Born in Belfast in 1958, Jim Baker became a legend of Irish bowls through sheer determination and skill – qualities that were evident from the start. Making his international debut for Ireland in 1979, when he was only 21, he rose to prominence by winning the 1984 World Indoor Championship, becoming the first and only Northern Irishman to do so.  

That same year – in 1984 – Jim played a pivotal role in Ireland’s World Bowls triples victory with Sammy Allen and Stan Espie in Aberdeen, Scotland. He went on to skip the fours teams that won gold for Ireland in Henderson, New Zealand, in 1988 and in Ayr, Scotland, in 2004. 

He won the World Bowls Tour UK indoor singles title in 1985, and, in 1990, became the first Irishman to win the Bushmills Irish Masters title at the Ballymoney Indoor Bowls Club. 

He was famous for his drive, which he delivered with pinpoint accuracy, but he could also draw delicately under pressure and was an inspirational skip. 

In his early schooldays at Boys’ Model, Belfast, Jim was really interested in football. However, he was already playing the short mat version of bowls which is very popular in Ireland, at Helen’s Bay Church, and other pupils at school knew Jim was already having success at bowls. Ernie Davis at the Boys’ Model knew Jim had a talent for bowling and allowed Jim to practise at the Cliftonville club during games time. Those practice sessions helped Jim to eventually perfect his delivery and he developed a routine of playing certain shots. 

Jim balanced his sporting career with teaching and mentoring young bowlers at Cliftonville and Ballymena clubs, and he has served as an IBA team manager. His legacy endures through a generation of players he inspired and the Jim Baker Stadium in Newtonabbey, which has hosted international and World Bowls events, most recently the World Bowls Indoor Junior Championship in 2025. 

Commonwealth Games 

1990 (Fours Silver), 2002 (Fours Bronze) 

World Bowls 

1984 (Triples Gold), 1988 (Fours Gold), 2004 (Pairs Silver), (Fours Gold) 

World Bowls Tour Open Singles 

1984 Winner, 1982 Runner-up