Northern Bowling Club Open Day will be pride of our Ally

March 26, 2025 2:27 pm

Northern Bowling Club, Warriston, have arranged an Open Day on 27 April (12-4pm) aimed at encouraging those interested to try bowls for free.

Everyone is asked to turn up with flat-soled shoes but other equipment will be provided and registered club coach Garry Harrison will be in attendance, making sure things are fun and friendly for newcomers.

Alasdair Mitchell, who’s been playing at Northern BC for the past two years as a relative newcomer to the sport himself is organising the Open Day.

He said: “I’m really aiming at people in their 30s and 40s who live within a mile of the club, but it’s open to everybody of all ages. Last year was the first season that we were able to put together a ladies team and enter them into the Edinburgh Bowling Association leagues so it’d be great to see that section grow even more but we could always do with some new blood too!

“In that regard a junior section is being proposed.

“My father did get me into bowls as a child but in my teenage years I drifted away and developed other interests, as can happen. But rediscovering the sport in my 30s has been brilliant. Not only has it added more routine and a new passion into my life, but I’ve met a bunch of great people. I think that after COVID lockdown a lot of people were feeling like they could do with something to reconnect them to their communities, and it’s really been the perfect thing for that.

“As someone with an autism diagnosis I’ve also found bowls to be very inclusive and welcoming as well an ideal sport for training focus while being social around a structured activity.

“I just want more people to experience the joy that you can only get by seeing a bowl bend perfectly towards the jack, as well as benefiting from their local community, social gatherings, and gentle aerobics benefits.”