About Welsh Lawn Bowls

Welsh Lawn Bowls is the national governing body for outdoor flat green bowls in Wales, promoting and developing the sport for players of all ages and abilities across the country.

From local clubs to elite internationals, it oversees rules, competitions and club affiliation, and supports Welsh national teams at major events such as World Bowls and the Commonwealth Games. Working closely with counties and a wide network of affiliated clubs, Welsh Lawn Bowls helps to grow participation, encourage new bowlers and maintain high standards on and off the green, while preserving the game’s proud Welsh heritage.

Founded in 1904 as The Welsh Bowling Association (WBA) with 19 affiliated clubs. Following the Coal Industry Commission Act 1919, a Miners’ Welfare Fund was set up, which included the provision of recreational facilities for miners and steelworkers. The sport experienced a boom with affiliated bowls clubs rising increasing to 152.

The Welsh National Bowls Championships were inaugurated in 1919 and The Welsh Womens Bowling Association (WWBA) was formed in 1932.

In December 2023 the WBA and WWBA merged to become Welsh Lawn Bowls.

Structure of Welsh Lawn Bowls

Welsh Lawn Bowls consists of Executive Officers and Executive Members who meet regularly to discuss and vote on all matters arising for Lawn Bowls in Wales.

Executive Officers

The Executive Officers are elected each year for the following officer roles;

  • Senior Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Webmaster
  • Safeguarding Officer
  • Assistant Secretary
  • Competition Secretary

The following roles are fulfilled via line of succession;

  • President – The Senior Vice President succeeds the former president.
  • Immediate Past President – The President succeeds the former Immediate Past President

These roles are known as “The Executive Officers” or “Officials”.

The Executive Officers are not eligible to vote (with the exception of the President who has a casting vote and in the event that an Officer might also be a county representative, they will still be eligible to vote.)

The officers conduct delegated administration and operational matters of Welsh Lawn Bowls and fulfill the decisions undertaken by the Executive Members.

Delegated administration or authority are matters such as; 

  • Tasks specific to their role outlined in the role description.
  • Tasks which have little to no impact on the integrity of the decision making of the executive members e.g. cost saving measures, administrative decisions.
  • Making financial transactions as a part of day-to-day operations.

This list is not exhaustive but is an example of the autonomy of officers.

Executive Members

The Executive consists of representative members (normally secretaries) of the 10 Men’s counties and the 8 Women’s counties (an additional 2 representatives from the women’s counties are added to make the total to 10)

The Executive is split 10 male representation and 10 female representation, each member of the executive having a single vote each on which they represent their county & clubs in their vote. All Executive Members a

In the event of a split vote, the President has the casting vote.

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