England’s Jon Wilson shocked the crowds at Potters Resort at this year’s World Indoor Championships with his walk-on music of ArrDee’s Hello Mate ft. Kyra, a tune that probably wouldn’t make the playlist of the majority of spectators inside the International Arena in Hopton-on-Sea. Wearing ear defenders himself, it wasn’t to block out the rapper’s beats, but to highlight the importance of raising awareness of autism. Following his preliminary round win over Scott Edwards, comments on social media mocked Wilson’s delivery style, which often made a noticeable echo as his bowls crashed against t ..read more

The next generation of sporting talent is already making its mark locally and around the world. We’ve picked out some of the sport’s emerging talents to keep an eye on for future honours at international level. KATE ARGENT-BOWDEN (AUSTRALIA) Kate Argent-Bowden has enjoyed a sensational few years on the green, most recently retaining the Australian Open Under 18 girls singles crown. She controlled the final from start to finish against up-and-coming 14-year-old Taylor De Greenlaw and was barnstorming in her 21-3 victory to claim her second junior Australian Open title. She has previously won t ..read more

Renowned South African bowler Bobby Donnelly has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer at Bowls South Africa with effect from April 1, 2023. Bobby, who has been well known on the international stage for many years, has an impressive Bowls CV. His record includes Commonwealth Games Singles (Gold) – Manchester 2002, Commonwealth Games Triples (Gold) – Glasgow 2014, World Championships Fours (Silver) – Johannesburg 2000, World Championships Fours (Silver) – Adelaide 2012, as well as three Atlantic Rim Gold Medals –  Johannesburg 2009 – Triples and Fours and Cyprus 2011 – Pa ..read more

Thirteen years since playing her last competitive bowls match, Welsh-Aussie Ceri Ann Glen (nee Davies), now living in Scotland, is back on the green and performing at the highest levels. Ceri Ann, 43, is a former Welsh international who won a silver medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games for Australia and recently won the mixed pairs alongside Stewart Anderson at the 2023 World Indoor Bowls Championships as well as runner-up in the Ladies World Matchplay just five months into her return to the sport. She has made her home in Scotland in recent years but has joined Cardiff IBC this season and ma ..read more

Congratulations to two gold badge winners Steve Harris, of Basingstoke Town BCand Jennie Maunder of Newquay IBC. One of the first hot shots of 2023 was achieved on January 2 by Dolphin IBC’s Paul Fowell, Eric Munden and Des Maguire, closely followed a day later by Ilford and District IBC’s Steve Minns, Gerry Rose, Sandra Dupuy, Gary Burns, while Chris Baker, of Prince Arthur Road IBC, skipped Bob Clark and Karen Baker to a hot shot on his birthday! Meanwhile, in the Norma and Bill Jackson household, Norma won a hot shot with Sue Bradbury and Nora Newton just two weeks after Bill’s success. Th ..read more

Bowls England’s performance director John McGuinness is taking a temporary break from the role for personal reasons. John has been in the post since 2019, and led England to an historic medal haul at last summer’s Commonwealth Games, among many other successes for the England teams under his tenure. John will be replaced on an interim basis by Mo Monkton, who steps up from her role as women’s international team manager. Assistant Sandy Hazell, who was also part of the Birmingham 2022 management team, takes on the interim women’s international team manager role. Kirk Smith continues in his rol ..read more

Bowls England and Aviva have announced a strategic multi-year partnership, with the insurance, wealth and retirement company becoming the principal partner to Bowls England, the governing body for lawn bowls in England. The partnership is hugely significant for lawn bowls in England at all levels. The agreement will see the integration of Aviva from grass roots clubs to elite teams as they become the principal partner of the England national teams, title partner in the Bowls England National Finals, as well as official partners to Bowls England’s grassroots and community initiatives, Bowls Ba ..read more

Our friends at Taylor Bowls are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a set of Taylor bowls in a model, colour and size of their choice – the brand as used by Jamie Walker when he won the Imagine Cruising World Indoor Bowls Championship open singles The winner can choose from the Scottish manufacturer’s website www.taylorbowls.com build a bowl section – which give the choice of bowls colour, size, emblem and paint colour! Good luck to all who enter! Choose from one of Taylor Bowls’ most popular models: ACE with Progrip or Xtreme GripPlayed and won with by many world champions ..read more

The Home Nations have agreed a competition schedule and format for the 2023 outdoor season which includes senior and junior internationals, British Isles Championships and an Under 18s Test Match. The joint men’s and women’s British Isles Championships will kick start the season in Ayr and will take place between Wednesday and Thursday, June 28 and 29. The event is a great opportunity for those who have won their respective national championships to test themselves on the international stage. With various formats being played in each of the Home Nations in their respective events it has been ..read more

Ireland’s Sandra Bailie is appointed MBE for services to bowls and Lucy Beere, of Guernsey, is awarded an MBE for services to sport in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List. Sandra Bailie holds the record for the highest number of Irish indoor titles (29) and has played at two Commonwealth Games. She also has 42 Irish caps, as well as winning two British Isles triples and pairs titles. Outdoors, she has 44 Irish caps and has seven Irish titles to her name. Said Sandra: “I got an email on November 30 which was my birthday informing me. I truly believed this was a scam and I rang the number on the e ..read more