Meet the team: Wales Mens Fours

With two bronze medallists from Glasgow 2014 along- side a recent World Junior Championship finalist and a vastly experienced international skip, the Welsh Mens Fours has a great chance to go all the way in an event Wales has not tasted Gold since 1986. They line up in Section A alongside , , Papua New Guinea & Cook Islands

Lead: Ross Owen & Jarrad Breen to the fours Ross, a keen Cardiff City sup- crown. porter is described as a brilliant Since discovering bowls at the role model for younger players He will also be looking to use age of four via his Grandfather, through combining a work/life recent knowledge of the Ross has always been destined routine alongside maintaining Broadbeach greens having for big things in the game. fitness levels. Personal training reached the final of the World sessions on the build up to the From Mountain Ash in the Junior Championships this games will see Ross in tip top Cynon Valley, Ross grew up month. The second Welshman shape heading to the games. around some excellent players to do so in successive seasons. at the Nixons Club before gain- Ross, lining up for photographs at ing his first Junior International When asked about his selec- a recent squad day in Cardiff honours from the Harlequins tion, Ross added: “I was de- club, Aberdare in 2010, at the lighted, overwhelmed and real- age of 16. ly excited for the opportunity to compete in my debut games.” A leading player at Under 25 level regularly skipping in the “Preparation is going really well Welsh team both indoor and and just returning home from outdoor, Ross has developed playing on the Commonwealth into a superb versatile player Games surfaces in the Youth comfortable in any position at Championship has given me elite level. some extra training.”

2017 has been an excellent Ross is also currently represent- year in particular, winning his ing Wales at the indoor Home first outdoor national Under 25 International Series at Paisley, title and skipping clubmates Scotland Jordan Davies, Phil Carpenter The Gold Coast will see four medal opportuni- ties for Mens combinations, these being: Singles Daniel Salmon Pairs Daniel Salmon and Marc Wyatt Triples Ross Owen, Steve Harris and Jonathan Tomlinson Fours Ross Owen, Steve Harris, Marc Wy att and Jonathan Tomlinson

Marc Wyatt, Dan Slamon, David Harding (Team Manager) Jon Tomlinson, Steve Harris, Ross Owen

Second:. Steve Harris down three different genera- gether as much as possible to tions, Steve taking up the practice in our combina- One of the most popular game when he was 14. and tions” players on the international has been playing for 28 circuit, Ebbw Vale’s Steve Steve has also benefitted years. Harris is preparing for his first from the use of a personal . Harris brings a vast amount of trainer at a local gym. The International experience, busy schedule will be a test “I was really pleased and capped over 30 times out- for all players mental and proud when I got the call” door in the Home Internation- physical stamina. said Harris. “Representing al Series over a 12 year peri- Wales is a great honour but Steve will be playing right up od. it’s a bit more special at a to the Commonwealth major event like this—my first Steve is no stranger to experi- Games indoors, representing Commonwealth Games” ence at elite level, having Wales in the indoor Home in- played in Test Matches ternational Series in Paisley. Bowls in the genes for Steve. against New Zealand & Aus- The love of the game passed When asked about adapting tralia as part of the build up to the southern hemisphere to Glasgow 2014 before his conditions: “We’ve played at first major international selec- the Broadbeach venue early tion for the Atlantic Rim 2017 in a test match, so we championships in Cyprus sort of know what to expect 2015, quickly followed by green and facility wise . Per- World Bowls in Christchurch, sonally I enjoy the hard fast New Zealand 2016. surfaces to play on . Not sure As with other team mem- how we handle all that sun- bers, preparation has been shine mind coming from a key. “we’ve had various summer snow area!!” squad sessions with both the Pictured is Steve at a recent mens and ladies teams. Also, squad session at Cardiff IBC we have been getting to- Lawn Bowls is classed as a core sport for the Com- monwealth Games having been on the pro- gramme since the inaugural event in Hamilton, Canada in 1930 at the pre-named Games. The only time that the sport has not appeared on the programme was in 1966 when the Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica due to there not being enough greens available for play. Team Wales have won a total of 26 medals in all and lie in 7th place in the all-time medal table for bowls. This includes the gold the Women’s Fours won in 1986 by Linda Parker, Linda Evans, Joan Rickets and Rita Jones.

