Our Team Wales Bowls squad recently returned from the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the bowls competition was staged at the SEC Centre across four specially constructed portable indoor rinks. This marked the first time that lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games had been played on an indoor surface.
The Wales squad was nominated at the beginning of the year, but, as with all Commonwealth Games selections, athletes had to wait for final confirmation from Team Wales before preparations could begin in earnest.
Commonwealth Games Bronze for Visually Impaired Mixed Pairs
The highlight of the Games for Wales came during the opening week of competition, with a bronze medal in the Visually Impaired Mixed Pairs (B2-B3). Julie Thomas, directed by Jamie Jones, and Steffan James, directed by John Wilson, produced an outstanding performance throughout the competition to secure a place on the podium.
John Wilson also fulfilled the role of Team Manager for the visually impaired squad, but as he was on the rink directing a player, Anwen Butten MBE provided rinkside support during every match.
The Welsh pair topped the round-robin standings after an impressive series of performances, earning a place in the semi-finals. A narrow defeat to England meant they progressed to the bronze medal play-off against New Zealand. After sharing the opening two sets, the match was decided by a tie-break end, where Wales held their nerve to secure the bronze medal.
The medal marks Julie Thomas’ third Commonwealth Games podium finish, having previously won medals at the Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. For Steffan James, it was a memorable Commonwealth Games debut, having only taken up the sport a few years ago.
The pair’s results were:
- Australia (Jacqueline Hudson, Director: Claire Turley & Jake Fehlberg, Director: Karen Murphy) – Won 2-1 (2-4, 6-3, TB 2-0).
- England (Ron Homer, Director: Sue Davies & Sally-Ann Lewis Wall, Director: Elizabeth Shipley) – Won 2-0 (7-4, 6-5).
- New Zealand (Sonya Woodrow, Director: Kimberly Carraher & Kerrin Wheeler, Director: Colin Wheeler) – Lost 1-2 (0-9, 5-4, TB 0-1).
- South Africa (Princess Schroeder, Director: Graham Ward & Keith Orrell, Director: Trevor Freeman) – Won 2-0 (9-4, 7-2).
- Scotland (Mary Stevenson, Director: James Aitken & Robert Barr, Director: Sarah-Jane Ewing) – Won 2-1 (1-6, 7-3, TB 1-0).
- Semi-final: England – Lost 0-2 (4-5, 1-4).
- Bronze Medal Match: New Zealand – Won 2-1 (4-7, 6-2, TB 1-0).
Congratulations to Julie Thomas, Steffan James, Jamie Jones and John Wilson on winning bronze for Team Wales.
Men’s Singles – Ross Owen
The men’s singles is played as a two-set format, with players needing to win both sets or force a tie-break to secure victory. Ross Owen found himself in one of the toughest groups of the competition, facing two fellow home nations alongside strong opposition from across the Commonwealth.
Ross produced a number of excellent performances, winning three matches outright and taking another to a tie-break. His campaign ultimately saw him narrowly miss out on qualification despite only losing two matches.
His results were:
- Pakistan (Mohammed Ayub Qureshi) – Won 2-0 (12-5, 17-0).
- England (Sam Tolchard) – Lost 0-2 (3-4, 4-7).
- Jamaica (Robert Simpson) – Won 2-0 (10-1, 8-4).
- Scotland (Jason Banks) – Lost 1-2 (11-4, 1-12, TB 0-1).
- Fiji (Rajnesh Prasad) – Won 2-0 (11-5, 9-4).
Women’s Pairs – Lauren Gowen & Amy Williams
The women’s pairs competition is played over two sets, with partnerships combining tactical awareness, consistency and communication throughout each match.
Lauren Gowen and Amy Williams enjoyed an excellent group stage campaign, topping their section after winning four of their five matches. Their performances earned them a place in the semi-finals, where they faced England in a closely contested encounter.
The semi-final proved to be one of the closest matches of the competition. Both five-end sets were decided by a single shot before the match went to a tie-break. Unfortunately, England edged the deciding end to progress to the gold medal match.
Wales then faced Northern Ireland in the bronze medal play-off, where another closely fought contest ended in a narrow defeat, leaving the pair just outside the medals.
Their results were:
- Canada (Emma Boyd & Kelly McKerihen) – Won 2-0 (9-2, 6-4).
