Promiscuous games were usually played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Club proved to become a force to be reckoned with in Lanarkshire, in the run up to 1900, when the Scottish Bowling Association held its first Rinks championship in 1893 at Queen's Park B.C., Their rink led by skip Tom Frame reached the final, only to lose by 4 shots to Kilwinning B.C. Frame then led teams to another 6 consecutive finals, losing the 1895 final by 3 shots to Kilmarnock B.C. but won the title in 1896 with a 21 - 14 victory over Edinburgh.
A year later saw schoolmaster W. A Russell reach the SBA Singles Championships, also at Queen's
Park, only to lose to Andrew Johnston of Troon B.C. In 1875, the South Lanarkshire Bowling
Association was formed and Carluke won its first "SLBA Challenge Cup" in 1881. The tournament started in 1875, conditions being the cup became the property of a club if they won it on 3 occasions or twice in succession. Carluke achieved that with victories in 1876, 1880 and 1881.
The second Challenge cup was won by Wishaw in 1889. It then became the Hozier Cup and the first of
these was won by Lesmahagow. The second one became ours with victories in 1898 and 1900.
The third one went to Stonehouse in 1904, and the fourth became ours in 1906 with two successive victories. The last of the Hozier Cups had to be won on five occasions before it became the Clubs
property, and Carluke claimed that one in 1921, having been successful in 1907, 1908, 1913, 1920 and 1921. There was no cup the following year, and was succeeded by the Jackson Trophy which is still
competed for annually to this day. We have won this competition on 11 occasions, the last being in 2001.
There were further attempts at the SBA titles after 1900. Tom Frame reached the SBA finals at Queen's Park again in 1902 and 1903.
W. A Russell reached the SBA Singles again in 1901, as did Archie Ramsay in 1906, losing out to eventual winner T. Logan (Whitevale) in the Semi-final. Tom Frame, Jnr, tried to emulate his fathers success of 1896 at Queen's Park in 1919, but fell at the last eight a further 3 SLBA Challenge Cups were won by 1922.
Meanwhile, the Club continued to prosper and grow as it headed for it's 50th birthday in 1914, which it celebrated with a Golden Jubilee Medal, won by A. M Ramsay from 73 entries. The Club then held its 1st Ladies day, instigated by the young outstanding President, John Gass, and
followed that with a Jubilee Open tournament, played single-handed over a week, and won by the famous R. Sprott of Wishaw. These turned
out to be financial successes and a great deal of money was raised for the war effort. No Cup games or friendly matches were played during 1914 and 1915. Fifteen members volunteered to fight for their country, and fortunately, all came back unscathed except one, viz Private James Gibson who was killed at the infamous Battle of Loos in France in 1915.
As the older bowlers passed on, the were replaced by men such as A.M. Ramsay, J. C. McDowall, W. Stein, W. Core, S. Pringle, J. S. Russell and
Tom Frame, Jnr., who carried on with similar successes as their mentors before them. The Ladies Section was started in 1930, instigated by men such as John Gass, MA, W. A Russell and Thomas Boyes. Their first President was Martha Paterson, wife of the Gent's President. The ladies soon proved to be a valuable addition to the Club, particularly in fund raising. Their time on the green, however, was limited initially to 3 hrs/ afternoon, 3 days per week, but that changed around 4 years later.
The 2nd world war came and went, and soon preparations for the centenary were under way. It would be impossible to talk about Carluke
B.C. without referring to the Adamson family. George S. Adamson was President in 1941 and 1964. George was a local businessman, who
supported the Club in many ways, particularly financially at a time when membership was low and finance was limited. A good bowler, he won
many Club prizes, and won international caps in 1946 and 1951 and was selected for the British team that toured South Africa in 1958. He was also President of the LBA in 1948.
He had two sons, Dougie and Graham, who started bowling around the age of seven. They joined the Club in 1951 and 1953 respectively.
Dougie won the President's Prize in his first year and the Championship the following year, to become the youngest winner, only to be followed
in 1954 by brother Graham, again the youngest ever winner. Dougie then became the youngest winner of the LBA Singles trophy in 1957, a feat mirrored by Graham in 1959. They both won the Titwood Singles Championship, the Aberdeen Corporation Singles Tournament, and the Gibson Watt Trophy at Llandrindod Wells in Wales, to become the first brothers to win that trophy. Graham won the Carluke championship 4 times to
Dougie's 6.
