WelshRound-up All the latest from the Welsh bowls scene, by Stephen Rees Price takes up WBF position
The Welsh Bowls Federation have announced the appointment of John Price as the new WBF National Development Director. Price is a former World Indoor Singles and Pairs Champion and Commonwealth Games Medallist. He has represented Wales both indoors and outdoors since 1979 and is a former director of World Bowls Tour Ltd. He currently works as a commentator for both BBC and Sky Sports on their televised bowls coverage. The Welsh Bowls Federation has also appointed Regional Development Officers to work alongside John under the new 4 year plan and in conjunction with Sport Wales.
The emphasis will be on encouraging new people, particularly the young, to take up the sport. John Price said: “We believe as an organisation we all have a responsibility to ensure we leave a legacy, so that long after we have gone, further generations can continue to enjoy playing bowls.
“This means clubs, counties, national governing bodies, alongside the Welsh Bowls Federation staff, all working together providing leadership to make this happen.
“I believe this means being a ‘TEAM’, as ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’. “We want strong, successful clubs on and off the green, and more people playing bowls, whether it be competitive or socially. We also want to provide
pathways so people can progress from club to the international arena. “We have assembled an excellent team of Regional Officers who can give support and advice to clubs in their area and I am delighted to be involved in this exciting and challenging role.”
Thomas wins record fourth Swansea title
Graig Merthyr’s Steve Thomas won a record fourth Men’s Singles title at the Swansea Bowls Festival with a 21-19 victory against 17-year-old Aberavon starlet Dale McCarthy in front of a healthy crowd at Victoria Park. Trailing his younger opponent at the 21st end of a fascinating final, the three-time former champion Thomas picked up a count of three shots to reduce the deficit to 19-16 and then played immaculate opening bowls on the next two ends to get within a shot of the unflustered youngster McCarthy at 19-18.
John Price ‘Carpy’ dashes Diment’s double dream
Local favourite Paul Diment came within a whisker of becoming only the second player ever in the history of Tenby’s Open Week to achieve the dream ‘double double’. Thirty-nine-year-old Diment, a financial
adviser, won the Percy Howells Silver Bowl on Saturday, then just hours later was narrowly pipped by his former clubmate, Phil Carpenter, in the final of the blue riband Gold Cup by a scoreline of 21-18. His opponent in the Silver final was Welsh indoor international Steve Hill, of Porthcawl, who accounted for past Silver Bowl winner John Roberts, of Tenby, in the semis. Diment cruised into a handy ten shots to two lead after eight ends and never looked back, continuing to stretch away to record an impressive 21-11 victory.
After a short break to freshen up, it was back out to contest the gold final - his fourth game of the day - against Phil Carpenter of the Aberdare Harlequins club. ‘Carpy’ as he is known in Welsh bowling circles, is no stranger to the Sutton Street green, having been a two-time Silver Bowl winner and also a member of the Tenby team that combined to clinch the Carruthers Trophy two years ago.
And so the scene was set for a classic finalé to yet another memorable week of quality bowling, delivered by a strong field of competitors which seems to get stronger every year. The Tenby man was fastest out of the blocks, quickly opening up a 5-1 lead after three ends and stretching that to 12-5 after just 11 ends.
The ‘double double’ dream looked as if it could very much become reality. But ‘Carpy’, himself a Welsh indoor international, had other ideas as he gradually pegged Paul back and, by 15 ends, the scoreboard showed the pair level at 12-12.
A full house of four on the next end kept the dream alive for Paul, but again the Aberdare man responded with some great shots and, by the 22nd end, a three of his own saw him get his nose in front for the first time at 20-17.
Under pressure to keep his double dream alive, Diment picked up one on the next end, but that was his last, as moments later it was a delighted ‘Carpy’ who bagged another single to claim the Gold Cup and leave the disappointed Tenby man reflecting on what might have been.
Thomas was again first to the jack on the next end and followed that opening bowl with another two counting shots to hold a match lie before McCarthy played a brilliant running shot with his final delivery of the end to reduce Thomas to two shots and keep himself in with a chance of lifting the festival title.
With Thomas just one shot away from a record fourth victory, he was now beginning to dominate the opening exchanges of each end, consistently drawing within inches of the jack with his first bowl. At the 25th end, there appeared to be a glimmer of hope for McCarthy as he was left with a little bit more room by his opponent, but the Welsh U18 Singles champion couldn’t quite find a way into the head, meaning Thomas scored the vital shot to give him a 21-19 victory and a record fourth title spanning four decades.
NationwideBowler 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84