Tillicoultry Bowling Club
incorporating Devonvale Bowling Club
established 1852
Club History
Tillicoultry Bowling Club was opened on the 5th August 1852 after an approach by some of the business and professional men of the town to the owners of Tillicoultry Estates, the Wardlaw family who granted a piece of land free of charge for all time so long as it remained the property of Tillicoultry Bowling Club. The site given was the present one in the town's Moss Road. A small clubhouse was built and then in 1908 a new building, the basis of the present clubhouse was erected. This building remained unchanged until the early sixties when it was extended on the south side to provide a kitchen and ladies toilet. Later an extension was built on the north side to provide a locker and games room plus a bar cellar and store. The bar itself was situated between the main hall and the games room with serving hatches to both facilities. In the seventies with the help of a loan from Maclay's Brewery the main hall was extended to the edge of the green.
The Tillicoultry club was a founder member of the Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire Bowling Association, a body which the club has always promoted and supported.The Club has produced 2 outstanding Presidents of the Scottish Bowling Association - Mr Robert McGhee and Mr Robert Lang plus internationalist W Irvine who was first capped from Tillicoultry.
On the Scottish Championship front the Club's only honours to date despite the many members from Tillicoultry to qualify for the Finals is the senior fours rink comprising W.Tulloch, H Oliver, J Lee, and DY Liddell who won the championship in 1970.
In the County Championships the Club have been far more successful, having won Clackmannanshire's top bowling prize, the Balfour Trophy on more occasions than any other bowling club in the county.
In 1971 the club were given the Devonvale green, clubhouse, tennis courts and car park when the works were on the verge of closing down. This gift was gratefully accepted by all the members and all the existing Devonvale bowlers were cordially invited to join the new Tillicoultry Bowling Club (incorporating Devonvale) in time for the 1972 season under the presidency of Mr J Aitcheson. This amalgamation was to prove of great benefit to the new club as with 2 greens more members could be admitted and the extra income from fees (and increased bar sales) has resulted in enhanced playing conditions. Since then the prosperity of the club has been steadily on the increase to its present healthy state and it is well equipped to face the challenge of a new century with the changes and new innovations that such a time brings.
Gents Roll of Honour
Winners of County Championships
Singles
1893 A Bernard
1944, 1945, 1945, 1950, 1951, 1952 & 1956 HB Aitcheson
1998 D BuistPairs
1928 T Blaikie & JY Liddle
1942 T Blaikie & T Gow
1955 T Gow & HB Aitcheson
1959 HB Aitcheson & CP McMillan
1963 C Pollock & A Davidson
1965 J Wilson & J Newlands
1971 W Bunyan & DA RossFours (inaugurated 1969)
1975 J Douglas, A McFadyen, R Patterson, D Patterson
Senior Fours (inaugurated 1978)
1979 D Archibald, A Sommerville, J McPherson, D Patterson
2001 J Krenski, A Cree, J Holt, S LittleTriples (inaugurated 1973)
1973 J McPherson, T Thompson, J Harrower
1983 D Hunter, J McAllister, A Aitken (Jnr)
1993 S Pearson, B Anderson, A BennettJunior Singles (inaugurated 1978)
1984 & 1987 A Aitken (Jnr)
1992 S PearsonMembers since 1952 to have made it to the Scottish Finals
HB Aitcheson, T Gow, J Harrower, T Snaddon, A Aitken Sen., A Aitken Jnr, D Harrower, W Todd, DA Ross, T Graham, W Miller, S Pearson, J Inglis, A Harrower, I Harrower, B Anderson, J Hamilton, A Bennett
2004 - Neil Soloman capped for the under 25 Scottish Team