Now it’s time to roll the bowls again!

The NIPBA’s outdoor bowls season got under way on Saturday April 13 at Brooke Park Bowling Club, Derry, with the raising of the Association’s flag, a friendly game of bowls and a dinner in the White Horse Hotel.

NIPBA annually runs not one, but three outdoor bowls leagues, six cup competitions as well as a National Championship.

The Association’s recently revamped League format has three leagues, one with nine teams and two with ten teams. These three leagues, which benefit from Progressive Building Society’s support, are: Senior League, Division 1, and Division 2.

The next local games take place as follows: Division 1 - Tuesday 23rd April 2013 - Ballycastle v Cookstown B, City of Derry B v Dunluce B, Ballymoney B v Kilrea

Division 2 - Wednesday 24th April 2013 - Ballycastle B v Portstewart, Castlerock v Riada.

Senior League - Saturday 27th April 2013 - Dunluce v Brooke Park, City of Derry v Ballymoney.

The President of NIPBA, Mickey Fahy (from Brooke Park BC) says: “Hopefully this year we’ll benefit from a little more sunshine than last year, but whatever the weather we’re delighted that Progressive Building Society has chosen to continue to support the leagues.

“Our Association has some 750 members through 19 clubs which span as far south as Omagh, to as north as Ballycastle. We very much welcome new members to come along and try out the sport. For details on your nearest club, please feel free to contact Tommy Smith on 07803211326.

“Progressive is delighted to be supporting the Northern Ireland Provincial Bowling Association,” says Lorraine Johnston, Progressive’s Customer Services Manager at the Coleraine Branch.