There is no date attached to this footage in the paperwork but we’re going to take an informed guess that it relates to the Irish Indoor Bowling Association’s championships which were held at Balmoral in March 1963. It seems a safe bet as it sits on a reel beside the Ulster Schools’ Cup rugby final from 30 March 1963 and the final of the bowls was on the same date. Billed in the Belfast Telegraph as the largest tournament ever held in Ireland at the time, perhaps the British Isles, it boasted a week of tournament play to whittle down the competitors in both singles and pairs championships. Northern Ireland has always had an affinity with this sport, going on to produce a world champion in the 1980s in the form of Jim Baker. From the footage in this clip it’s clear to see that the sport was thriving.

An Ulster Television Production.

• Broadcasting Authority Ireland