President Moya Crunden

Club: Belmont Bowling Club

It is both an honour and a privilege to serve as President of the NIWPGL for the 2026 season. As a proud member of Belmont Bowling Club for 27 years, I remain deeply grateful for their nomination and unwavering support.

It is truly heartening to witness the friendships, inclusivity and camaraderie that our wonderful sport fosters, and I look forward to what promises to be a busy and enjoyable year.

I wish all bowlers good health, good bowling and, hopefully, good weather for the season ahead. I look forward to having the pleasure of meeting many of you around the greens throughout the year.

Vice President - Maura McCafferty

Club: Falls Bowling Club

I am both proud and honoured to serve as Vice President of the NIWPGL for the 2026 season.

My bowling journey began at RVH Bowling Club, where I was a member for 11 years before moving to Falls Bowling Club, which I have proudly called home for more than 32 years.

I was deeply honoured when Falls BC nominated me for the role of Vice President, and I am grateful for the unwavering support the club has shown me ahead of the 2026/2027 seasons.

I am looking forward to what promises to be an enjoyable and successful season, and I would like to wish all our members good health, good bowling, and plenty of good weather in the months ahead.

Past President - Elizabeth Blair

Club: Pickie Bowling Club

Having originally begun her career in engineering, she later returned to university to qualify in Human Resource Management, going on to spend more than twenty years working in personnel, specialising in staff and management development. She finished her professional career as Head of Faculty in the Public Sector.

Her journey into bowls began following early retirement, when she joined Donaghadee Bowling Club. Elizabeth represented the Senior Team and playing for the NIWBA Senior Inter-Association team in 2016. During this time she also served as Club Secretary, managing the day-to-day running of the Ladies’ Section.

She played an important role in developing Junior Academies at Donaghadee, working alongside Chris Mulholland and Ian McClure. A successful coaching partnership with Donaghadee Primary School helped introduce many young players to the sport.

In 2016 she moved to Pickie Bowling Club, where she again took on the role of Ladies’ Secretary and became a Senior Coach. She has since been heavily involved in developing successful coaching programmes which have attracted many new members, and she is currently working to establish a Junior Section for under-18s.

Elizabeth is also an active member of the Women in Bowls Working Group, helping promote opportunities for women and girls in sport, and serves on the I.B.C.A Executive Committee.

Her commitment to the game was further recognised when she was asked by Pickie B.C. to take on the role of NIWPGL President in 2025. During her year in office she was selected to play for the NIWPGL Senior Inter-Association team, who went on to win the Cup. What a great achievement and way to celebrate her year in office.

Elizabeth's only regret is that she did not discover bowls at an earlier age, as she has developed a real passion and enjoyment for the sport.

A fantastic contribution to bowls both on and off the green.

Honorary Secretary - Alison Thornbury

Club: Ulster Transport Bowling Club

After taking early retirement from a senior management role within a large banking organisation, Alison Thornbury has traded boardrooms for bowling greens and we’re delighted she did!

Following a successful career spent navigating strategy, governance, and more meetings than she’d probably care to count, Alison now brings her wealth of organisational expertise to her role as Honorary Secretary of the Northern Ireland Women’s Private Greens League.

As Hon Sec, Alison is the engine behind the scenes, ensuring the association runs like a well-oiled machine. From keeping affiliated clubs informed and up to date, to making sure everything stays on track and compliant with regulations, Alison’s decades of leadership experience are invaluable in supporting the sport we all love.

Off the green, Alison is married to Tom and they are proud parents to two grown-up daughters, Kate and Jane. She’s delighted that Kate has inherited her love of bowls and plays both outdoor and short mat.... Jane is still a work in progress 😀

Alison also treasures time spent with her two granddaughters, Maisie and Ava, who many suspect will grow up with a very healthy appreciation for bowls from a very young age!

Thank you, Alison, for your dedication, commitment, and passion for our game

Honorary Treasurer - Liz Carson

Club: CI Knock Bowling Club

Liz is ideally suited to the role of Honorary Treasurer, having gained extensive experience across a range of financial roles prior to retiring after many years as a Business and Finance Partner at a large medical practice.

A keen golfer for many years, Liz discovered bowling in 2016 when Knock Bowling Club relocated to CI, where she was already a member of another section. Following excellent coaching at CI Knock, she quickly embraced the sport, progressing onto teams and soon making bowls her main focus as golf gradually took a back seat.

Liz is now fully committed to the bowling community. She is a proud member of CI Knock, where she has recently served as President, and currently holds the role of Honorary Treasurer both at her club and within another large organisation. Her strong financial background makes her exceptionally well suited to her role within the NIWPGL.

Liz finds the position both fulfilling and enjoyable and values being part of a highly supportive Executive Committee, where members work closely together to achieve the best outcomes for all clubs within the NIWPGL. She has particularly enjoyed building relationships with Club and Match Secretaries and appreciates now being able to put faces to names.

Away from the green, Liz has been married to Hugh for many years. They have three married children and seven grandchildren, five of whom are currently at, or just finishing, university, with the remaining two in upper sixth form. Family plays a central and important role in her life.

Liz looks forward to another successful season for all clubs within the NIWPGL.

League Secretary - Linda Dickey

Club: Ulster Transport Bowling Club

Linda successfully owned and managed four retail shops across the province for over 25 years before selling her businesses and retiring in 2024. Her extensive experience in operations, customer service, financial planning, marketing, leadership and administration makes her exceptionally well equipped to organise and oversee both our Junior and Senior leagues.

Linda now lives in Whiteabbey with her husband Geoffrey and cocker spaniel Bruce. When two of her three children (James, Samantha and Jonathan) left home to attend Loughborough University, Linda embraced an exciting new chapter and joined her local bowling club in 2019.

Linda brings enthusiasm, dedication and fresh energy to all aspects of Lawn, Indoor and Short Mat bowls and now, with more time to devote to the sport, we are excited to have her leading the way in her league secretary role.