Loanhead Miners Welfare Bowling Club, located in Loanhead, Midlothian, is home to a thriving and active bowling section. With a top-notch bowling green, members have the opportunity to participate in a variety of social matches, as well as competitive and league ties. To join the Loanhead Miners Club Bowling Section, individuals must first become members of the main miners club. The Bowling Section Secretary can provide more information on membership.
Currently, the bowling section boasts around 50 male members who pay an annual membership fee of 25.
The club is proud to have two teams competing in the Esk league, with matches taking place on Friday nights. There is also a group of approximately 12 seniors who are able to participate in Friday night matches, as well as a Wednesday morning league exclusively for seniors. Seniors pay a membership fee of 5. For aspiring bowlers under the age of 18, there is a dedicated junior section.
Junior members play their league games on Saturday mornings and receive training sessions led by a qualified coach on Friday afternoons. Membership for junior members is free.
Additionally, the club's Ladies section boasts around 22 members who participate in league games on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Ladies pay an annual membership fee of 20. Throughout the season, running from April to September, the club organises competitions on most Sundays. Members have the option to rent a locker at a cost of 5 per season.
Loanhead Miners Welfare Bowling Club eagerly welcomes new members regardless of their experience level. Whether experienced or inexperienced, all are encouraged to join the club and enjoy the sense of community and camaraderie that comes with being a part of the Loanhead Miners Club Bowling Section.
In addition to the bowling section, Loanhead Miners Welfare Bowling Club is also home to a vibrant Darts Section. The team competes in the Bonnyrigg & District Darts League under Lothian Darts Association. Currently, they hold the title of league single champions and have been runners up in both the pairs and fours leagues. Darts matches are typically held on Friday evenings, with the team gathering at the Loanhead Miners Club Games Room from 6pm for home or away matches.
Matches begin at 8:15pm. To stay updated on league fixtures and results, individuals can visit the Lothian Darts Association website.
Furthermore, Loanhead Miners Welfare Bowling Club has a Pigeon Section, dedicated to racing pigeons. At the last Annual General Meeting, the racing pigeon section boasted 12 members. The club races both old pigeons (greater than 1 year old) and young pigeons bred in the current year. Races occur on most Saturdays from mid-April to the third week in July for old pigeons, and from the end of July to the middle of September for young pigeons.
The club is affiliated with the Pentland Hills Federation, part of a larger group of Federations affiliated with the Scottish Homing Union, the governing body for pigeon racing in Scotland.
At Loanhead Miners Welfare Bowling Club, pigeon owners use identification rings and race rubber rings to track the pigeons' performance. The birds are registered with unique identification rings at seven days old, and race rubber rings with numbers are placed on their other leg during races. The time of the bird's arrival is recorded using either a clock mechanism or electronic ring scanning methods.
Loanhead Miners Welfare Bowling Club is passionate about the sports they offer and welcomes new members to join in the fun and camaraderie.