History of Surrey County Indoor Bowling Association.

Surrey County Indoor Bowling Association

The facts below have been obtained from the Surrey County Bowling Association Centenary Handbook & from the Surrey County Indoor Bowling Association Handbook issued for the 1986-87 Season. (Interestingly the cover of this Booklet indicates that SCIBA was founded in 1976 – a misprint?).  A big thanks goes to Roy Ward who kindly loaned the SCIBA Handbooks from 1986/87 – 2009/10. (no Hand Books seem to exist before 1986/87).  It also seems that no SCIBA Hand Books were produced after the 2009/10 season.

At a Surrey County Bowling Association meeting held at Balham Bowling Club on the 18th September 1971, discussion took place regarding forming an Indoor Association.  At that time only 3 Clubs existed in Surrey; Croydon, Richmond & Temple. Two other Clubs were in the course of construction Tolworth (King George Field) & Guildford (Wey Valley).  It was, therefore, decided to wait until these two Clubs were completed.

On the 7th October 1971, the President of the SCBA was given authority to call a meeting consisting of Two Members from each of the Five Indoor Clubs, and to include Mr J Dunmow. Rules and Constitution were drawn and approved.  Amongst those present were Maurice Baker, Reg St G Good, Chris Rew, Harry Bishop, Vic Oliver & Jack Killick. Vic Oliver was elected as Chairman.  A fixture list was compiled of matches with member Clubs and Counties, commencing in 1972.

Not surprisingly, the outline of the constitution, the style and composition of committees and the principles for arranging matches and competitions followed similar lines to the outdoor body, even to the formation of a Patrons’ Association; equally not surprisingly, Maurice Baker instituted that one. However, when Cecil Crawford asked if the outdoor association “would run the proposed indoor association” he was given short shrift. He was told that “no connection whatsoever was envisaged”.

The two Associations ran side by side with many individuals serving in Office and in Council on both Executives. It took ten years, however, for both Councils to recognise that there does exist a common goal and that there might be benefits in encouraging formal representation on each other’s governing body. EB Taylor was the first Outdoor representative to the Indoor and Geoff Martyr, the first Indoor representative to the Outdoor Association. 

By 1996, Cecil Crawford, Life Member of the EIBA, and bowls administration activist, was recognising an increasing drift between the Associations, and, anxious to maintain management links and encourage a closer working relationship between the Executives, donated a Trophy – the Cecil Crawford Cup – to be played for by representatives of the respective Executive Councils on 12 rinks, six in the indoor season and six in the following outdoor season. The aim was to have a game between the Executives of both Associations that would be played “on a friendly basis”.

Both Associations have had their difficulties in putting out Executive-only players since a number of Officers and Councillors served on both management bodies. The Indoor Association has tended to have the greater measure of success on the green, but in 2000, the Outdoor Executive questioned whether the spirit of Cecil’s objectives were being fulfilled since too few from the Indoor management seemed to turn out for the Crawford Cup.. Regrettably, it took some nine years for senior officers from each Association to get round the table and seek to reinforce Cecil’s ideal. The link remains, though now with less formality and the extent to which both bodies work to achieve the ideal remains to be seen. Many of the same individuals still serve the sport in Surrey on both outdoor and indoor Executives; at the same time, most bowlers still meet socially and bowl competitively with and against each other in summer and in winter. But formal representation on each other’s management councils have, unfortunately, ceased since 2008.

Affiliated Clubs

Brixton            Founded 1986             Camberley       Founded 1987

Croydon          Founded 1937             Donyngs          Founded 1984

Elmbridge       Founded 1975             Closed 2016

Egham             Founded 1985             King George Field      Founded 1971

Mole Valley    Founded 1975             Old Coulsdon             Founded 1974

Richmond       Founded 1933             Sutton                         Founded 1982

Temple Founded 1931                       Wey Valley                 Founded 1972

Further information can be seen in the Hand Book in the SCIBA Website