International Competitions

World Bowls & International Indoor Bowls Council Media Release

2021 World Bowls Indoor Championships Cancelled

With Coronavirus (Covid 19) continuing to be a major threat globally World Bowls along with its partners the International Indoor Bowls Council and Bowls Australia have after much discussion agreed to cancel the 2021 World Indoor Championships originally planned to be held in Australia.

As with all world championships they must be held in a climate which would ensure the best chance for competing countries to attend and send their elite players. The current restrictions of travel arrangements and quarantine periods would not allow that to happen.

World Bowls and its partners would like to convey their thanks to all stakeholders involved in determining this course of action which has been taken in the best interests of athletes, administrators, volunteers and spectators whose safety remains paramount in any decision making process.

The World Bowls Indoor Championships are scheduled to be rotated between the U.K. and Australia and we now look forward to the 2022 Championships which will be held in the U.K.

Saturday round robins

In the light of the cancellation, Saturday 3rd October will revert to a Round Robin Roll Up. Please arrive by 1.15 to check in for a 1.30 start.

The mixed pairs against Ireland started poorly for the Manx pairing who were slow to find the pace of the green in the first set but sparked a revival in the second set to lead into the last end and holding a set winning position until the last wood which deprived Clive & Bernice the opportunity to take the match to a tie break.

In his first singles match Clive was up against the crown green specialist from England, Jack Bird was was quick off the mark to take the first set by a margin. The second set was keenly contested with Clive holding a set winning head with a toucher inches from the ditch with just the bowl come when Jack Bird drove off the shot bowl to tie the set but take the match.

In her first game Bernice took on the legendary Janice Gower, another major force from the crown green code who performed well at Potters last year. Bernice got off to a flyer and commanded the first set with great bowls taking it quite comfortably. The second set was more of a thriller with both ladies exchanging some super shots but Bernice was in fine form taking the second set to win the match.

For live scoring visit iibc.org.uk/

UPDATED

For all scores and results of the IIBC Championships click here

On the weekend of 19^th and 20^th of January popular local Bowler Mike Ashmole travelled to Nottingham to compete in the Ann Trotman Disability Bowls Singles at Gedling IBC. The reason Mike entered this was to gain off Island Competition and also to be assessed and become registered with his disability so that he can become classified and enter competitions within his own classification group.

In the competition Mike represented the Island well and in his first game beat Dave Fisher a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist. He then went on to more success before coming up against two very good bowlers, one of which was Paul Hawkes – an experienced visually impaired England International – who has invited Mike to team up with him in a Triples Team later in the year.

During the competition, Mike who has Spina Bifida, was classified as a B6 which means that he can now compete in the same class as Wheelchair Bowlers and all at the Isle of Man Indoor Bowling Association wish him success with his intention of competing in future off Island Competitions.

Two of our Indoor Bowlers who are also successful Lawn Bowlers and holders of their respective Manx Singles Championships are currently competing in the World Bowls Singles Champion of Champions Lawn Bowls Event in Australia.

Clive McGreal has qualified for the Play Offs by finishing third in his group and is now to play a Malaysian Opponent in a match that if he should win would see him play the New Zealander who is the current World Singles Champion in the semi finals.

Janice Pilling has had an extremely hard regime being drawn against some very tough opponents but has played well throughout and has won three of her matches.
It is great to see our members doing so well and I am sure we all wish Clive good luck for his next match.

*photo courtesy of Taylor Bowls