The Isle of Wight County Bowling Association was formed in 1921, and for the first eight years the President was Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., DL
The Island for the most part plays in 4 competitive leagues, three of which are Saturday leagues and one which is played in midweek.
When formed, the competitions consisted of just one league. Who played for the 'Baring Shield'. The competition was won in the first year by Newport B C after a tie with Ventnor B. C. The Newport club then going on to win the title, and shield in the second year.
The second division was started in 1924, and played for the 'Green Shield' which was presented to the Association by F V Green, who was the President in 1931. The first winners of this division were Shanklin B C. The league carried on with two divisions until 1955, when the third division was formed, this division play for the Warner Shield, presented by Warners, the well known leisure company. The first winners of this division were Cowes B.C.
The Afternoon League, was formed in order that members of the association who could not arrange to play on Saturdays could play during an afternoon in the week. This league was formed in 1974 and although of a more social nature still competitive, the first year the league was won by Newport B C. In 1998 the Afternoon League was expanded into two sections, the first winners of Section A was Cowes Medina D and section B by Plessey E. No trophies were presented for either division until 2006 when a trophy was presented by the Camphill Club, with the winners of each section playing each other to claim the trophy.
At present the Island association consists of 13 clubs who between them enter 48 teams in the various leagues.
In addition to the league competition the Island clubs play for other trophies, the L C Guy Shield, which is a straight knock-out competition, played for by the Saturday league teams and commenced in 1964, and was won for the first time by Ryde B C. The Colin Ridett Trophy played on the basis of using all disciplines from singles to fours. The first winners were Ryde Marina B C. The runners-up are awarded the Eddie Williams Trophy.
In 1998 the Harris Cup, was presented for a straight knockout competition for the Afternoon Leagues, the first winners were Plessey B C.
For individual bowlers we have the Peter Dunston Memorial Trophy, first presented in 2002, and is awarded to the bowler who is the most successful in the county competitions, each bowler gaining points in each round of the 4 disciplines from the quarter finals through to the national finals at Worthing. To date we have had three different winners.
In 1926, the County played a South African touring side and won by 140 shots to 44. In 1928 a touring New Zealand side came to the Island to play the County and lost by 132 shots to 102.
1931 was a great year for us, we were runners up in the Middleton Cup and E P Topp of Ryde won the National Singles Championship.
We have had several National runners-up since then, but never a Champion.
The runners up were:
- 1933 P Guy of Shanklin, singles;
- 1935 J E Gallagher of Cowes, singles;
- 1958 F Crockford of Bembridge, singles;
- 1967 S Vidler, S Baker & S G Wade of Ryde, Triples;
- 1989 B Croad of Ventnor, singles;
- 1996 C New, P Furmidge & P Dunston of Cowes Medina, Triples.
On the International scene, we have had four English International players, 1935/36/37 P Guy; 1935 M D Burdon; 1963 T H Blake and 1999 D Griffith Junior International.
We have had Presidents of the English Bowling Association, in 1981 Tom Blake was elected to serve; he went on to serve as President of the English Indoor Bowling Association for the season 1988/89.
In 2004 we had the honour of having Ian Morrill take up the reins of President of the EBA, he did a wonderful job, both for bowling on the island and for bowling in general
The Island Association originally sponsored by the Shanklin Manor House Hotel, is now sponsored by SCIO Healthcare who not only provided our coloured shirts shown in the photograph but assist in the running of the Island competitions.
