Improving and Competitions – Page 2

Bowls is like all other sports, in that it has a World Championships each year, where the very best players in the world battle it out in a knockout format. It's looked forward to every year, and screened live on BBC TV as well as YouTube and Facebook. But when and where are the Championships played? The WBT World Indoor Bowls Championships take place for 3 weeks through January every year, and are played at Potters holiday resort in Hopton-on-Sea, near to Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast. The WBT build a portable bowls rink on the existing bowls surface, and erect tiered seating for 2000 spectators on either side. The World Championships moved to Potters in 1999 and have been held there ever since. It's a popular venue for players and spectators alike, and with the resort offering many other sports and entertainment, there's plenty to do when games are not in progress. But you don't have to stay at the resort to watch, as it is possible t buy day passes as a spectator. Previous venues for the World Indoor Bowls Championships The World Indoor Bowls Championships were first played for in 1979 in Coatbridge, Scotland, with the late, great David Bryant winning the first three events. In 1988 the venue was Alexandra Palace, but then moved to the the Preston Guild Hall the following year. What formats of play are there? There are currently five events that are played for - the Open Singles, Women's Singles, Open Pairs, Mixed Pairs and Under 25 Singles. Matches are played in a best of 2 sets of 9 ends. Win both sets and you are through 2-0; tie one set but win the other and you are through 1.5-0.5. However if each player wins a set, or both sets are tied, then it's a best of 3 end tie-break. At that point shots do not count but it's the number of ends won in the tie-break. The only time an end can be killed is on the last end of the tie-break, if you have nominated the kill. At any other point when the jacks is fired off the side of the rink then it is placed back on the re-spot on that side. Where do the players come from? In the Open Singles the top 16 ranked players in the Professional Bowls Association are seeded against qualifiers from around the world. In 2022 the qualifiers came from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the USA, Canada and Hong Kong. Can I try to qualify to play in the World Championships? Yes, it is possible to take part in the World Championships at Potters by winning one of the qualifiers. There are several dates and venues in the UK, and you can enter them from this link. These are singles unless stated. DateVenueSunday 18th SeptemberBromley IBC, KentSunday 18th SeptemberStanley IBC, DurhamSunday 25th SeptemberGlasgow IBC, ScotlandSaturday 1st OctoberAtherley IBC, HampshireSunday 2nd October (Pairs)Atherley IBC, HampshireSaturday 1st OctoberCarlisle IBC, CumbriaSaturday 15th October (Ladies Matchplay)Huntingdon IBC, CambridgeshireSunday 16th October (Pairs)Huntingdon IBC, CambridgeshireSaturday 22nd OctoberSolihull IBC, West MidlandsSunday 23rd October (Pairs)Solihull IBC, West MidlandsSaturday 22nd October (Singles and Pairs)Belfast IBC, Northern IrelandSaturday 29th October Newport IBC, WalesSunday 3oth October (Pairs)Newport IBC, WalesSunday 30th OctoberWest Lothian IBC, ScotlandWorld Championship Qualifiers 2022 Who are the past winners of the World Indoor Championships? Open Singles (from 1979 to 2011 Men's Singles) YearWinnerVenue1979David Bryant (England)Coatbridge, Scotland1980David Bryant (England)Coatbridge, Scotland1981David Bryant (England)Coatbridge, Scotland1982John Watson (Scotland)Coatbridge, Scotland1983Bub Sutherland (Scotland)Coatbridge, Scotland1984Jim Baker (Northern Ireland)Coatbridge, Scotland1985Terry Sullivan (Wales)Coatbridge, Scotland1986Tony Allcock (England)Coatbridge, Scotland1987Tony Allcock (England)Coatbridge, Scotland1988Hugh Duff (Scotland)Alexandra Palace, England1989Richard Corsie (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1990John Price (Wales)Preston Guild Hall, England1991Richard Corsie (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1992Ian Schuback (Australia)Preston Guild Hall, England1993Richard Corsie (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1994Andy Thomson (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1995Andy Thomson (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1996David Gourlay (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1997Hugh Duff (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1998Paul Foster (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1999Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2000Robert Weale (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2001Paul Foster (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2002Tony Allcock (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2003Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2004Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2005Paul Foster (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2006Mervyn King (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2007Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2008Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2009Billy Jackson (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2010Greg Harlow (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2011Paul Foster (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2012Andy Thomson (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2013Stewart Anderson (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2014Darren Burnett (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2015Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2016Nick Brett (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2017Paul Foster (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2018Mark Dawes (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2019Stewart Anderson (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2020Rob Paxton (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2021Mark Dawes (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2022Les Gillett (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2023Jamie Walker (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2024Stewart Anderson (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2025Jason Banks (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, EnglandList of World Indoor Bowls Championship Singles Winners - Bowls Academy Open Pairs Winners (from 1986 to 2011 Men's Pairs) YearWinnerVenue1986Tony Alcock & David Bryant (England)Coatbridge, Scotland1987Tony Alcock & David Bryant (England)Coatbridge, Scotland1988Ian Schuback & Jim Yates (Australia)Alexandra Palace, England1989Tony Alcock & David Bryant (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1990Tony Alcock & David Bryant (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1991Tony Alcock & David Bryant (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1992Tony Alcock & David Bryant (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1993Gary Smith & Andy Thomson (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1994Ian Schuback & Cameron Curtis (Australia)Preston Guild Hall, England1995Richard Corsie and Alex Marshall (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1996Ian Schuback & Kelvin Kerkow (Australia)Preston Guild Hall, England1997Tony Alcock & Mervyn King (England)Preston Guild Hall, England1998Richard Corsie & Graham Robertson (Scotland)Preston Guild Hall, England1999John Price & Stephen Rees (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2000David Gourlay & Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2001Les Gillett & Mark McMahon (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2002Hugh Duff & Paul Foster (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2003Tony Alcock & David Holt (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2004Ian McClure & Jeremy Henry (Ireland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2005Kelvin Kerkow (Australia) & Mervyn King (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2006Billy Jackson (England) & David Gourlay (Australia)Potter Leisure Resort, England2007Billy Jackson (England) & David Gourlay (Australia)Potter Leisure Resort, England2008Andy Thomson & Ian Bond (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2009Kelvin Kerkow (Australia) & Mervyn King (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2010Andy Thomson & Ian Bond (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2011Paul Foster & Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2012Paul Foster & Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2013Paul Foster & Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2014Greg Harlow & Nick Brett (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2015Robert Paxton & Simon Skelton (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2016Stewart Anderson & Darren Burnett (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2017Les Gillett (England) & Jason Greenslade (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2018Mark Dawes & Jamie Chestney (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2019Paul Foster & Alex Marshall (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2020Greg Harlow & Nick Brett (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2021Mark Dawes & Jamie Chestney (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2022Stewart Anderson & Darren Burnett (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2023Greg Harlow & Nick Brett (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2024Stewart Anderson & Darren Burnett (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2025Jason Banks & Michael Stepney (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, EnglandList of World Indoor Bowls Championship Pairs Winners - Bowls Academy Ladies Singles Winners YearWinnerVenue1988Margaret Johnston (Ireland)Llanelli, Wales1990Fleur Bougourd (Guernsey)Guernsey1991Mary Price (England)Guernsey1992Sarah Gourlay (Scotland)Guernsey1993Kate Adams (Scotland)Guernsey1994Jan Woodley (Scotland)Cumbernauld, Scotland1995Joyce Lindores (Scotland)Cumbernauld, Scotland1996Sandy Hazell (England)Guernsey1997Norma Shaw (England)Llanelli, Wales1998Caroline McAllister (Scotland)Llanelli, Wales1999Caroline McAllister (Scotland)Prestwick, Scotland2000Marlene Castle (Australia)Belfast, Ireland2001Betty Brown (Scotland)Llanelli, Wales2002Carol Ashby (England) Potter Leisure Resort, England2003Carol Ashby (England) Potter Leisure Resort, England2004Carol Ashby (England) Potter Leisure Resort, England2005Ellen Falkner (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2006Ellen Falkner (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2007Caroline Brown (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2008Ceri Ann Davies (Australia)Potter Leisure Resort, England2009Debbie Stavrou (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2010Debbie Stavrou (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2011Alison Merrien (Guernsey)Potter Leisure Resort, England2012Karen Murphy (Australia)Potter Leisure Resort, England2013Rebecca Field (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2014Katherine Rednall (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2015Laura Daniels (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2016Ellen Falkner (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2017Katherine Rednall (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2018Katherine Rednall (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2019Julie Forrest (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2020Julie Forrest (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2021Laura Daniels (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2022Katherine Rednall (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2023Katherine Rednall (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2024Katherine Rednall (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2025Julie Forrest (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, EnglandList of World Indoor Bowls Championship Ladies Singles Winners - Bowls Academy Mixed Pairs Winners YearWinnerVenue2004Alex Marshall (Scotland) & Amy Monkhouse (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2005John Price (Wales) & Carol Ashby (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2006John Price (Wales) & Carol Ashby (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2007Greg Harlow & Jo Morris (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2008David Gourlay & Ceri Ann Davies (Australia)Potter Leisure Resort, England2009David Gourlay & Ceri Ann Davies (Australia)Potter Leisure Resort, England2010Alex Marshall (Scotland) & Carol Ashby (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2011Simon Skelton & Alison Merrien (Guernsey)Potter Leisure Resort, England2012David Gourlay (Scotland) & Debbie Stavrou (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2013Paul Foster (Scotland) & Laura Thomas (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2014Paul Foster (Scotland) & Laura Thomas (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2015Robert Paxton (England) & Marion Purcell (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2016Darren Burnett (Scotland) & Katherine Rednall (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2017Nick Brett (England) & Claire Johnston (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2018Jamie Chestney (England) & Leslie Doig (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2019Robert Paxton & Ellen Falkner (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2020Nick Brett (England) & Marion Purcell (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2021Stewart Anderson & Julie Forrest (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2022Paul Foster (Scotland) & Alison Merrien (Guernsey)Potter Leisure Resort, England2023Stewart Anderson (Scotland) & Ceri-Ann Glen (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2024Nick Brett (England) & Julie Forrest (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2025Jason Banks & Beth Riva (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, EnglandList of World Indoor Bowls Championship Mixed Pairs Winners - Bowls Academy Under 25 Singles YearWinnerVenue2016Joseph Mower (Wales)Potter Leisure Resort, England2017Ellen Ryan (Australia)Potter Leisure Resort, England2018Chloe Watson (Ireland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2019John Orr (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2020William Moulton (England)Potter Leisure Resort, England2022Daniel Pool (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2023Daniel Pool (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2024Darren Weir (Scotland)Potter Leisure Resort, England2025Not heldList of World Indoor Bowls Championship Under 25 Singles Winners - Bowls Academy Conclusion - when and where are the World Indoor Bowls Championships All eyes will be on the Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea on the Norfolk coast in January when the top 16 players in the world, plus the winners from all the qualifiers, will do battle to lift the coveted title. Could it be you? Only if you enter. In recent years qualifiers such as Ken Chan, Wayne Willgress and Perry Martin have shown they can cause some shocks and go deep into the competition, so you've got nothing to lose.