Source: Wikipedia and Commonwealth Games Federation

Third: Marc Wyatt suggests, Marc is a household When asked about the condi- name in Welsh Bowls. “I start- tions in As the picture suggests, Marc ed bowling in 1989 at Caer- Wyatt is one of the more flam- “The practice before the philly Town Bowling Club and buoyant characters on the games start will be key as this still play for them now.” international circuit. will give us a good opportuni- Marc took a familiar route into ty to suss out the different A bronze medallist at the the game being introduced bowls and the greens. These Glasgow 2014 games along- to the Caerphilly green by his few days will give us the side Paul Taylor & Jonathan family. chance to adapt to the Tomlinson in the Mens Triples, warmer climate and to the “Sparky” will be looking to “My grandad played and my quicker surfaces before we add to his already impressive dad played. I liked playing go in to the main event.” bowling CV. sport from a young age and my Dad used to take me to “Sparky”, striking a familiar pose With almost 50 outdoor inter- the green. I decided to have at a squad session national caps Marc, a sales a go one day and have nev- manager with Dalziel, is the er looked back.” most experienced player in the mens team having sam- Marc as with the other players pled Commonweath action have been preparing hard for in 2010 & 2014. the Games : “I have been practicing quite a bit, 3- 4 “I felt very proud and hon- times (6-10 hours) a week, oured when I heard I’d been whilst trying to fit work and selected for my 3rd Common- family life in. Looking after a 4 wealth Games. I felt very ex- year old boy keeps me on my cited to be given the chance toes!! I have also been doing to represent Wales at the exercise at home after work highest level once again. “ when I get a spare 30 As his international record minutes.” Commonwealth Games—Did you know?!

Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth games – Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scot- land and Wales.

The first commonwealth games type event was called the ‘’ and was held in in 1911. This event was organized to celebrate the coronation of King George V.

The most successful nation in the history of the Common- wealth games is Australia. They’ve won 803 gold medals and have a total medal count of over 2,000!

Between 1990 and 2002 the Nauruan weightlifter Marcus Stephen won twelve medals – seven of which were gold. In 2007 he was elected president of Nauru.

Source: The Guardian

Skip: Jonathan – an engineer by and has been part of the trade – is certainly one to Bowls England setup. Jonathan Tomlinson watch. He won a bronze “Tomo” has switched indoor The Tomlinson family are one medal in the men’s triples in clubs this season playing his of the most well known bowl- Glasgow four years ago trade at Cynon Valley, and ing families in Wales. alongside Marc Wyatt and has regularly played along- Hailing from the small village Paul Taylor. More recently, in side lead Ross Owen, provid- of Glyncorrwg in Neath Port 2016, he won a silver at the ing excellent preparation for Talbot, Jonathan Tomlinson World Champion of Champi- the event. now living in Newport is one of ons event – a hugely prestig- He is a popular member of Wales’ most experienced in- ious event on the interna- the team and is well respect- ternational players. tional bowls circuit, attract- ed throughout the game for “Tomo” at a recent squad day at ing all the national singles his sporting and gentlemanly Sophia Gardens, Cardiff champions from around the globe. conduct on and off the green. Jonathan comes from a long line of bowlers, with both his Stay tuned to updates from dad and grandad playing Bowls Wales on Social Media and competing for Wales. throughout the Common- Jonathan’s younger brother, wealth Games to track the Rhys & Alex are also regulars latest results, reports and an on the Welsh bowls circuit. insiders view of life in the athletes village. Jonathan’s other brother Ross a former national singles champion and runner-up, is now living in Cambridgeshire