Llandrindod Wells Bowls Club hosts successful European Bowls Championships

Llandrindod Wells Bowls Club hosted the European Bowls Championships between Saturday, 19 September, to Saturday, 26 September.

Nineteen countries that consisted of: Bermuda, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jersey, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and Wales, competed across the week.

It all got underway on Saturday 19th with an opening ceremony with all countries walking onto green A accompanied by Sport Powys Young Ambassadors. The dignitaries consisted of Eddie Williams (President of Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club), Jake Berriman (Leader of Powys County Council), Steve Deeks-D 'Silva (Mayor of Llandrindod Wells), Jock Halliday (Chair of Bowls Europe), Richard Jones (Chair of Bowls Wales) and Richard Davies (President of Welsh Lawn Bowls who all welcomed the competitors to the event which consisted of Men’s and women’s five person teams competing in singles, pairs, triples and fours events.

Ireland won the overall team prize as they made a clean sweep in the men’s competitions, winning the singles, pairs, triples and fours with players Stuart Bennett, Ryan McElroy, Mark Wilson, Stephen Kirkwood and Martin McHugh making up the men’s team.

The Irish women were silver medalists in the pairs and bronze medalists in the triples to wrap up the overall title, known as the Andy Meekison Trophy, for Ireland. Wales placed second overall.

In the women’s singles, Saskia Schaft from the Netherlands took gold with Jersey and Scotland taking silver and bronze respectively.

Welsh duo Jasmine Staton and Ysie White won the gold in the women’s pairs, and Jersey took home the women’s triples gold with Lynne Cummins, Estelle Burns and Rachel Macdonald.

In the women’s fours, Dawn Anderson, Claire McCurdie, Sarah-Jane Ewing, and Gail Notman won the gold for Scotland.

Speaking on hosting the championships, Sam Roff, the Secretary of Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club said: “It’s probably the third biggest outdoor event on the bowls calendar really behind the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, so we haven’t had anything on this scale at the club since 1997 which was the Atlantic Rim Bowls Championships.

“We host national championships and international events as and when they come along but nothing on this scale.

"The week went very well which we had been around 18 months in the planning, unfortunately It was a little bit wet on the practice day and the first day, but other than that it went really well. A lot of the countries really liked being in the area, so it’s gone as well as we could envisage really from our point of view and that's testament to our members.”

Llandrindod was offered the chance to host the championships by Bowls Europe with the event also being the Europe qualifier for the 2027 World Championships.

“A big thanks to Bowls Europe for entrusting the club to host the European Championships and their Event Director Robert Sterling for running a well organised competition, the ITO's & Umpires along with the markers for volunteering at the championships. The club must thank Powys County Council, Llandrindod Town Council, Sport Powys, Mid Wales Sports Partnership, Bowls Wales and Sporting Highlights for their contribution towards the event along with Cardiff Metropolitan University for offering a summer placement opportunity to support the event along with Badger & Combes for streaming the finals days around the globe,” said Sam.

“Without them the event doesn’t happen.”

Organisers are predicting an additional £300,000 to £500,000 benefit to the local economy due to the championships with the use of accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes. Around two hundred rooms were used across ten days in hotels and B&B’s in the area.