The Scottish National Bowls Championships is one of the oldest bowls competitions in the world. In 1892, James Brown of Sanquhar Bowling Club and Dr Clark of the Partick Bowling Club formed the Scottish Bowls Association and organised the first rink (fours) championship the following year at the Queen's Park Bowling Club, Glasgow (it was the first national championships and was known as the McEwan Cup).
The first men's singles winner (for the Roseberry Trophy) was George Sprot and his son Bob Sprot was a three-time champion and the first gold medal singles champion at the Commonwealth Games for Scotland.
The championships are organised by Bowls Scotland.
Past winners Men's events Singles (Roseberry Trophy) YearChampionRunner-upRef1894 George Sprot (Wishaw) G. McCulloch (Queen's Park, Glasgow)1895 J. S. Henderson (Dollar) T Forrest (Queen's Park, Glasgow)1896 George Sprot (Wishaw) T. Harvey (West End, Edinburgh)1897 A. Johnstone (Troon) W. A. Russell (Carluke)1898 William Blackwood (New Cumnock) J. Mitchell (Bonnybridge)1899 Thomas Dickie (Hutchesontown, Glasgow) William Aird (Burnbank, Glasgow)1900 Thomas Allan (Kelso) A. Hopkins (Galston)1901 W. Law (Kilbirnie) A. Wilson (Rock, Dumbarton)1902 A. Wilson (Rock, Dumbarton) A. Black (Rankinston)1903 James Brown, Jnr. (Blantyre) A. Corbett (Wellcroft, Glasgow)1904 J. McNaughton (Camelon, Falkirk) Thomas Muir (Beith)1905 James Aitken (West End, Edinburgh)Charles Newall (Grosvenor, Greenock)1906 Thomas Logan (Whitevale Glasgow)Alaxander Goldie (Springhill, Kilmarnock)1907 Dr J. D. Robson (Maxwelltown, Dumfries) R Douglas (Stirling)1908 William Blackwood (New Cumnock)W. Brownlie (East Kilbride)1909 Tom Wilson (Pollokshaws, Glasgow) Samuel Niven (Stenhousemuir)1910 Robert Sprot (Wishaw) W. Minford (Hurlford)1911 A. Goldie (Hurlford)W. Armstrong (Alva)1912 John Dunsire (Buckhaven) Aandrew Carmichael (Aidrian, Falkirk)1913 John McGhee (Coatbridge) W. M. Anderson (Grangemouth)1914 D. Park (New Cumnock) J. Mcintosh (Newbattle) 1915–1918 not held due to World War I1919 M. Hannah (Lady Alice, Greenock) William Scouller (Corstorphine, Edinburgh)1920 Robert Sprot (Wishaw)William Scouller (Corstorphine, Edinburgh)1921 James Brown, Jnr. (Hamilton) William Blackwood (New Cumnock)1922 William Scouller (Corstorphine, Edinburgh) J. C. Irving (Lockerbie)1923 William Scouller (Corstorphine, Edinburgh) J. C. Irving (Lockerbie)1924 W. Hunter (Leven) T. Bell (Lochmaben)1925 Thomas Duff (Airdrie) R. S. Wallace (Earlston)1926 W. Blue (Caledonia, Paisley) E. S. Gauld (Whitehall, Aberdeen)1927 R. H. Jamieson (Marchmount, Dumfries) Robert Sprot (Wishaw)1928 Peter Craig (West End, Edinburgh) John Russell (Bishopbriggs, Glasgow)1929 Robert Sprot (Wishaw)A. S. Pearson (Victoria, Greenock)1930 John Cowie (Carron and Carronshore) W. Templeton (Giffnock)1931 Peter Brown (Udston, Hamilton) H. Smith (Elgin)1932 Walter Wilson (Scotstounhill, Glasgow) R. S. Park (Ardeer Iron Works)1933 R. Banks (Irvine Winton) C. Monteith (Kirkconnel)1934 J. Kyle (Strathaven) D. Fairbairn (Lauder)1935 A. Clark (Dumbarton) J.C. Irving (Lockerbie)1936 T Agnew (Ayr Hawkhill) D. L. Brown (Chryston, Glasgow)1937 Allan Stewart (Lilybank, Johnstone) Junor J,. Watt (Kittybrewster & Woodside, Aberdeen)1938 J. C. Irving (Lockerbie) G. Goldie (Kilmarnock)1939 D. Miller (Leven) J. Rae (Caldercraig)1940 John Young (Weir's Recreation, Glasgow)W Arthur (Barrhead)1941 Adam Dougall (Kirkhill, Glasgow)Charlie Miller (St. Vincent, Glasgow)1942 W. Cunningham (Dreghorn, Ayrshire) Bob Kissach (Burnbank, Glasgow)1943 David Dall (Blantyre Welfare) A. McGuinness (Stewart and Lloyd's, Coatbridge)1944 David Dall (Blantyre Welfare) Bob Kissach (Burnbank, Glasgow)1945 Jimmy Irving (Lockerbie) J. A. Goodall (Kirkhill, Glasgow)1946 Adam Dougall (Kirkhill, Glasgow)G. Roger (Uphall Works)1947 W. Cunningham (Dreghorn) J. D. Easton (Priorscroft, Paisley)1948 James Barclay (Strathmore Coupar, Angus) W. J. Smith (Burnside, Glasgow)1949 David Dall (Blantyre Welfare) A. Robertson (Bowhill Institute)1950 Jimmy Irving (Lockerbie) J. Walker (Balfron)1951 Norman Campbell (Spittalmyre, Stirling) D. Stewart (Almond Valley)1952 Jimmy Irving (Lockerbie) John Bradbury (Denny)1953 Bob Kissach (Bumbank, Glasgow) J. Hamilton (Hamilton)1954 Bob Crombie (Leslie) W. Nelson (Harthill)1955 Mark Allan (Hamilton Caledonian) Norman Campbell (Spittalmyre, Stirling)1956 C. Grant (Bridgeness and Carriden) J. Gillespie (Neilston)1957 William Downes Jones (Ardrossan)Andrew Main (Lundin Links)1958 Joseph Black (Sanquhar)J. Paterson (Linwood, Paisley)1959 Joseph Black (Sanquhar)W. Munro (Crosshill)1960 A. Brown (Tulliallan)W. F. Mair (Postal, Edinburgh)1961 Ernest Johnson (Dumbarton) Jacky Forrest (Balerno, Edinburgh)1962 Joseph Black (Sanquhar) A. Marshall (St. Andrews)1963 Willie Adrain (Dreghorn)Willie Smith (Galston, L.W.M.)1964 Billy Gibb (Bothwell) W. Muirhead (Uphall Works)1965 John Hershaw (Ardeer Recreation) J. Hurst (Pilrig, Edinburgh)1966 John Hershaw (Ardeer Recreation) Dick Bernard (Gorebridge)1967 William E. Wood Sr. (Gifford) J. Amos (Camelon, Falkirk)1968 John Lamont (Kirn & Hunters Quay) Duncan McGregor (Victoria Park, Glasgow)1969 Bob Motroni (Dumfries) D. Murray (Lenzie)1970 Dick Bernard (Gorebridge) Willie Wood (Gifford)1971 John McAra (Wishaw, South) David Connell (Dunaskin Doon)1972 Andrew Binnie (Mayfield, Edinburgh)Archie Potts (Maxwelltown, Dumfries)1973 Roy White (Sanquhar) John Slight (Newbattle)1974 John Fleming (Mauchline) Willie Bone (Methilhill)1975 Jim McLagan (Methil) Ian McCowan (Caledonia, Paisley)1976 David McGill, jnr (Sighthill, Edinburgh) George Adrain (Dreghorn)1977 John Milgrew (Springhill, Kilmarnock) Bob Burnett (Ardeer Recreation)1978 Harry Reston (Deans)Jim Oliver (Macmerry)1979 Norrie Amos (Buccleuch, Hawick) Peter Clark (Wellington Park, Greenock)1980 Jim Farrow (Cumnock) Allan Noon (Bridge of Weir)1981 Fraser Muirhead (Uphall Station) Dave McPherson (Oakley M.W.)1982 Brian Rattray (Alva) Willie Paul (Tanfield, Edinburgh)1983 John Campbell (Alloa) Alistair Will (Maud)1984 Willie Paul (Tanfield, Edinburgh) Alec O'Hare (Cambusbarron)1985 Willie McLaughlin (Lesmahagow) Tommy Trotter (Colinton, Edinburgh)1986 Angus Blair (Haddington) Brian Sinclair (Anchor, Paisley)1987 Graham Robertson (Tranent) John Moyes (Dunfermline)1988 John Aitken (Kirkliston) Doug Fletcher (Stenhousemuir)1989 Colin Rae (Wilton, Hawick) Graham Barclay (Stamperland, Clarkston)1990 Simon Thomson (Adrian, Falkirk)Steven Thomson (Prestonpans - Castlepark)1991 George Sneddon (Broxburn) Derek McClue (Glasnock Valley)1992 Robert Provan (Airdrie) David Peacock (Danderhall M.W.)1993 George Whitelaw (Storehouse)Brian Rattray (Alva)1994 Colin Peacock (Marchmount, Dumfries) Jim McGuire (Lochgelly)1995 Graeme Archer (Sighthill Edinburgh) Billy Hay (Oban)1996 Pat McNally (Earlston) Jim Byron (Westermains, Kirkintilloch)1997 David Gourlay Jr. (Annbank) Sandy Deans (Polmaise)1998 Raymond Logan (Kirkliston) Willie Wood MBE (Gifford)1999 Darren Burnett (Lochlands, Arbroath) David Peacock (Danderhall M.W.)2000 John McCrorie (Tranent) William Francis (Fauldhouse)2001George Prosser (Douglas Victoria) George Adrain (Dreghorn)2002 Darren Burnett (Lochlands, Arbroath) Steven Glen (Ormiston)2003 David Anderson (New Deer Turriff) Stephen Conchar (Castle Douglas)2004 Paul Foster (Troon Portland) Willie Wood MBE (Gifford)2005Darren Burnett (Lochlands, Arbroath) John Docherty (Burnbank, Hamilton)2006 Billy Mellors (Goldenacre) Craig England (Northfield)2007 Sandy Wotherspoon (Port Glasgow) Ross Carlin (Muirhead & Birkhill)2008 Wayne Hogg (Markinch) Sandy Wotherspoon (Port Glasgow)2009 Alister Reid (Seafield, Ayr) Scott Mackintosh (London Road Foundry)2010 Jonathan Ross (Priorscroft) Robert Marshall (Slateford)2011 Mark Kelsey (Rutherglen) Alan McKay (Westhill)2012 Alastair White (Kelso) Kevin Bain (Hyndland) 2013 Iain McLean (Blackwood Victoria) Ian Murray (Turriff) 2014 Kevin Anderson (Dumbarton) Alan Gray (Eaglesham)2015 Iain McLean (Blackwood Victoria) Stuart Bebbington (Ayton)2016 Derek Oliver (Cockenzie & Port Seton) John Strachan (Houldsworth)2017 Martyn Rice (Dumfries) Billy Mellors (Haddington)2018 Mark O'Hagan (Whitefield) Craig Adrain (Irvine Park)2019 Gordon White (Aberlady) Martyn Rice (Dumfries) 2020 and 2021 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2022Darren Gualtieri (Hyndland) Mark Kelsey (Rutherglen)2023 Alastair White (Jedburgh) Alan Gray (Eaglesham) 2024 Iain McLean (Blackwood Victoria) Graeme Hume (Townholm)2025 Iain McLean (Blackwood Victoria) Steven Fleming (Buchan Park)
Most singles titles NameTitlesYear Iain McLean42013, 2015, 2024, 2025 Robert Sprot31910, 1920 1929David Dall31943, 1944, 1949Joseph Black31958, 1959, 1962 Darren Burnett31999, 2002, 2005
Pairs