THREE 'Green Giants' will feature prominently in Barry Athletic Bowling Club's Centenary Year, writes Clive Phillips.

The Athletic – one of the most famous bowls clubs in Wales, producing Commonwealth Games medallists, British and Welsh Champions – intend to mark their special 2011 milestone in style.

Their 100 year birthday celebration officially begins on Saturday, April 23 with a curtain-raiser against St Fagans at Barry Island - St Fagans being the Athletic's first opponents a century ago. This will be the first of six special matches to be played during the season.

Playing a significant role in proceedings this summer will be a trio of bowlers who have been especially elected 'Centenary Match' Captains, in recognition of their achievements in the sport worldwide over many decades.

The three 'Masters of the Green' are Gareth Humphreys M.B.E., Russell 'J.R.' Evans and Jim Morgan.

A browse through Athletic records reveals that the three - each a magnificent bowler in their glory days - have brought a plethora of titles to the Club at Commonwealth, British, Welsh and County levels.

For example, Russell Evans is known as far afield as New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, not to mention the home countries, as the perfect 'gentleman of bowls', on and off the green.

Russell is Barry Athletic's longest serving member, having joined the club in 1951. His list of bowling honours would stretch the entire length of any green - such is his remarkable playing record.

His catalogue of achievements began in 1957 when the Athletic lifted the prestigious Carruthers Shield. He was the youngest member of the squad and is the only survivor of that successful line-up.

Perhaps his finest individual memory came in 1978 when he won the British Singles crown - although Russell is always quick to mention Barry Athletic's British Fours win in 1963 as a big highlight. Russell added a Bronze medal to his collection in the singles at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games in 1978.

Jim Morgan struck Gold at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986 in the fours, to add to the Bronze medal he won in the pairs at Edmonton, Canada, eight years earlier.

Jim, a strict disciplinarian on the green and a respected member of the sadly fading 'old school' of bowlers, joined the Athletic in 1961.

He was a Welsh international from 1972 to 1988 and in most recent years made a major contribution to the Welsh Indoor Bowls Association as a selector, team manager and executive member. Jim also played a leading role in the Welsh Bowls Umpires Association for almost 30 years.

Gareth Humphreys, a doyen of Welsh bowls for many decades and an international from 1963 to 1978, represented Wales at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand and went on to become team manager of the National bowls squad.

Gareth has made an enormous contribution to his sport as a player, administrator and coaching advisor and two years ago was awarded an M.B.E. for services to Welsh bowls.

He has been honoured by many organisations and has received the Welsh Sports Council and the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales Scrolls of Honour. Well deserved. Gareth has also compiled and edited a comprehensive Centenary brochure.

Barry Athletic, the only Welsh Private Greens club in the town, formed a Centenary Committee in 2008 with former Wales Tourist Board Executive Don Evans named as Chairman. Don has played a key co-ordinating role in every aspect of the club's Centenary schedule and his tireless efforts should be appreciated by members.

The Club also create a unique record this season by appointing a brother and sister as 2011 team captains. Robert and Bethan Horgan, both Welsh Internationals, will lead the club on the domestic front.

Sprightly octogenarian Club Chairman, Alf Pidduck, a former Barry Docks Manager, keeps the club running on an even keel. Alf believes the future of his club is bright, judging by new youngsters showing exciting form at local and county level.

Barry Athletic are also fortunate in having Garry Gane as a supplier of vital funds with his successful bonus-ball scheme.

Centenary celebrations will conclude with a dinner at the Masonic Hall, Barry, in September.

The new season's 'first-wood' opener will be this Saturday, April 16 with all the Captains - club and Centenary - bowling the first woods of 2011. Everyone is invited, new and old members, to the Opening Ceremony at 4pm.