ABOUT

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Ilminster Bowling Club was founded in 1929. The Club was then made up of members of the local community, many of whom were shopkeepers who just wanted to play and enjoy the game of bowls in their home town.

 

The Club President at that the time was the late Hector Hutchings. Hector was Somerset and Ilminster President and held the Ilminster Presidency for 52 years. Trophies and Cups named in his honour are still played for today.

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Ilminster in 2012 reached the National Championship finals at Worthing for the first time in the Club's history in the Men's Bowls England Club National Two Fours, being runners-up after a 3 shot defeat to Gaston Bowling Club.

 

Ilminster has continued to improve as a bowls club, and in recent seasons both England International Louis Ridout, and World Number 3 Rob Paxton have graced its greens.

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Ilminster Indoor Bowling Club was founded in 1969. The Club had a single rink in a long room which currently is used as the function room. When the room was required for a function (annual dinner, parties etc.) the carpet was rolled up and the ditches covered over.

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Ilminster then had a 2-rink green built in 1979.This green was constantly used up to the new development of the Bowling Club in 2007. Then the club was able to build a purpose built three rinks indoor green.  This included accommodation for a Steward and re-development of the club lounge and bar area. This was after a long, drawn out process of negotiations with developers, and was successful due to the diligence of members at the time. It was no surprise when in 2007 the Club won the ‘Club Mirror’ award for the best club refurbishment, which was nominated by the Club's bar supplier St Austell Brewery.

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Ilminster received a great honour in 2017 coming runner up in the Bowls England Club Of The Year. Ilminster put together an excellent proposal which showed what the club has done to encourage and develop new and existing members and to develop the club’s junior section.  Further success has come for the club in 2018 with winning the SASP Somerset Club of The Year 2018 and then the Bowls England Club of The Year Winners 2018.

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Ilminster Tennis Club joined forces with the bowling club in 1957. The tennis club has been moving from strength to strength over the years with well over 100 tennis members in 2019. The club was able to move from 2 courts in 2007 with the new club development to 3 floodlight courts which offer an excellent surface. The tennis club run 9 league teams during the summer and 2 in the winter. The club has also a strong foundation of youth tennis players who have progressed into league players and on wards to a county level & the club has dedicated professional coach.