Beechgrove Bowling Club History
Beechgrove Bowling Club was established in the 1880s and is still on the same site at Beechgrove in Moffat.
The green opened in 1870, but before that there was a green in the town centre where the garden centre now trades, the club having moved there from a green in the centre of the High Street. However, the Scottish Bowling Association records indicate that the club became affiliated to the national body in 1872, with an earlier club of Moffat Baths dating from 1827.
According to the available minutes, the first meeting to form a club was held in the Buccleuch Arms Hotel on 16th April 1873. The first rule to be agreed upon was that the club be called The Beechgrove Bowling Club and will consist of an unlimited number of members and eight officials; President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and management committee of four members.
Those wishing to join had to be recommended by two club members. The entrance fee then was ten shillings (50p), plus an annual subscription of 2/6 (12.5p), payable within one month of the opening of the season. No payment meant no playing until re-elected.
The laws of the game were to be played as per “Mitchell’s Bowling Annual” and that no language unbecoming to gentlemen be allowed. A fine for such behaviour to be a fine of 5/- (25p) for the first offence and expulsion from the club for the second.
In 1878 a medal (gold) was presented by R Macfie of Borthwick Hall and won for the first time by John Johnstone, and perhaps this could be the same family as Jimmy Johnstone, who was the faithful greenkeeper and Secretary for many years?
Most of the away games were played against Dumfries in the 1870s but one or two “foreign” clubs were taken as serious rivals, particularly Peebles.
In the summer of 1879 one vital match was against the “Baths Green”. This was on the ground beside the Baths hall ( or the Town Hall now) and where the Garden Centre is.
In 1880 a handsome barometer was presented to the club to hang on the veranda all summer and then held for one winter by the seasons best rink. The whereabouts of the barometer today is unknown.
In 1910 and 1911 the club agreed to a request from the Company Directors to hold concerts and other events to fund the soaring cost of the upkeep of the green. After 1928, lady bowlers went from strength to strength with a good sized membership playing each year for the Myrtle Cup and the Jean Cup.
In 1941 the Beechgrove Grounds were presented to the people of Moffat by the Tough Family.
Although always a small club, Beechgrove has been consistently successful, and has been represented at the national finals in all six competitions, Fours in 1896, and 1899, Triples in 1975 and 1978, Pairs in 1958, 1980, 1989, 1992, and 1994, Senior Fours in 1973 and 1997, Junior Singles in 1978, and Singles in 1911, 1931, 1977 and 1987. Most successful were the Triples who were runners up on two occasions and the ladies triple who qualified in 2018.
The club has also won the district Top Ten competition on three occasions, thereby qualifying to compete for the Jimmy Page Memorial Trophy, in 1982, 1989, and 2005. Most latterly the club were DBA Triples league champions in 2016 and 2017.
