Ballaugh Bowling Club has been given a £3,000 grant from the Manx Lottery Trust for equipment to help the club during the winter season.

The money has been used to buy two new indoor bowling mats to replace the ones they’ve been using for the past 20 years.

This equipment means that the club can extend its season, helping members and the wider community to stay active and stay social during the winter months.

Richard Faragher, Ballaugh Bowling Club competition secretary, said: ’We are a very busy club with five Crown Green open competitions a year, various club competitions, open days and social events.

’The Manx Youth Games’ participants make use of our indoor facilities as do members of the Manx Short Mat Bowling Association, who when necessary use the Ballaugh facility for National Short Mat events.

’It is important to us to offer a high standard of play for all, using top class equipment.

’I’d like to say a huge thank you to the trustees of Manx Lottery Trust for this generous grant. We are hopeful the new equipment will encourage existing players and new participants to get involved and we look forward to our first session with the new mats.

’And, as an added bonus, the old mats will be offered free of charge to other clubs wanting to trial them, so we’d be delighted to see them go to a good home.’

Since opening 33 years ago the bowling club at the Ballacrosha Estate, has grown to have seven teams; five in the men’s league and two in the women’s league.

It also has a strong junior team who meet on Saturdays.

Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust Sarah Kelly said: ’We are very pleased to fund the purchase of the new equipment and hope both the local and wider community benefits from the facilities.’