Around that time, a club could only nominate one player for international trials, so father George had enrolled both of them as members of
Titwood B.C. in Glasgow. Whilst Dougie went on to become an established international, from 1960 to 1967, Graham made the trials but did not follow Dougie. He did however represent Lanarkshire at indoor in 1966. Later, when Dougie moved to Wales, he joined the Llanbradoch B.C.,
and won their championship also. His abilities were then recognised by the Welsh Bowling Association, who asked Dougie to represent them on condition he gave up the chance to play again for Scotland. Dougie, having felt his chance for Scotland had gone, reluctantly agreed, and
represented Wales in 1976 and 1977, and never lost a game.
Meanwhile, the Club had been refurbished for the centenary, a new badge had been created, and a bar had been installed. Further extensions
to the Club were added, a tour party established in 1970, we joined the Lanarkshire Leagues in 1976, a junior section was started in 1986 and
equal rights for the ladies was achieved in 2000. In the run-up to the Millennium, the ladies held an annual Charities day, and raised thousands
of pounds for various concerns over the years. We also built a new Locker Room which is the envy of many Clubs.
Back on the green, 1986 saw the emergence of Stewart Harrison, when he won his first Championship. He has since gone on to win almost
every Club trophy there is, has represented the Club at County level and has reached the Scottish Finals at Northfield in 1999, losing out at the
last four. His record within the Club is incredible. He holds the record of 7 Championships, 8 President's Prizes', 1 Adamson Trophy, 1 All Winners
Trophy, + Rinks and Triples and Pairs Championships. He won both the Lanarkshire Champion of Champions and Clydesdale Champion of
Champions in 2007, 2008, and 2009. He also represented Lanarkshire North in the International Millennium Tournament at Northfield in 2000. He was Club President in 2006 and is renowned in Lanarkshire. Who knows what he might yet achieve.
W. A Russell reached the SBA Singles again in 1901, as did Archie Ramsay in 1906, losing out to eventual winner T. Logan (Whitevale) in the Semi-final. Tom Frame, Jnr, tried to emulate his fathers success of 1896 at Queen's Park in 1919, but fell at the last eight a further 3 SLBA Challenge Cups were won by 1922.
Meanwhile, the Club continued to prosper and grow as it headed for it's 50th birthday in 1914, which it celebrated with a Golden Jubilee Medal, won by A. M Ramsay from 73 entries. The Club then held its 1st Ladies day, instigated by the young outstanding President, John Gass, and
followed that with a Jubilee Open tournament, played single-handed over a week, and won by the famous R. Sprott of Wishaw. These turned
out to be financial successes and a great deal of money was raised for the war effort. No Cup games or friendly matches were played during 1914 and 1915. Fifteen members volunteered to fight for their country, and fortunately, all came back unscathed except one, viz Private James Gibson who was killed at the infamous Battle of Loos in France in 1915.
As the older bowlers passed on, the were replaced by men such as A.M. Ramsay, J. C. McDowall, W. Stein, W. Core, S. Pringle, J. S. Russell and
Tom Frame, Jnr., who carried on with similar successes as their mentors before them. The Ladies Section was started in 1930, instigated by men such as John Gass, MA, W. A Russell and Thomas Boyes. Their first President was Martha Paterson, wife of the Gent's President. The ladies soon proved to be a valuable addition to the Club, particularly in fund raising. Their time on the green, however, was limited initially to 3 hrs/ afternoon, 3 days per week, but that changed around 4 years later.
The 2nd world war came and went, and soon preparations for the centenary were under way. It would be impossible to talk about Carluke
B.C. without referring to the Adamson family. George S. Adamson was President in 1941 and 1964. George was a local businessman, who
supported the Club in many ways, particularly financially at a time when membership was low and finance was limited. A good bowler, he won
many Club prizes, and won international caps in 1946 and 1951 and was selected for the British team that toured South Africa in 1958. He was also President of the LBA in 1948.
He had two sons, Dougie and Graham, who started bowling around the age of seven. They joined the Club in 1951 and 1953 respectively.
Dougie won the President's Prize in his first year and the Championship the following year, to become the youngest winner, only to be followed
in 1954 by brother Graham, again the youngest ever winner. Dougie then became the youngest winner of the LBA Singles trophy in 1957, a feat mirrored by Graham in 1959. They both won the Titwood Singles Championship, the Aberdeen Corporation Singles Tournament, and the Gibson Watt Trophy at Llandrindod Wells in Wales, to become the first brothers to win that trophy. Graham won the Carluke championship 4 times to
Dougie's 6.
Around that time, a club could only nominate one player for international trials, so father George had enrolled both of them as members of
Titwood B.C. in Glasgow. Whilst Dougie went on to become an established international, from 1960 to 1967, Graham made the trials but did not follow Dougie. He did however represent Lanarkshire at indoor in 1966. Later, when Dougie moved to Wales, he joined the Llanbradoch B.C.,
and won their championship also. His abilities were then recognised by the Welsh Bowling Association, who asked Dougie to represent them on condition he gave up the chance to play again for Scotland. Dougie, having felt his chance for Scotland had gone, reluctantly agreed, and
represented Wales in 1976 and 1977, and never lost a game.
