Victoria Saints Bowls Club was founded in 1909 was Victoria Bowls Club and in 2017 merged with St Helens Bowls Club to form Victoria Saints Bowls Club. Victoria have played at Victoria Park, Swansea since 1909 and is one of the oldest active bowls clubs in Wales.
The Saints are the only Swansea Bowling Association Club to have won the Welsh Lawn Bowls Club Championship, Carruthers Shield, twice.
They have won the Mond Shield (Division 1 title) 14 times making them the most successful existing club to have won the title.
History Official records show Victoria Bowls Club was formed on 17 June 1909 with the opening of their Bowls Green at Victoria Park in Swansea by alderman J H Lee he was presented with a silver jack from a collection from the players of the Victoria Team. Victoria started playing games as early as 1908 with local sources citing games against Ammanford, Llanelli, St Gabriels and Dyfatty.
Much of the earlier history of the clubs' earlier years were lost throughout the first and second World Wars as records went missing and lost to history with former players.
Joining the Swansea Leagues Victoria joined the South Wales and Mon in 1945 in the third division winning that league and the second in consecutive years and going on to complete the treble by winning the 1st division in 1947 and 1948 this was the start of a golden period for the club in 1952 and 1954 the club enjoyed even higher glory winning the Welsh Lawn Bowls Team Championship called the Carruthers Shield this is the pinnacle of Welsh team bowls and we remain the only Swansea Club to win it on two occasions.
Trophies & League Victories Victoria plays exclusively in the Swansea Bowling Association and on two occasions won the Welsh Club Championship, the Carruthers Shield becoming the only club in Swansea to have achieved this.
National Club Championship (Carruthers Shield) +YearResult1952Champions1954Champions
League Titles (2001-present) +YearLeague2001Division 22010Division 12011Division 12012Division 12015Mid-week League2021Keith Jacob Super 92023Keith Jacob Super 92025Division 1
Cup Titles (2001-present) +YearCup2005Walter Withey Trophy2006Graham Jones Double Fours2007Blackiston Cup2009Gatwick Shield2012Blackiston Cup2012Gatwick Shield2022Walter Withey Trophy
Membership & Playing Squad The club maintains a strong membership of players despite on-going fears of the future of Bowls in Swansea. Some members take on additional volunteering roles to help support the running of the club while all members contribute to the maintenance of the green and clubhouse.
Committee PortraitNameRoleKen GabrielPresidentRowland ThomasChairmanNicky ThomasSecretarySheree ThomasAssistant SecretaryEnda GormleyTreasurer & Wellbeing Officer
Members In addition to the management committee who oversee the operational and running activities of the club, the club is made up of social, casual and full time members. +NameAdditional RolesDamian DevoisSteven DevoisWilliam ThomasAdrian DenningAllan JefferyChris HigginsJohn HigginsSelectorKai HigginsClive EvansDan WhitehouseDave ThomasHywel TomosJame DaviesKelton DaviesMark DunbarPeter ReynoldsPaul MorrisSelectorOwen LewisPaul BrownPhil CurtisRob CarmichaelStephen Griffiths
References