Victoria Saints Bowls Club was founded in 1909 was Victoria Bowls Club and in 2017 merged with St Helens Bowls Club to form Victoria Saints Bowls Club. Victoria have played at Victoria Park, Swansea since 1909 and is one of the oldest active bowls clubs in Wales.[1]
The Saints are the only Swansea Bowling Association Club to have won the Welsh Lawn Bowls Club Championship, Carruthers Shield, twice.[2]
They have won the Mond Shield (Division 1 title) 14 times making them the most successful existing club to have won the title.[3]
History
Official records show Victoria Bowls Club was formed on 17 June 1909 with the opening of their Bowls Green at Victoria Park in Swansea by alderman J H Lee he was presented with a silver jack from a collection from the players of the Victoria Team. Victoria started playing games as early as 1908 with local sources citing games against Ammanford, Llanelli, St Gabriels and Dyfatty.
Much of the earlier history of the clubs' earlier years were lost throughout the first and second World Wars as records went missing and lost to history with former players.
Joining the Swansea Leagues
Victoria joined the South Wales and Mon in 1945 in the third division winning that league and the second in consecutive years and going on to complete the treble by winning the 1st division in 1947 and 1948 this was the start of a golden period for the club in 1952 and 1954 the club enjoyed even higher glory winning the Welsh Lawn Bowls Team Championship called the Carruthers Shield this is the pinnacle of Welsh team bowls and we remain the only Swansea Club to win it on two occasions.[1]
Trophies & League Victories
Victoria plays exclusively in the Swansea Bowling Association and on two occasions won the Welsh Club Championship, the Carruthers Shield becoming the only club in Swansea to have achieved this.[4]
W.B.A Club Championship (Carruthers Shield)
Year
Result
1952
Champions
1954
Champions
League Titles (2001-present)
Year
League
2001
Division 2
2010
Division 1
2011
Division 1
2012
Division 1
2015
Mid-week League
2021
Keith Jacob Super 9
2023
Keith Jacob Super 9
2025
Division 1
Cup Titles (2001-present)
Year
Cup
2005
Walter Withey Trophy
2006
Graham Jones Double Fours
2007
Blackiston Cup
2009
Gatwick Shield
2012
Blackiston Cup
2012
Gatwick Shield
2022
Walter Withey Trophy
Membership & Playing Squad
The club maintains a strong membership of players despite on-going fears of the future of Bowls in Swansea.[5] Some members take on additional volunteering roles to help support the running of the club while all members contribute to the maintenance of the green and clubhouse.
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