Our bowling surface is considered, throughout Wales, as second to none and our modern clubhouse the envy of many. The Tenby club, leaders on and off the bowling green has inspired the rest of Pembrokeshire clubs to follow suit to the extent that the County are regularly contributing to the national scene, administratively and supplying talented bowlers for the Welsh Team.
The Tenby Bowling Club was formed by a syndicate which included many of the town's leading businessmen. They purchased the South Cliff Gardens and had a full sized bowling green built by Mr Rae of Merthyr. The bowling surface was sea washed turf from Loughor on the Carmarthen Bay and a Tenby builder, Mr William Davies erected a neat little wooden pavilion in the south east corner of the grounds.
The first open tournament which started on Monday 2nd June 1924 and ran for two weeks. It consisted of the singles 'Gold Cup' competition which, was completed in the first week, accompanied by a pairs competition which ran into the second week. Several 'Ring' contests (target bowls) were also fitted in to accommodate the Tenby members and other visiting bowlers who were unable to enter the main event. Amateurism was strictly adhered to in pre-war days so any prize monies were always given in voucher form. These vouchers were redeemable from local businesses who supported the Tenby club. The tyros of the Tenby club were obviously not expected to advance very far when they entered this highly competitive event, Tenby's first 'Open', so a special prize of a set of bowls was presented to the Tenby bowler progressing the furthest before elimination.
The launch of the Tenby Open Tournament in 1924 was a great success and social occasion, mainly because of the full support of the populace and business community of Tenby. This interest and support has been constant throughout the whole life of the club and has been much appreciated by successive management committees. Fund raising has been an on-going task and from inception, generous donations from patrons, subscribers and latterly, Vice-presidents, Sponsors and bequests have been the life blood in the survival of the Tenby Bowling Club.
The tournament rules of 1924 laid down that the Gold Cup, presented to the winner annually (which he proudly took home) could only be won outright if won by the same person in three consecutive years or four times in total. The cup came close to being won for a third successive time in 1948, but the hot favourite, the Rev. LJ Howells of London, winner in 1946 and 1947 and who let it be known that he would claim this coveted trophy if he won it again, met his match early in the competition when a Tenby bowler and church organist, Albert Bevan foiled his plan much to the relief of the club officials. Naturally at the next AGM the tournament rules were swiftly changed, making the Gold Cup the property of the Tenby club in perpetuity. In 1981 Cedric Brown of Hull proved to the the last winner to take the valuable trophy home for the year. Cedric generously agreed to have the trophy valued for us by a jeweller friend of his for insurance purposes. Later when the management were appraised of it's value, £10,000 (scrap value £2,500) the rules were further amended so that the prestigious Gold Cup never left Tenby again. Now, after presentation and the photographic sessions, the cup is returned to the safety of the bank's vaults.
The first winner in 1924 was Mr Josh Rees of Penarth, who repeated the feat in 1925. The first Tenby bowler to win this very desirable prize was Mr F Walker in 1927.
1936 saw changes when the idea of introducing a worthwhile second singles trophy was solved when Howells the Jewellers of Tenby presented the club with a magnificent bowl named 'The Percy Howells Silver Bowl.' This new addition is equally sought after and it has enhanced the pleasures of our open week. Yes a week ! At some stage in our history the tournament was reduced to a week and moved to the beginning of August, when Tenby's summer activities are at their peak. In the 1950's the pairs competition was superseded by a consolation singles trophy aptly named 'The Five Arches Cup.' Competitors have to be eliminated during the first round of the two main trophies to qualify for the 'Five Arches' draw which is made on the Wednesday of the open week. Once again this is another hotly contested event, much appreciated by the knowledgeable spectators, many of whom are bowlers who have come just to soak up the competitive and friendly atmosphere. Tenby's bowling green has been developed into one of the finest in Wales, lending itself to the highest quality bowling witnessed annually.
The first winner of the Silver Bowl in 1936 was Mr SJ Jenkins of Pembroke Dock and the Five Arches was won by a Mr C Canton of Treorchy in its inaugural year 1950. In 1961 a Tenby member entered his wife in the open tournament. Gwenyth James, a regular bowler when they lived in the Midlands, who still smiles at the incident, caused quite a stir around the green when the competitors realised that a lady had entered this strictly all male affair. Fortunately she did not progress very far before elimination saving the organisers from having to make any awkward decisions. At the following AGM Mr James apologised profusely but put forward a very strong case for allowing ladies to become bowling members. After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that ladies could, for the first time, play officially on Tenby's hallowed turf.
One of the finest Tenby singles players to emerge was Crofton Johns, who made history in 1954 by doing the double, winning the Silver Bowl and Gold Cup in the same year, a magnificent feat of sustained skill and stamina. He then became the first Tenby bowler to win the Gold Cup for a second time in 1969. Desmond Wickland entered the history of the club in 1964 being the youngest winner of the Gold Cup when he was 33 years old when bowling was still very much a retired gentlemen's game.
In the 1980's the WBA scrapped the minimum age limit and with the encouragement of the clubs in the area, especially Tenby, it was not long before new stars of tender years started to emerge. Young Simon Evans of the Saundersfoot club, a 23 year old, fired everyone's imagination in 1985 when he won both the major trophies. Simon won the Gold Cup again in 1991 and as if this was not impressive enough, having joined the Tenby club enroute, broke all records by doing the double again, which included a third record breaking win of the much cherished Gold Cup in 1994. One may be entitled to wonder if such pinnacle of excellence will ever be reached again ? WELL, in 1995 a very young Tenby star proved that nothing was impossible when he emerged from a wonderful week of high class bowling clutching both the major trophies at the tender age of 19. His name is Lee Williamson and to prove it wasn't just luck, Lee made the headlines again by winning the Gold Cup for a second time in 1996.
The club is deeply indebted to the many Tournament Secretaries over the years. The first was the driving force amongst the founders, Mr George Ace, club captain (in the days before there were chairmen) and his title was Tournament Director. Theirs was a daunting task and up until 1982 it was a one man show. Thereafter it became a team event when the vast workload was shared under the guidance of the Tournament Secretary. Of course there are always exceptions, in 1966-67 the husband and wife team of Iris and Wallace Davies shared the task very efficiently.
Looking back over the years since the founders launched that first tournament in 1924, I feel sure that they would be more than pleased with the way the club has developed on all fronts especially on the green. The open tournament with its magnificent trophies is still the leading attraction in Tenby's bowling calendar.
I wish to acknowledge that I gleaned a lot of my information from previous articles supplied by the late Mr Arthur Ormond, MBE, and from the Tenby Observer, to whom I and the Tenby Club are greatly indebted. ~ B. Barnikel, TBC Archivist.
