John Downing (bowls)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Northern Irish |
| Born | 1904 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Died | September 1987 (aged 82–83) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Lawn bowls |
| Club | Shatfesbury BC Ormeau United BC |
John Downing (c.1904 – September 1987) was a Lawn bowls international from Northern Ireland who competed at the British Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games).
Biography
Downing was a member of the Shatfesbury Bowls Club in Belfast[1] and bowled for the Northern Ireland Bowls Association at representative level.[2]
In 1930 he was voted in as the president of Shaftesbury BC, in addition to holding the same role with the Ormeau United Bowling Club.[3]
Downing represented the 1934 Northern Irish Team[4] at the 1934 British Empire Games in London, participating in the pairs event with Robert Taylor, finishing in sixth place.[5]
In 1935, he was the runner-up in the singles championship[6] at the Irish National Bowls Championships.[7][8][9]
In 1955 Downing's Shaftesbury joined the Private Greens' Bowling League. He opened the green in memory of his father and mother, Edward and Elizabeth Downing.[10] John was a qualified dental surgeon and celebrated 50 years with Shaftesbury BC in November 1973, alongside fellow club member Charles Clawson.[11]
He died in September 1987.[12]
References
- ^ "Bowling Notes". Northern Whig. 20 May 1925. p. 4. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bowling Notes". Ireland's Saturday Night. 5 June 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bowling". Northern Whig. 17 October 1930. p. 11. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Northern Ireland London 1934". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "England Win Title". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 10 August 1934. p. 14. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Week-end Bowling". Belfast Telegraph. 2 September 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Bolsover, Godfrey (1959). Who's Who and Encyclopaedia of Bowls. Rowland Publishers Ltd (Pre isbn).
- ^ "Previous Winners". Irish Bowling Association.
- ^ Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls – The Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 46. ISBN 0-85112-414-3.
- ^ "Club officials". Belfast News-Letter. 24 March 1955. p. 10. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Golden Congraulations". Belfast News-Letter. 13 November 1973. p. 10. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bangor are top ten". Ireland's Saturday Night. 3 October 1987. p. 10. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.