November 2017 BOWLS INTERNATIONAL 15monopolised by UK countries,
England and Scotland winning it
four times apiece, Ireland twice,
and Wales once, Israel came
second in 2003, and Guernsey
were runners up in 2009 and
again this year. Spain and the
Netherlands have also finished
in the top three over the past 20
years.
To be frank, it's a rather strange
event, which is all things to all
men. There is, indeed, something
for everyone. The so-called top
countries can afford to experiment,
often using the championships as a
springboard for talent, testing out
promising newcomers and giving
emerging players a chance to stake
their claim at international level.
Countries like France, Hungary,
Switzerland, Germany and Turkey
realise they have no chance of
winning titles - yet. For them it is a
learning experience, their eyes are
opened, and they relish the chance
to perform against top-class
opposition on the world stage.
For the middle-of-the-road
countries, the championships are a
chance to challenge the favourites- and they take up the challenge
with enthusiasm, knowing that,
perhaps, England, Ireland, Scotland
and Wales may have left out some
of their stars. That's why Guernsey
(twice), Israel, Spain and Holland
have been able to get among the
medals. And that's great!
If Scotland sent, shall we say,
Marshall, Foster, Letham and Doig,
that as a major triumph.
England sent Jamie-Lea Winch,
who has won medals in the
Commonwealth Games and
Rebecca Wigfield - a promising
duo, who came up trumps in the
women's pairs.
Wales, too, left stars like Robert
Weale, Anwen Butten, John
Tomlinson, Jess Sims and MarcAstonishingly, before she helped
Ireland win gold in the overall
team event, Megan found she has
been left out of the Irish team for
the 2018 British women's home
international series in Belmont. It
just shows there are some things
that defy explanation!
In terms of objectives, the
European Championships are very
much a development event, and,
although they are not run by World
Bowls, they receive the approval
of the international governing
body - and World Bowls European
Regional Director Garry Collins
was present to add weight to the
project.
Jersey made a good job of
hosting the event, under one of the
youngest management teams in
World Bowls, and the Bowls Jersey
President made a gracious speech
at the closing ceremony that
showed why he was elected to his
elevated position at the age of 28.
Curiously, the hosts fared less
well on the green, and were
well and truly upstaged by their
neighbours from Guernsey - and I
can assure you those areThe participants gather on the greenEngland's Jamie Lea Winch and Rebecca Wigfield won the women's pairs Matt Solway and Matt Le Ber of Guernsey won the men's pairs“In terms of objectives, the European
Championships are very much a
development event, and, although
they are not run by World Bowls,
they receive the approval of the
international governing body”
there is no guarantee they would
win the title - but they probably
would! This year, they sent four
young prospects in Greg McLachlin,
Emma McIntyre, Natalie Docherty
and Jason Banks, who came third
in the men's pairs, the mixed fours
and the overall team event. Bowls
Scotland will, quite rightly, countWyatt at home, and were rewarded
when Bethan Russ, Chris Klefenz,
Emma Gittins and Chris Ashman
struck gold in the mixed fours.
As for Ireland, they sent three
players - Catherine Beattie, Mark
Wilson and Andy Kyle - whose
reputation preceded them, along
with bright prospect Megan Wilson. >>>14-16_BI_EUROBOWL_Nov17_cc.indd 15 12/10/2017 14: