The Bowls England Men’s Bowler of the year awards were announced tonight at the men’s annual prize giving and awards evening.
For the first time this year the public voted for the winner, after a shortlist was created for each category.
The winner of the Young Male Bowler of the Year was Kieran Rollings with Harry Goodwin in the runner’s up position.
Young Male Bowler of the Year Shortlist:
JAMIE BARKER (CAMBRIDGESHIRE)
Jamie Barker, a junior international, had to settle for three runners up spots at the National Championships at Leamington Spa.
Great bowling saw him reach the finals of the Family Pairs and the Junior Pairs with brother Adam and the also the Balcomb Trophy as part of the Cambridgeshire squad.
HARRY GOODWIN (DEVON)
Harry Goodwin from Devon skipped Zach Kidd to win the second Men’s Junior Pairs at Leamington.
He was also part of the strong Kings Club that won the Top Club for the third consecutive time.
Junior International Harry has been named as part of the Men’s England team that will contest the BIBC International Series in Scotland in June.
DANNY MILLS (NORFOLK)
Danny Mills from Norfolk lifted the Men’s Junior Singles title at Leamington, coming back from being 4-9 down to win the final. He was 17-18 down and collected a full house on the last end.
KIERAN ROLLINGS (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE)
Kieran Rollings had an exceptional year, winning the Disability Bowls England singles and pairs and being part of the Northants team that won the White Rose Trophy for the first time since 1997.
In April, Kieran was part of England’s para-triple that was placed fourth at the Commonwealth Games.
CHARLIE SOUTER (SURREY)
Charlie Souter skipped his Mixed Four to success at Leamington, defeating the defending champions from Essex in the final.
The Surrey player also reached the semi final of the Club Two Fours with Weybridge and, on his debut skipping for England, had a 100 per cent record in the junior international series.
SAM STEEL (SOMERSET)
Sam Steel, from Watchet in Somerset, concluded a great season by skipping Neil Williams to win the National Men’s Pairs.
Sam also qualified in the Two-wood singles and reached the last 16 of the Men’s Junior Singles.
The Male Bowler of the Year was Louis Ridout with Chris Gale voted as runner up.
Male Bowler of the Year Shortlist:
DAVID BOLT (DURHAM)
David Bolt was part of the Men’s Four that picked up a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast. At Leamington, he reached the semi finals of the National Singles- where he lost out to eventual winner Louis Ridout- as well as the triples and fours.
ANDREW BROAD (CORNWALL)
Andrew Broad from Cornwall had a dramatic win in the Champion of Champions at Leamington, having to score on eight consecutive ends in the final.
He bowled superbly throughout and in the semi final drew shot with his final bowl to defeat last year’s runner up Russell Francis.
CHRIS GALE (LANCASHIRE)
Chris Gale made up for the disappointment of losing the fours final by skipping his Lancashire team to a National Triples title just a few days later.
And not only was Chris’s rink instrumental in the county’s Balcomb triumph, with a 29-5 win in the final, it was his crucial last bowl that sealed the victory.
ED MORRIS (ESSEX)
Ed Morris from Essex, last year’s Bowler of the Year, after winning the mixed fours and coming runner up in the mixed pairs, was in top form again last season, lifting the two wood singles trophy.
Ed also skipped the rink that were runners up of the mixed fours.
LOUIS RIDOUT (DEVON)
Louis Ridout won the National Singles and was part of the Kings team that won the Top Club for the third tim-e.
He was also a runner up in the National Triples for the second consecutive year and he kick-started his season by winning a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games, leading the fours.
STEVE SNELL (WILTSHIRE)
Steve Snell of Wiltshire was in the winning Men’s Four at Leamington alongside Kyle Anderson, Dave Godwin and his brother, Mike.
With Godwin, Steve also reached the semi final of the Men’s Pairs which they lost on an extra end.
SAM TOLCHARD (DEVON)
Sam Tolchard skipped the England Men’s Four to a Commonwealth Games bronze medal back in April 2018.
At the national championships, he was unbeaten in the singles to help Kings lift the Top club trophy for the third time.
He also skipped Louis Ridout and Jamie Chestney to become runners up in the Men’s Triples.