WARM and pleasant conditions marked a visit by the English Bowling Association last Thursday to celebrate a special event in the life of Kingsland Bowls Club.

The North Herefordshire club have been in existence for 25 years and to assist with the silver jubilee festivities, Worcestershire-based EBA President John Tolley brought along a team to play a match against a mixed Kingsland side.

"The President's team had players and officials from all over the country, which gives some indication of the importance of the game," said EBA deputy chief executive Ken Woodcock.

Bowling in Kingsland has come a long way since the club was founded in 1980 with its headquarters in the former kitchen of the village school.

The new club house was opened in 1996 and memories of that make the EBA visit this time around even more special.

"The EBA reckon only to go to a club once in its lifetime as there are so many of them," said Kingsland secretary Sandra Palmer.

"But they honoured us with their presence at the opening of the club house and that makes this visit extra special."

Enthusiasm for the sport in Kingsland remains extremely high and the club is almost at its maximum membership of 100 with 98 current members, several of whom have been with the club since its formation.

The visit of the EBA team is at the centre of a programme of events to mark the club's 25 years.

Around 160 people attended a party on May 3 to mark the actual anniversary of the club's founding while May 7 saw more than 150 members and guests attend a dinner dance.

Later in the season, on Saturday, July 9, the club is to stage an under-18 tournament in a bid to help to boost the sport's popularity among the younger age group.

Anyone interested in entering the competition should contact Sandra Palmer on 01568 612980 for details.