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Powys County Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Powys spa town prepares to host British bowls elite
EXCITEMENT is building ahead of the forthcoming British Isles Bowls Championships and International Series set for Llandrindod Wells. The prestigious lawn bowls event takes place at Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club's international standard Rock Park. The championships attract the top bowlers from across the country and also provide the town with a financial boost with hundreds of people investing in the local economy. The three green facility has hosted both events in the past and is known as one of the top bowls clubs in Britain. The action start with a practise day on Monday, June 23 before the real competition begins with the final day on Sunday, June 29. A host of mid Wales-based players will make the trip to the Spa town. They include June Morgan, Barbara Sheers, Fiona Preece and Joanna Weale of Presteigne who will be competing in the ladies fours championship. Berriew's Caroline Taylor captains the senior women's side in the international series and is joined by clubmate Emma Gittins, along with Naomi Evans from Llanidloes and also Joanna Weale from Presteigne. Machynlleth's Andrew Fleming is included in the senior men's squad alongside Sam Roff of Llandrindod Wells. As well as Sam Roff, teenager Ffion Stephens has been selected to play in the international women's team, together with Emma Woodcock of Cardiff, who originates from Knighton. Meanwhile youngsters Ffion Stephens and Cara Dunne of Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club have been selected to represent Wales in the Under 18 International Series being played in Ayr, Scotland on July 20-21. It has also been confirmed two Powys bowlers can look forward to winter in Malaysia this year.
Powys County Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Llandrindod to become home of disability bowls in Wales
A CELABRATORY event will take place next week to mark Llandrindod Wells becoming the centre of excellence for disability bowls in Wales. Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club, in the spa town's Rock Park, will become the home for Wales' disability bowls squad, which include para and visually impaired athletes. The squad includes many hopefuls ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, along with athletes who have previously competed at the games. The decision has been a collaborative effort between Sam Roff and Eddie Williams, members at the Powys club, and John Wilson, the Welsh Para Bowls co-ordinator and Disability Bowls Wales team manager. The club, and its exquisite playing surfaces, will become home for the all the disabled squads and will host performance training sessions and future competitions. An event celebrating the announcement will be held at the club, located at Rock Park Greens (LD1 6AE), next Wednesday, May 14, from midday. 'I give my heartfelt thanks to the club for so actively embracing inclusion and working with me over the last few months to reach this next step in what I hope will be a long and successful partnership,' said Mr Wilson. 'This venue is renowned and respected throughout the world as a fantastic place to play, on first rate greens of excellent quality, in a beautiful location. 'It will provide opportunities to our players to train on a quality surface in preparation for future international (tournaments) and (against) world class opposition they will face in other top-quality venues. 'I am delighted the club are so actively supporting inclusion of our sport for all abilities. Powys drug dealer back behind bars after being arrested 19 days after release Sir Salman Rushdie to return to Powys for Hay literary festival 'We are very grateful to the club and its members for demonstrating they clearly support inclusion in our sport. 'All of our players are absolutely delighted to have a home for our teams, which puts us on a par with Bowls England and Bowls Scotland.' The Disability Bowls Wales Squad boasts Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medallists, as well as gold medallists from the first-ever inclusive European Championships, held in 2024. The squad boasts a number of international and national champions, as well as several players who feature regularly for their county teams. 'Having a home is really important,' said Welsh lawn bowl player Julie Thomas, a former primary school headteacher and a double Commonwealth Games medallist and European champion, who lost her sight in 2014. 'For far too long we have relied on the kindness of individual host clubs but now we finally have a base and can offer to host world class events for ourselves. 'It now gives us real equity with the other Welsh international teams. We all now belong at the 'Home of Welsh Bowls'. 'It is a fantastic step forward and I am delighted, as are the other squad members.' Owen Williams, chair of Welsh Association of Visually Impaired Bowlers (WAVIB), added: 'I am delighted that the home of Welsh bowls, Llandrindod Wells, will be the centre of excellence for disability bowls. 'Having such wonderful greens to practice on and develop our players' skills will only help us to further promote the game of bowls for everyone. 'Congratulations to John and all involved in making this possible.'
