NIPGBL 1917-2017 | 115
Syd Thompson OBE It is an indication of the elevated status which someone has attained in their chosen sport that they become widely known and instantly recognised by their Christian name alone. In the same way as rugby followers revere the career achievements of Willie John, as bike enthusiasts treasure the memories of Joey, as golf fans celebrate the successes of Rory, so a whole generation of bowlers followed, with respect and admiration, the fortunes of Syd. Syd Thompson is synonymous with Willowfield Bowling Club, with the Private Greens and with Irish bowls. He represented Ireland for a record 26 uninterrupted international series and one of the undoubted highlights of his international career was in 1951 when he captained, and skipped a rink on, the Irish team which regained the British Isles Home International title for the first time since 1905. Reflecting on the 1951 series, when previewing the 1953 series, the ISN correspondent observed: ‘To Syd perhaps more than any other player we owe the trophy in that never to be forgotten season.’ Another playing career highlight was his selection for the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh where he won a bronze medal in the Pairs in partnership with Jimmy Donnelly. The 1972 international series saw Syd become the most capped bowler in the world when he earned his 76th cap, although this proved to be his last series representing his country. Of course, Syd also enjoyed conspicuous success while representing the NIPGBL at Inter-Association level, including being an ever-present member of the renowned side which won the Inter-Association title seven years in a row between 1958 and 1964. He collected a range of championship honours at association level winning the PGL Singles in 1950, 1958 and 1967, the PGL Pairs in 1949 and 1957 and the PGL Fours in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1961. To this he added Irish titles in the Singles (1950), Pairs (1949 and 1957) and Fours (1960 and 1961). At club level he was an integral part of a very successful era in the history of Willowfield Bowling Club, playing a prominent and influential role in IBA Senior Cup wins in 1945, 1952, 1954, 1955 and 1963, in PG Senior League wins in 1951, 1953, 1960, 1963 and 1972 and in PG Senior Cup wins in 1947, 1951, 1954 and 1975. Syd was also a distinguished administrator, serving as NIPGBL President in 1974 and as IBA and BIBC President in 1964. The 1964 international series at Albert Foundry must have been a particularly busy one for him as he combined his responsibilities off the green as IBA and BIBC President with his continuing role as a skip of one of the Irish rinks. Syd served with distinction as a NIPGBL and Irish selector and as international team manager in the 1980s and early 1990s. The 1991 international series in Ebbw Vale, which proved to be his last as the international team manager, nevertheless represents a significant point in the development of Irish bowls at international level. Under Syd’s management the international selectors made 8 changes to the previous year’s team and launched the international careers of promising new players such as Neil Booth, Noel Graham and Gary McCloy who, along with others, contributed so much to Ireland’s steadily improving fortunes over the next number of years.