RETREAT Bowling Club have gone home after a six-year break from their Heslington Road green in York.

They are one of seven clubs which formed the Barbican Bowling Association who have been relocated as part of the development of the Barbican.

Retreat had played at Heslington Road since the club's formation in 1912 but the turf was in such a poor state in 1999 that they switched to the Barbican and became part of the association.

Other association members include Hull Road Park, Barbican Veterans, Fulford Conservatives, Tramways C & I, Barbican Ladies and Retreat Ladies.

Because of the Barbican development, the association had to move, and, after considering several sites, the best option for the bowlers turned out to be the Retreat with City of York Council contributing £75,000 towards bringing the Retreat greens up to standard.

The pavilion from the Barbican site has also been moved to the Retreat, complete with furnishings, while the association has been renamed the Retreat Bowling Association.

Andy Pope, Community Leisure Officer for City of York Council, said: "We are delighted that everything is ready in time for the start of the 2005 season. It is a tribute to the hard work of so many people and I hope the new facilities will be enjoyed by the bowlers for many years to come."

The council's executive member for leisure and heritage, Coun Keith Orrell, bowled the first wood at the new green yesterday.

Also in attendance were Steve Harrison (York Amateur Bowls Assocation president), Geoff Oglesby (York ABA veteran's section chairman), Retreat Association chairman Douglas Petty, secretary John Martin, treasurer Rod Walker and members of the association's clubs.

Updated: 12:10 Saturday, May 28, 2005