- Fiji (Losalini Yukai & Litia Tikoisuva) – Won 2-0 (8-0, 5-3).
- Botswana (Chinky Sinombe & Mpopi Pelemo) – Won 2-0 (8-2, 15-1).
- Kenya (Nancy Cheruiyot & Eunice Wambui Mbugua) – Won 2-0 (13-0, 7-0).
- New Zealand (Selina Goddard & Katelyn Inch) – Lost 1-2 (4-5, 6-1, TB 0-1).
- Semi-final: England (Amy Pharaoh & Sian Honnor) – Lost 1-2 (4-5, 5-4, TB 0-2).
- Bronze Medal Match: Northern Ireland (Chloe Wilson & Shauna O’Neill) – Lost 0-2 (2-4, 4-5).
Following the conclusion of the women’s pairs competition, attention quickly turned to the second half of the Games programme. Having narrowly missed out on a bronze medal during the morning session, Amy Williams immediately switched her focus to the women’s singles, while Ross Owen joined Daniel Salmon for the start of the men’s pairs competition.
Women’s Singles – Amy Williams
The women’s singles follows the same two-set format, requiring players to maintain consistency across multiple matches to progress from the group stage.
Amy Williams produced another strong campaign, recording four victories from her five group matches. Despite suffering just one defeat, the strength of the group meant she narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stages.
Her results were:
- India (Nayanmoni Saikia) – Won 2-0 (8-7, 10-1).
- South Africa (Bridget Herselman) – Won 2-0 (6-3, 6-3).
- Zimbabwe (Mildred Mkandawire) – Won 2-0 (9-3, 18-2).
- Isle of Man (Caroline Whitehead) – Won 2-0 (13-1, 13-0).
- Malaysia (Emma Firyana Saroji) – Lost 0-2 (5-6, 1-8).
With four wins from five matches, Amy can be proud of an excellent singles campaign, although it was not quite enough to secure qualification for the knockout stages.
Men’s Pairs – Daniel Salmon & Ross Owen
The men’s pairs competition followed during the second week of the Games, with Daniel Salmon and Ross Owen representing Wales. The pairs discipline demands effective communication and tactical awareness, with both players working together to build heads and convert scoring opportunities.
Daniel and Ross opened their campaign in impressive fashion, recording a comprehensive victory over Niue before two closely fought tie-break encounters against Malta and Guernsey. A narrow tie-break defeat to Malta was followed by a tie-break victory over Guernsey, leaving qualification finely balanced heading into the final matches. Defeats to Malaysia and Jersey ultimately brought their campaign to an end, with the margins throughout the group highlighting just how competitive the standard was.
Their results were:
- Niue (Tifaga Tupuiliu & Keith Papani) – Won 2-0 (12-1, 7-1).
- Malta (Troy Lorimer & Shaun Parnis) – Lost 1-2 (8-3, 2-4, TB 0-1).
- Guernsey (Ian Merrien & Jason Greenslade) – Won 2-1 (3-4, 5-4, TB 1-0).
- Malaysia (Amirul Danial Abdul Rahim & Mohammad Soufi Rusli) – Lost 0-2 (2-3, 2-5).
- Jersey (Ross Davis & Malcolm de Sousa) – Lost 0-2 (2-7, 1-6).
Looking Back
Although Wales returned home with one Commonwealth Games medal, the overall campaign was characterised by fine margins. Our Welsh athletes and teams narrowly missed out on progressing to the knockout stages or competing for medals, underlining the highly competitive nature of the event.
Throughout the Games, every member of the Welsh squad represented Team Wales with professionalism, determination and pride, both on and off the green. It was fitting to see the entire bowls team come together for the Closing Ceremony before returning home to attend the official Team Wales Welcome Home celebration at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
The management team was led by Anwen Butten MBE, who served as Overall Team Manager as well as Women’s Team Manager. Chris Ashman fulfilled the role of Men’s Team Manager, while John Wilson supported the visually impaired squad as VI Team Manager alongside his directing duties.
Congratulations to every athlete, director, coach and member of the management team who represented Wales at the 23rd Commonwealth Games. Their performances, commitment and sportsmanship ensured Wales was represented with distinction throughout the competition.
