How It Began

On January 30th 1933 at the Meyrick Park Bowls Pavilion a meeting was held with a view to forming a County Bowling Association.  The Delegates were from the following Women’s Bowls Clubs:- Bournemouth ( Mrs Daws, Mrs Sayer & Mrs Barnsley), and Moordown ( Mrs Tiller, Mrs Rickard & Miss White) Southbourne ( Mrs Sims, Mrs Woodcock, & Miss Miell) also present were Mrs Dawes & Mrs Miell.

The idea of a County association was deemed non viable so a local Association was formed namely the Bournemouth & District Women’s Bowling Association.

The next meeting was on February 20th 1933 to form the committee. Clubs present were Bournemouth, Moordown, Southbourne, Alum Chine and New Milton. Mrs Daws was elected as the first President, Mrs Tiller as Vice-President and Mrs Miell as Hon Secretary & Treasurer.

The annual subscriptions were fixed at 21 shillings per club.
A 6 rink friendly was arranged against the EWBA at Southbourne. Tea was served after the match at a cost of 1/6p per head.

The first competitions arranged were Singles and Pairs.
Finals arranged to be played at Meyrick park on 31st Aug 1933. Prize money of 1 Guinea for the winner of the Singles, 10/6 for the runner-up.
10/6 for each of the winners of the Pairs and 5/- for each of the Runners-up.
The first winners of the Competitions were:-
Singles Mrs. Barnsley (Bournemouth)
Pairs    Mrs Miell & Mrs Woodcock (Southbourne)

In 1934 Lymington joined the B&DWBA and a Fours Competition and Secretaries Cup was introduced. Ringwood applied and were accepted in September 1934.

Competition fees were set at the first AGM at 2/6 for the Singles, 1/6 each for the Pairs and 1/6 each for the 4’s. A rule concerning the Pairs entry was decided as :- the runner-up in a clubs Singles championship competition would choose a partner for the following year in the B&DWBA Pairs Competition. Cup and trophies were donated or paid for from the proceeds of Whist & Bridge Drives.

The first Annual Dinner and Presentation was held on November 19th 1935 at the Pavilion, Bournemouth.

Leagues

The first winners of the League in 1933 were Southbourne.

New Divisions were formed slowly as more women took an interest in the sport.

• B - Division was formed in 1958
  C - Division in 1966
  D - Division in 1980
  E - Division in 1984
  F - Division in 1988
  G - Division in 1991
  H in 1993 but was abandoned at the end of 2001.

G Division became a “Two Wood Triples, 21 end” game in 2006 to keep it alive.
The 7 Divisions have remained to this day.