34 Gilmour Road Edinburgh EH16 5NT
Craigmillar Park Bowling Club is long established and located in the Newington area of South Edinburgh. New members are always welcome. As bowling is all about having fun, our only age qualification is that you be young at heart
Everyone welcome - turn up to any session to play and learn.
Sessions:
Saturday - Coaching - 10.00am
Saturday - 1.45pm play at 2.00pm
Monday - 5.45pm play at 6.00pm
Wednesday - 1.45pm play at 2.00pm
Dates to remember
Club Championship 21 July
Presidents Charity Match 10 Aug
Men v Women 24 Aug
Club Competition Finals 15 Sep
Mixed Pairs 22 Sep
Closing Day 28 Sep
Bruntsfield Sports
28 July @ home
4 August @ Braid
18 August @ WH & G
Braid Friendly (ladies) 30 May
Dumfermline (H) 6 July
Dunfermline (A) 31 Aug
Falcon (H) 7 Sept
Summer Fair Saturday August 17
This years summer fair had to be postponed until August due to the repair work undertaken following the December storms.
Despite a grey day, the 2024 summer fair attracted a good number of visitors from the local area. As well as different ways to give bowls a try, including the popular penalty shoot out, we had a vast array of plants, home baking and handmade goods.
The tombola and raffle were popular and we raised a very welcome £800 which will help keep the club going.
We’re grateful for the support of members and neighbours for our annual event.
Presidents Day 2024
On Saturday 10 August, President Donald Bunting hosted his charity day with dry but blustery weather. The afternoon started with 4 pairs games, of 10 ends each, followed by drinks of prosecco, nosecco, tea or coffee and a splendid Italian cake.
Prizes were awarded to Mary (an annual visitor from Bedford) for being the first person to touch the jack, and to Jim Howie & Ben Harte for having the highest deficit of all the games.
Sarah Howie, Ron Blane & Ruth Addinall won the raffle prizes and then everyone returned to the green for a bit of fun.
First off, a jack had been placed in the centre of the green, and everyone stood around the edges, and rolled their bowl simultaneously towards it; it moved around a few times, but when everything came to rest, Allan Paton had the nearest bowl.
Secondly, a jack was placed in front of some small goal posts, and everyone had to try and score a goal with the jack. First time around, Alison MacLeod and Sally Vick came close but with the last bowl, Ben Harte scored the winning goal. The goalposts were then moved, and this time Christine Simpson scored with no-one else in the running.
A very enjoyable afternoon, and just over £550 was raised for Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts, a charity whose aim is to relieve poverty by providing meals and support to people across Edinburgh free of charge and without judgement.
Bruntsfield Sports Sunday Triples 2024
The opening event of this years contest started on Sunday 28 July at Craigmillar Park, with visiting teams from Braid and Whitehouse & Grange. President Donald Bunting handed over the green to David Hudson for the start of three 5 end games on a pleasant sunny afternoon. Tea and biscuits followed. The results from stage 1 gave Craigmillar Park a significant lead on their home green.
Craigmillar Park were last years winners, the first playing of the revised format with a new sponsor. Past President Christine Simpson had been responsible for sorting out the engraving and her husband Allan had made a wooden plinth for the trophy to stand on.
Stage 2 of the contest, held on Sunday 4 August, gave Braid a lead on their own green but Craigmillar Park took one point more than their fair share, so weren't downcast.
Stage 3 was held at Whitehouse & Grange on Sunday 18 August on a blustery day with occasional sunny intervals. The green played well for Craigmillar Park, who took 14 of the 36 points available, and came out overall winners. A very good tea was served to everyone before the trophy was presented by David Hudson to Donald Bunting.
Club Championships 21 July 2024
The Men's & Ladies Championships were played on a very pleasant afternoon. In the Men's game, marked by President Donald Bunting, Richard Hicks took an early lead, but Walter Vassie came back to be peeling at 8 all after 10 ends. The game see-sawed: 17 ends was 12 all, and 25 ends was 18 all. A very close game but Walter took the next 2 ends to finish the game at 21-18. In the Ladies' game, marked by Honorary President Derick Scott, it was very even being 8 all after 10 ends. Then Ruth Addinall streaked ahead to be 17-8 up after 16 ends. Frances Lindsay wasn't finished though and, at 22 ends, the score was 19-18 to Ruth; a 3 in the next end clinched the game for Ruth. The spectators commented on how thrilling both games had been. After the presentations, everybody enjoyed a strawberry tea organised by Vice-President Walter and his wife Anne.
