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ASHFORD IBC: THE CLUB WITH A FIVE-YEAR-OLD MEMBER, A 95-YEAR-OLD MEMBER AND A ROBIN WHO MOVED IN |
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Around 300 players transferred
from the old facility at Stour Sports Centre when the new building
opened in September that year. Most already played outdoor bowls
during the summer. Today, membership is around 500, with roughly half the club continuing to play outdoors as well as indoors. There is also a striking age range. Members are aged from five to 95. The club was built by Ashford Borough Council to replace the sports centre facility, which had only been available during the winter. Andy Thomson and Sandy Hazell officially opened the new centre. More than two decades later, Ashford has established itself as a busy six-rink club with competitive teams, junior players, social bowling and a steady programme of community use. Its approach to membership is deliberately broad. There are playing, junior, student, social, associate and community memberships, allowing people to get involved in different ways.  The club also makes a point of mixing players wherever possible. The men's and women's Kent League matches are separate, but friendly games are mixed. The directors are playing members themselves, while the annual Company and Club AGMs take place on the same evening, followed by an open forum for members. The club says this helps keep decisions connected to the people using the building. It has also changed the way it organises its playing activities. A Playing Committee, which had become difficult to manage, was replaced by two teams: Playing and Rink Utilisation, and Coaching and Recruitment. Several other roles have been simplified, with the Membership Secretary and Chief Steward reporting directly to the Board. Away from the rink, the bar is run by club volunteers and the catering operation is provided by a family working exclusively for Ashford. Both have become an important part of the club's day-to-day operation. A place for more than bowls Ashford's six rinks are used by a range of groups. The club is home to the Kent Short Mat Bowls Association, which holds its home matches and internal competitions at the centre. Short mat players travel from across Kent, and the club is now regarded by the association as its home venue. Some short mat bowlers also use the centre on Thursday evenings for practice. In addition, every Tuesday afternoon, the building welcomes Ashford Bridge Club. The club also works with Imago, an organisation that helps people who are experiencing loneliness or social isolation to become involved in activities and meet others.  Some people who first came to the club through Imago have subsequently joined as members and made friends through bowls. There are also links with local youth organisations. Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies have attended evening sessions, while a local disability school has recently asked about providing a regular bowling opportunity for sixth-form students. Businesses can use the club for team-building activities, while organisations can also book the centre for lunches and other events. The club has found that Facebook advertising and encouraging existing members to bring friends and relatives to social events has produced a consistent stream of new players, but an Open Day is planned for October 2026. Starting out New players are given six initial coaching sessions, with each person allocated a coach. Those who join the club can then attend organised Tuesday afternoon sessions. For people who work during the day, the club tries to provide evening opportunities through roll-ups and organised sessions on Thursdays and Fridays. New bowlers also have their own competition, while groups can book a regular weekly slot at a discounted rate through contract bowling. There are plenty of ways for members to play outside formal league competition, including friendly games, internal leagues, Scroungers and Pitch Up & Play sessions. Success stories The club currently has 32 junior members, several of whom are already making an impact in county and national competition. Anthony Aylward reached the National Finals of the EBYDS in October 2025, while Tom Christian competed in the National Finals U18 Singles during the 2025/26 season. Chloe Annand was named Kent County Junior Player of the Year for 2025/26 and also reached the EBYDS National Finals in 2026. Harrison Oliver has represented Kent's Under-18 'A' team and Isla Morton the Under-18 'B' team.  The senior ladies have enjoyed considerable success too, winning the Kent League five times in the last six seasons. They reached the Yetton Plate final in Nottingham during the 2017/18 season, when Cheryll Palmer was also County President. Chris Breeds and Anne Rutland have won the County Pairs for the past three years, while Hazel Larkin became County Singles champion in 2026. Bringing people together Community activity is a regular part of the club's calendar. The club has an ongoing fundraising arrangement with Ashford Hospice, collecting 50p for every wrong-bias wood. More than £5,000 has been raised over the years. The captains choose a charity each year and a Charity Fun Day is held in March. The relationship with Imago is another source of satisfaction for the club. Some of the people introduced to bowls through the organisation have gone on to become members, giving them another opportunity to meet people and take part in a regular activity. Another talking point at the club is its resident robin, which managed to get through a small hole in the wire fence behind the bar and kitchen and made a nest in a cardboard box. She laid her eggs and raised two chicks, while members kept an eye on the family and accepted that part of the storage area was temporarily out of bounds. It became something of a club project, with members concerned about the welfare of the robin and her young. Protecting the future The biggest issue facing Ashford is not on the green. The club is currently in discussions with Ashford Borough Council about its lease and the rent it pays for the building. The annual rent is currently £66,547. Under the existing arrangement, the club expects that figure to rise to almost £80,000 in 2028. The club believes that would be unsustainable and is seeking a change to the lease so that the rent is set at a level it can afford. It also wants to explore the possibility of taking ownership of the building rather than eventually returning it to the council when the 50-year lease expires. Those discussions are continuing In the meantime, the club is planning further investment in the facility, including a new carpet and underlay in 2028. The existing surface is the original carpet installed when the building opened. For a club that has grown
from around 300 members to 500 over its first 20 years, maintaining
a suitable and financially viable home is central to its plans.The aim is to continue growing membership, particularly among juniors and newer players, while retaining the mixture of competitive and social bowling that has developed since the centre opened. Ashford has no shortage of activity. There are county players, national finalists, juniors, beginners, short mat bowlers, bridge players and community groups using the building throughout the week. The challenge now is making sure the club has the financial security and facilities to keep up the good work so Ashford's future generations can continue to enjoy the game. By Sian Honnor We' d love to know what bowls means to you, get in touch at info@eiba.co.uk Previous Article - GLASGOW 2026 IS OVER - NOW THE REAL WORK BEGINS FOR INDOOR BOWLS CLUBS |
October 2026
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