About us

HOVINGHAM BOWLS CLUB IS PART OF RYEDALE'S LIVELY BOWLING SCENE WITH A PROUD TRADITION STRETCHING BACK ALMOST 90 YEARS

The Club has existed since 1933 simply and solely to give people in the Hovingam area and beyond the opportunity to play the absorbing  centuries-old game of Bowls as often or as little as they wish in a relaxed, friendly outdoor environment.

It is one of the smaller bowls clubs in the Ryedale area and members regard this as a strength because it means that everyone has a chance to get to know other members and it has a reputation for being a very sociable club. A common observation by visiting bowlers is that  "it's a nice little club with nice people".

Our bowling options are designed to take into account modern busy lifestyles, whether retired or still working, so they include the Club's own competitive social bowling competitions, which can be played whenever the participants choose, and/or the challenge of inter-village league bowling on two fixed evenings in the week. Matches usually last up to two hours, depending upon the format. 

Naturally, all our players like to win, but having fun is our priority

Although the Club is tucked away behind the Hovingham Village Hall at the heart of the community it has traditionally been a bowling centre for the villages and hamlets of the wider Hovingham area, including the villages of Gilling East, Cawton, Ampleforth, Oswaldkirk, Stonegrave, Slingsby, Colton and Brandsby.  There will always be a warm welcome for anyone from anywhere who wants to play Bowls and we have players from Kirkbymoorside, Huttons Ambo and as far afield as York.

Even Royalty enjoyed playing on our green when the then Duke of Kent in 1939 paid a visit and tested his bowling skills, which this newspaper 'Flashback' shows...