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On an overcast day (11 July) at Juniper Green, Christine Simpson was representing the Club in the SELBL Singles final. She had beaten Merchiston in a very close 31 end game at Liberton, and Whitehouse & Grange at Brunstane to get to this stage: but it was not to be her day against Carol, a previous winner, from Brunstane.
A sunny afternoon saw the delivery of six new bowls gatherer scoops from Bebington Steps in Ottery St Mary. The purchase of these was possible because of a very kind legacy left to the Club by Morag Graham.
Saturday 6 July saw Vice-President Walter welcoming President Jimmy and Dunfermline Bowling Club to Craigmillar Park for the first of two fixtures this season. Despite the weather forecast, it was a pleasant afternoon with only a brief shower interspersed with sunshine. As the 15 end games were coming to a conclusion it looked as if the home team had the advantage but the last two ends saw a change of fortune for the visitors who went on to win 57 points to 50. An excellent tea was served to us by Walter & Ann.
The second fixture is due to be played at Dunfermline on Saturday 31 August.
After the early December storms when the stone boundary wall collapsed and damaged the tool shed and the back of the tearoom, the tearoom has now had the back wall replaced and the stone wall has been rebuilt. The tool shed has had to be demolished.
Saturday 11th May was a beautiful sunny day and 19 players took part in the mixed hat game, with 2 spectators, to celebrate the return to operational status of the tearoom.
Opening Day 2024
Saturday 27 April at 2pm
This season the start was delayed due to the amount of rain earlier in the year. By 27 April, it was decided that the green was ready for play. Twenty two members arrived to play with five spectators. It was a lovely sunny day but still a bit on the chilly side. President Donald Bunting welcomed everyone to the green and Ladies Champion Frances Lindsay rolled the silver jack to officially open the green. This year those playing for the Vice-President triumphed over the Presidents side, quite substantially. The highest up Vice-President's rink was Tom Lenagan, Derick Scott, Anna Fowlie and George Hanson. The highest up President's rink was Allan Paton, Donald Bunting, Carole Ross and Jennifer Elder. They were all presented with a small prize.
2023 CLOSING DAY
It was really wet on closing day there was no chance of play, the green was flooded so
we played Bingo.
2023 Prizewinners
Men v. Ladies - Caroline Miller Shield - Winners- The Ladies
2023 Champions and Runners Up.
Go to the Gallery to view all the photos Anne took on the day. Speak to her at the club if you would like some prints.
We had a fantastic day at Dunfermline this year.
Conditions were a bit windy but the company and the food were lovely as usual.
Craigmillar Park won the cup by three points. Thanks to all who organised the day and to those who took part.
Photo, Jimmy presenting the cup to Christine.
Opening Day April 2023
We were really lucky with the weather for Opening Day with a good turn out. It was lovely to see everyone, both players and spectators. Last years club champion Sally Vick opened the day by rolling the Silver Jack.
The Vice Presidents team won again this year!
The tea was fantastic thanks to all contributors, absolutely everything was eaten!!
Brilliant start to the season
Great photographs by Iain Henderson - click HERE to view more.
CLOSING DAY 2022
Club Singles Championship Day July 2022
Dunfermline Friendly
We had a lovely day on Saturday 2nd July, playing our annual friendly match against Dunfermline Bowling Club . It was the first time since Covid stopped the game taking place, which has been a fixture for over 70 years.
A lovely meal was provided by Walter and his wife Anne. All the raffle prizes were won by Craigmillar bowlers! However pictured is Christine Simpson presenting the trophy to Darren Henderson for Dunfermline bowlers who won the match by one point!
Bishopbriggs v Edinburgh Friendly 2022
The Edinburgh Ladies team at Bishopbriggs
Ruth Addinall and Christine Simpson were on the Edinburgh Ladies team that went to Bishopbriggs Bowling Club for the annual friendly match. It was a fantastic day, lots of great company, lovely food and good bowling. There were 6 full rinks and Edinburgh had the highest overall score. It has been an annual fixture since 1948, with only the 2 years out for Covid, so next year, the 75th Anniversary should be a really special day.
2022 Season
Opening day this year was great. Very well attended by regular members and lovely to see old and new faces.The green was opened with the silver jack by Anna Fowlie. Our first day match was the President's teams v the Vice-President's teams. The winners were Derick Scott, Tom Lenagan, Anna Fowlie on the Vice-President's team.
Anna Fowlie opening the green with the silver jack.
Presidents past, present and future!
It has been a particularly good season weather wise, and the green has been looking extremely good for the latter part of the season (unlike last year!).The anti fox fence has turned out to be an excellent investment.
