Doreen ‘bowls’ over judges to scoop top award for her service to sport

She represented Ireland as a player, got involved in a number of administrative roles, including being secretary of the Irish Women’s Indoor Bowling Association for 19 years.

Doreen received one of her top positions when becoming World Bowls President.

Always interested in promoting the game she became a coach with the Irish Bowls Coaches Association, using her skills to encourage the formation of an Irish Junior team for girls, but unfortunately this has now disappeared since Doreen’s retirement from active work in the field of bowls.

She has been a member of Belfast Indoor Bowls Club for many years and was the Management Committee’s Chairperson from 2008 to 2012.

Doreen worked closely with Bob Montgomery in bringing a new extension and green to the Belfast club, making it into one of the premier indoor clubs in the British Isles.

As a result World Bowls came to Northern Ireland for the first time in 2000 and also 2005. In 2009 Belfast hosted the British Isles Internationals and Championships, at which Doreen played a major role.

On top of all this she also found the time to spend six years as secretary of the Northern Ireland Sports Forum.

Doreen still maintains her membership of Belfast Indoor Bowls Club and plays outdoor at Hilden Bowling Club in the summer.

Indeed, Doreen has always taken a very keen interest in her own local club and is a past-captain and past-president and a former secretary of the ladies’ section. She is always keen to promote Hilden, where she has always been involved in the sport.