More than 200 bowlers from 36 clubs in Hong Kong participated in a two-day tournament to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Craigengower Cricket Club last weekend.
CCC, who boosted the first lawn bowls team in the history of Hong Kong, jointly holds the honour of winning the most Division One titles with Kowloon Cricket Club. They have both won the title 14 times with the latest won by KCC last year.
A total of 35 clubs accepted the invitation to join the host in the tournament, which was played on the two outdoor greens on Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9. The competition started with a round-robin for group of three teams. Then the teams were divided into the Cup, Plate and Bowl competitions.
The host was happy to see the relaxed atmosphere throughout the competition, according to Gary Wong, Bowls Convenor at CCC.
“It is good that all participants enjoyed the games and without caring too much about the outcome,” said Wong. “This is the way lawn bowls should be.
“We are delighted to see all our old friends joining us for this memorable event and hope to see them again in our next celebration in a few years time,” concluded Wong.
For the record, the host club won the Bowl competition, while the Cup and Plate went to Kowloon Cricket Club and China Light & Power respectively.
CCC Origins
CCC was founded in 1894 by WD Braidwood, the Headmaster of the Victoria English School, who built a cricket field in Bonham Road. Braidwood later choose Craigengower, the name of the building that housed his school as the name of the club.
Later the club moved to its permanent location at the north-east corner of Happy Valley and after several redevelopment projects, became one of the most prestigious clubs in the city.
Today the club owns nine all-weather tennis courts, two of the finest lawn bowls’ rinks in Hong Kong, a badminton hall, a gymnasium, a 25M pool, squash courts, golf driving range and a number of dining rooms. Providing facilities for the enjoyment of members and their guests.
CCC was once a mighty force in lawn bowls, winning a record 14 top flight champions, but the last one was in 1994, when the club celebrated its centenary.
While CCC is an old club in Hong Kong, it’s not the oldest existing one. That honour goes to the Hong Kong Club that was established in 1846, followed by the Victoria Recreation Club in 1849.
Claudius Lam is an Officer with the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.
