Bowled over!

THE Northern Ireland Provincial Bowling Association (NIPBA) has a new overall sponsor for the 2010 season.

Progressive Building Society, Northern Ireland’s largest locally owned mortgage lender, has come on board to support this organisation which annually runs not one, but four outdoor bowls leagues, five cup competitions as well as a National Championship.

The NIPBA opened its outdoor bowls season last weekend at Coleraine Bowling Club with the raising of the Association’s flag, a friendly game of bowls and a dinner.

The four leagues which will now benefit from Progressive Building Society’s support are that of Senior, Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3.

The first games of the season gets underway on Tuesday 20th April at 6.30pm in Division 1 between: Cookstown v Ballycastle; Ballymoney v Brooke Park; and Limavady v Magherafelt.

The President and Treasurer of the NIPBA, Robert Madden says, “We’re delighted that Progressive Building Society has come on board to support us in this our 86th year.

“The Association has some 750 members through 20 clubs which span as far south as Clougher Valley, to as north as Ballycastle. We welcome new members to come along and try out the sport.”

Sidney Towe, Operations Director, Progressive Building Society, says, “We’re particularly delighted to support the Northern Ireland Provincial Bowling Association in this way.

“Bowls is a social sport with participants of all ages that is played across Northern Ireland and complements our Society’s ethos, as we’re a home-grown mutual society with 12 branches across the Province committed to supporting community activity where we’ve built our business.”