Short History

Gelli Park Bowls Club 

In this short history, for a relatively small club the facts speak for  themselves.

In the late 1930's the clubs prowess started to develop-the premier club at this time locally was Darren Park.

However, so many class players developed,all living within two miles of the green.

When winning the first Carruthers Shield,more than 50% of the team compromised members of the same families 4 - Evans, 3- Colemans and 2- Reeses.

Other less familiar names spring to mind who helped and encouraged young bowlers-Eddie Evans, Stan Royal, Fred Smith, Jack Smith, Ron Minton, Cyril Minton, Jackie Davies, Will Lewis, Abe Thomas, Percy Davies (Sec)George Morris (Treasurer)D.I.Williams, Bill Powell, W.I.Jones, Roy Williams, Emlyn Lewis, T.H.Evans, Ken Chapman, Cliff Gilbert, Albert Davies, Jack Sackett, Jack Griffiths, Bert Pritchard, Sam Pritchard, Bill Halissy, Ben Lewis, Lewis Evans, Cyril Mantle, Ike Hodder, Evan Rowlands (Piggy), Frank Fox George Woods, Mal Owen and many more.

They had many things in common-they were good bowlers, very competitive, who never give up and all were totally committed to Gelli Park. In the 1940's,a rink comprised of Gwyn Evans, Gordan Evans, Ron Thomas and Mansel Coleman(the oldest only 15!)qualified for the Welsh Fours,with members making a collection to help them compete.

They were due to play Gelligalad in the first round,but they objected because the Gelli quartet were to young.

This situation resulted in the WBA introducing the age rule for WBA competitions.

CLUB ACHIEVEMENTS 

Honours  Timeline 

2024

• Rhondda div 2 Champions 
• Mid Glam Div 2 runner-up 

2022

• Cynon  Valley  Bowls Mid Week League. Div 2. runners up.

2021

• Cardiff  Municipal Bowling League  Div 2. Champions 
• Rhondda Monday 2 rink Div 2 runners  up. 

2019

• Mid Glam Bowls League Division 2 Champions  
• Cardiff Municipal League  Division 3 Champions  

2018

• W D JONES K/O Runners Up 

2017

• Winners of WDJones KO Cup. 

2012

• Rhondda Borough Bowling Association - Division 1 Champions 

2011

• Rhondda Borough Bowling Association - Division 1 Champions 

2009

• R.B.B.A. - W.D.JONES K /O CUP WINNERS 

2008

• R.B.B.A. - W.D.JONES K /O CUP WINNERS 

2005

• Mid Glam Bowling League Div1 Champions 

2003

• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Runners Up
• Mid Glam Bowling League Div 1 Runners Up 
• Carruthers Shield Runners Up 

2002

• R.B.B.A. - W.D.JONES K /O CUP WINNERS 
• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 
• Mid Glam Bowling League Div 1 Runners Up 

2001

• R.B.B.A. - W.D.JONES K /O CUP WINNERS
• Mid Glam Bowling League Div 1 Champions 
• Rhondda Borough Bowling Association - Division 1 Champions 

2000

• R.B.B.A. - W.D.JONES K /O CUP WINNERS 
• Cardiff & District Municipal Bowling Association - CML Division 1 Runners Up
• Rhondda Borough Bowling Association - Division 1 Champions 
• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 
• Mid Glam Bowling League Div 1 Runners Up 

1999

• R.B.B.A. - W.D.JONES K /O CUP WINNERS 
• Cardiff & District Municipal Bowling Association - CML Division 1 Champions 
• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Runners Up 

1998

• Cardiff & District Municipal Bowling Association - CML Division 1 Runners - Up 
• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 

1997

• Cardiff & District Municipal Bowling Association - CML Division 1 Champions 
• Carruthers Shield Runners Up 

1995

• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 

1994

• R.B.B.A. - W.D.JONES  K /O CUP WINNERS 

1993

• Rhondda Borough Bowling Association - Division 1 Champions 
• CML. - Division 2 Champions & Promotion to CML Div.1 

1991

• CML - Division 3 Champions & Promotion to CML Div 2 

1990

• CML - Division 4 Champions & Promotion to CML Div 3 

1989

• CML Division 5 Champions & Promotion  to Div 4 
• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Runners Up 

1981

• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 

1980

• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 

1979

• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 

1975

• Mid Glamorgan Knock Out Cup Winners 

1974

• Gelli Park joins Newly Formed Mid Glamorgan County Bowling Association ^

1972

• Mal Evans of Gelli Park won the World Singles Championship at Worthing to become World Champion. The only Welsh player to achieve this goal of becoming  World Singles  Champion.

1970

• Carruthers Shield Winners

1969 

• Carruthers Shield Runners Up 

1968

• Carruthers Shield Winners 

1965

• Carruthers Shield  Winners 

1963

• Carruthers Shield Winners 

November 1912 :     Gelli Park Founded

MALDWYN  EVANS 

WALES  ONLY   MEN'S  SINGLES 

WORLD  CHAMPION 

Maldwyn Lewis Evans (8 November 1937 – 30 December 2009), often known as "Mal" Evans, was a Welsh bowls champion, who played for Gelli Park B.C.

He won the World  Championship at Worthing in 1972.

 He is the only Welshman ever to have held the men's singles title.

Mal played bowls for Wales from 1967 until 1985, and he was a member of the Gelli Park club.

Two years after his World Championship win he represented Wales at the 1974 Commonwealth  Games in the singes.

He won two Welsh National  Bowling  Championships  Pairs titles in 1966 and 1967, with his brother Gwyn Evans  (the 1978 Commonwealth Games ) 1978 fours bronze medal winner).In addition he won the Gibson-Watt Welsh Open Singles at Llandrindod Wells three times (1964, 1966 and 1967).

Photos over the year's