In addition to the Scottish and Dunbartonshire
County championships, the clubs in our Association participate
in a number of competitions throughout the bowling season. We are
in a very competitive district and we are fortunate to have this
amount of competition. Most of the other associations don't enjoy
competitive Saturday matches like ours.
These are no friendlies. They are all
competitive matches in which the best players available for each
club are selected. The esteem in which they are held is evident
in the liquid celebrations that take place in most of the winning
clubs when the results are announced.
A list of the trophies follows.
Burgh Cup
The Burgh Cup was donated by Baillie William Henderson of Dumbarton
in 1892 when it was competed for by the Dumbarton, Westonlee
and Dumbarton Rock clubs. The format of the competition has changed
several times over the years but it seems to have now settled
into a single day, eight rinks per club competition where each
clubs play all the other clubs bar one over 21 ends. Like most
of the other competitions the scores are aggregated on points
and shots to determine the winner. When the space on the original
cup was exhausted a new cup was presented by the Association
in 1967.
Peter Denny Trophies
The original Peter Denny trophy was donated by Peter Denny LLD
in 1894 and retained by the first person to win it three times.
While the trophy is now competed for in perpetuity it has been
replaced again twice. We are now on trophy number 6. This is
a knock-out, single handed tournament played on all the greens
throughout the season. The final is generally played on the same
day as our Champion of Champions.
William Denny Shield
Donated by the Trustees of the late William Denny who had died
in 1897 and competed for in the same way as the Burgh cup.
China Cup
The Association is fortunate to be the owners and custodians of
such a fine example of the art of the Silversmith. Some local
sea-going engineers who spent some time in China during the early
1900's and collectively known as the "Dumbarton Boys" made a
generous donation of the trophy to the bowlers back home. This
was to be played for in a rinks competition and it now takes
the same format as the Burgh cup, etc.
Taylor Cup
This trophy was donated by John Taylor M.P. O.B.E. in 1919. A match
had been held between the Dumbarton and Clydebank Associations
in 1918 and, since this was to become an annual event the cup
was presented for this competition. The trophy is now the joint
property of the two associations.
Wooden Spoon
The Wooden Spoon remains a bit of an enigma. The donor made it
a condition of acceptance that that no name be attached to it
so no one knows who donated it. There is also some doubt about
when it was first awarded but it has been going since 1928. This
is traditionally awarded to the club finishing at the wrong end
of table of aggregated scores at the end of the season. Since
the Vale and Renton bowling Clubs became full members of the
Association in 1975 neither has "won" the spoon.
Kirkwood Bowl
This silver bowl was donated by another MP, David Kirkwood, whose
parliamentary career spanned 30 years. Once agina played to the
same format as the Burgh Cup.
Champion of Champions
In 1954 it was decided that a play-off competition be introduced
for the club champions. The then local Blackburn Aircraft Factory
donated a fine trophy. In 1981, the space for inscription having
been exhausted, the association replaced this. It is worth noting
that in 2004 the Vale of Leven Bowling Club recorded only their
third victory in this tournament in 51 years of play. the other
two winners were A. McPherson in 1964 and J.H.P. Weir in 1980.
Must do better!
League Pennant
The McLeod League Pennant was presented to the Association by Provost
Alan McLeod in 1956. It has been played under several formats
over the years but it now takes place over five Monday Evening
during the season. On each of these evenings four rinks play
at home and four away over 17 ends with two points being awarded
for a win and one for a draw. Two bonus points are awarded for
the team with the highest points and shots on each green meaning
that there are 20 points up for grabs during each match.
Ballantine Shield
Local Whisky company, Hiram Walker Ltd. donated a shield for an
inter-club pairs competition. This competition normally takes
place on a Monday evening when eight pairs from each club play
against eight of the other clubs over 17 ends.
Cutty Sark Shield/Sid Walter
Triples
With the increase in the popularity of triples
competition in the late sixties it was recognised that an Associated
Clubs Triples Competition would be a worthy addition to the calendar.
Allied Distillers donated a shield as a trophy and sponsored
this competition for a few years. In 1989 a Clydebank busineesman,
Syd Walters, donated a new trophy. The competition follows the
same format as the Burgh cup and was recently switched from a
Monday evening to a Saturday afternoon.
Strathleven Bowl
The then local company, J.B. Scotland Ltd. donated a trophy in
1975. Such was the appetite for inter-club competition in the
ares that another fours competitions was introduced to the existing
program without disruption. This is played on a Saturday afternoon
and follows the Burgh Cup format.
Norrie Stephen Memorial Trophy
As a tribute to one of the most respected officials who gave service
to the Association subscriptions were invited from the clus and
individually from his many friends and a fund created, which
allowed a trophy bearing his name to be introduced in the 1989
season. This too follows the Burgh Cup format. It is worth mentioning
that Norrie's brother Jack is a long standing member, director
and past President of the Vale.
Polaroid Cup
Since the inroduction of the Wooden Spoon around 1929 this was
the only trophy awarded for aggregates in all competitions. The
donation of a trophy by another local company, Polaroid (UK)
Ltd. allowed the Association to award the club with the best
aggregated annual performance in the Burgh Cup, William Denny
Shield, China Cup, Kirkwood Bowl, Ballantine Bowl, Syd Walters
Trophy, Strathleven Bowl and the Norrie Stephen Trophy. Most
club members consider this to be a more accurate reflection on
the season's performance than the League Pennant.
Acknowledgement: Once
again I used the booklet that was printed in 1996 to commemorate
one hundred years of the Dumbarton Associated Bowling Clubs as
a reference source. My htanks arfe due to those who contributed
to that book.
