President - Stuart Clarke

It is that time when a new president takes over Durham County IBA. It is my pleasure to attain that position.

For the past three years I have been privileged to be Vice President to Allan Stewart.

I must extend my thanks to my parent club - Great Aycliffe IBC for nominating me to these positions. I would also like to thank Darlington IBC - where I am also a member - for their support.

During my term as Vice President I have had the pleasure of visiting every indoor club in the county. Without exception I and all members of the Vice Presidents Select team have been welcomed with open arms. I look forward to continuing these visits whenever possible.

I am also looking forward to supporting the county teams in their quests for the Liberty Trophy, Over 60's Inter County Trophy and the Midland Seniors League.

History

The county was first able to become affiliated to the English Bowls Association (Indoor section) in 1964, when the county’s first indoor was opened at Spennymoor. The county’s first international was J.W. Heath (Spennymoor) 1969. But the county really expanded from 1972, with Hartlepool (1972) To Ferryhill(1999), making a total of 16 clubs. But, alas, The loss of Consett, Hebburn, Park View and Bishop Auckland, means we now run with 12 clubs.

With the separation of the counties from the EBA in 1970, the English Indoor Bowling Association came into being in 1971. The Liberty Trophy was first played for in 1974/75 when we had a joint team of Durham/Yorkshire, this was due to neither county having sufficient clubs. They lost in the final against a strong Middlesex side. But with the expansion during the 70’s and 80’s, we had the string of clubs needed to enter on our own, and since 1982 to the present, the county has won the trophy a record 14 times and been runners-up twice.

The County has had World, British Isles and National Champions over 30 Internationals with over 400 caps between them. Such a tremendous record over such a short period of time. The Seniors section has also had quite an exciting history.