Meanwhile, the Club had been refurbished for the centenary, a new badge had been created, and a bar had been installed. Further extensions
to the Club were added, a tour party established in 1970, we joined the Lanarkshire Leagues in 1976, a junior section was started in 1986 and
equal rights for the ladies was achieved in 2000. In the run-up to the Millennium, the ladies held an annual Charities day, and raised thousands
of pounds for various concerns over the years. We also built a new Locker Room which is the envy of many Clubs.
Back on the green, 1986 saw the emergence of Stewart Harrison, when he won his first Championship. He has since gone on to win almost
every Club trophy there is, has represented the Club at County level and has reached the Scottish Finals at Northfield in 1999, losing out at the
last four. His record within the Club is incredible. He holds the record of 7 Championships, 8 President's Prizes', 1 Adamson Trophy, 1 All Winners
Trophy, + Rinks and Triples and Pairs Championships. He won both the Lanarkshire Champion of Champions and Clydesdale Champion of
Champions in 2007, 2008, and 2009. He also represented Lanarkshire North in the International Millennium Tournament at Northfield in 2000. He was Club President in 2006 and is renowned in Lanarkshire. Who knows what he might yet achieve.
There were many good players at the Club in those days, and it is documented that in the 40 years up to 1910,
Carluke bowlers won around £1200.00 in money + prizes. Major tournaments started to attract attention at that time. Some of these competitions had huge entries and took weeks to play off, notably Kingston, Hutchiesontown, Moffat and Sanquhar.
One of Carluke's finest players was John Pillans, who was almost a professional tournament player. He won at
Newcastle, Thornhill, Ayr, Hawick, Lochmaben, Moffat, Dalry and thrice at Sahquhar. He was also runner-up at Moffat, Newcastle, Thornhill, Dalbeattie, and Cardiff. His greatest victories were probably his 3 Welsh Open championships in 1910, 1912 and 1913, beating many English and Welsh internationalists. He also held an English Championship Badge, having won the English Rink Championship with Newcastle West End in 1906.
He also toured Canada with the British team in 1906 and 1910, playing in every game He was also President of the Lanarkshire Bowling Association in 1907-08. The LBA had been established in 1897, and its primary objective was
"the fixing of arrangements and prizes in connection with the County v City match and any matches with other
districts in which it may be agreed to engage".
Robert Cringan of Carluke B.C. was one of the early directors. However, the fore-sighted Pillans suggested to the LBA that a separate competition be arranged for the benefit of Association Members only at a meeting in 1912. This suggestion was "unanimously disapproved" and it was eight years later that Blackwood Victoria succeeded with a proposal that both a single-handed and a Rink competition be played on a knockout John Pillans system. Sadly, by the time the se competitions were started, Pillans' health had started to deteriorate, and he passed away in 1921 at an early age of 47.
Carluke bowlers won around £1200.00 in money + prizes. Major tournaments started to attract attention at that time. Some of these competitions had huge entries and took weeks to play off, notably Kingston, Hutchiesontown, Moffat and Sanquhar.
One of Carluke's finest players was John Pillans, who was almost a professional tournament player. He won at
Newcastle, Thornhill, Ayr, Hawick, Lochmaben, Moffat, Dalry and thrice at Sahquhar. He was also runner-up at Moffat, Newcastle, Thornhill, Dalbeattie, and Cardiff. His greatest victories were probably his 3 Welsh Open championships in 1910, 1912 and 1913, beating many English and Welsh internationalists. He also held an English Championship Badge, having won the English Rink Championship with Newcastle West End in 1906.
He also toured Canada with the British team in 1906 and 1910, playing in every game He was also President of the Lanarkshire Bowling Association in 1907-08. The LBA had been established in 1897, and its primary objective was
"the fixing of arrangements and prizes in connection with the County v City match and any matches with other
districts in which it may be agreed to engage".
Robert Cringan of Carluke B.C. was one of the early directors. However, the fore-sighted Pillans suggested to the LBA that a separate competition be arranged for the benefit of Association Members only at a meeting in 1912. This suggestion was "unanimously disapproved" and it was eight years later that Blackwood Victoria succeeded with a proposal that both a single-handed and a Rink competition be played on a knockout John Pillans system. Sadly, by the time the se competitions were started, Pillans' health had started to deteriorate, and he passed away in 1921 at an early age of 47.