2025 National Championships - Stage One Stars: David Kelly
Now that all stage one district qualifiers throughout the country are complete for this year’s National Championships, we are taking time to profile the players that have qualified for the finals and our key volunteers that help make the event happen.
David Kelly from Stranraer Bowling Club is Bowls Scotland’s combined Gents and Ladies District Co-Ordinator for District 32. David has carried out the voluntary DC role for District 32 over the last three years, whilst also balancing a busy work, family life and playing commitments on the green.
A former junior and senior Scotland internationalist, David is giving back to his beloved sport by running the stage one Bowls Scotland National Championships qualifiers each year, helping local Wigtownshire bowlers to aim for their dreams of becoming a Scottish champion. A feat which the team of Brian Kyle, Robert Gibson, Kenny Cairnie and Michael McColm from West End Bowling Club in Stranraer achieved in 2024 when they won the Bowls Scotland Gents Over 55 Fours title.
District 32 in southwest Scotland is one of the more unique Bowls Scotland districts across the country. Whilst David may only have 16 member clubs in his district, arranging games at ideal locations and suitable greens can be a challenge with roughly 50 miles separating Ballantrae Bowling Club and Isle of Whithorn Bowling Club in the district.
To showcase the hard work and countless hours behind the scenes that our voluntary DC’s commit to their roles, David kindly agreed to vlog his journey as a DC for 2025’s National Championships. The vlog covers a three-month spell from clubs beginning to re-open for the 2025 season in April right through to the Bowls Scotland District 32 finals being held at Stranraer Bowling Club in June.
Check out David’s full vlog below:
A huge thank you to David for capturing his vlog and for his continued commitment and support in his role as Bowls Scotland’s District Co-Ordinator for District 32.
For more information on Bowls Scotland’s District Co-Ordinator’s, please visit: https://www.bowlsscotland.com/about-us/district-coordinators. If you have any questions or would like to become a DC, please contact our Coach and Volunteer Manager, Adam Martin, via adammartin@bowlsscotland.com.