Bowls England announce World Bowls team

Bowls England has announced the ten-strong team that will compete in World Bowls 2020 on the Gold Coast, Australia from May 26-June 7.

The men’s team includes reigning World Champions Andrew Knapper, Jamie Walker and Robert Paxton who took triples gold at the last World Championships in Christchurch four years ago.

Paxton has also achieved previous success on the Gold Coast in 2018 when he won a bronze medal in the Men’s Singles at the Commonwealth Games.

Sam Tolchard, who boasts a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal from the 2018 Games, will also be part of the World Championship team.

Tolchard lifted a bronze medal at the 2019 Atlantic Championships in Cardiff, whilst Walker claimed two gold medals at the same event. Tolchard and Knapper teamed up together at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, when they won the Bronze in the Men’s Pairs with Knapper also receiving a Silver Medal in the Men’s Fours.

Nick Brett will complete the men’s quintet, as he looks forward to his first experience playing in a major International outdoor championship event.

Brett is a multiple winner on the Professional Indoor World Bowls Tour Circuit, including winning the World Indoor Singles title in 2016.

The women’s line-up includes the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal winning trio of Sophie Tolchard, Ellen Falkner and Sian Honnor, who will be joined by Katherine Rednall and Lorraine Kuhler.

Rednall, who secured a bronze medal with Falkner and Honnor in the women’s triples at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, has recently returned from the World Bowls Challenge in Australia alongside Falkner.

In 2019, Tolchard scooped the Bowls England National Two-Wood Singles title to complete a full set of Bowls England Women’s National Championship titles before representing England in the World Champion of Champions, returning from Australia with a bronze medal. 

Falkner, who has five World Outdoor World Championship medals and four Commonwealth Games medals to her name, brings a wealth of experience to the team, whilst Honnor has had success at the past three Commonwealth Games and returned with a gold medal from the 2019 Atlantic Championships in Cardiff.

Atlantic Championship gold medallist Lorraine Kuhler will be making her World Championship debut on the Gold Coast.

Bowls England High Performance Director John Mc Guinness said: “The team consists of numerous players that have vast experience in the Southern Hemisphere. I think this team is equipped for success at these prestigious Championships. 

“The selected players have the experience, compatibility, technical ability and winning mentality to perform under the conditions that they are likely to face in Australia. The World Championships is a fantastic competition for our sport and the Gold Coast will provide a fabulous setting to stage this premier event and deliver a feast of bowls for everyone to enjoy. 

“I have every confidence in this team of players and look forward to sharing the experience with them as we compete against the rest of the world in what will be a hugely competitive and enjoyable event in Australia.”

The 2020 World Championships will be held on the Gold Coast, Australia and run between 26th May and 7th June. The Championships will take place at three venues on Australia’s Gold Coast – Broadbeach Bowling Club, Helensvale Bowling Club and Musgrave Hill Bowling Club. 

Selected Team:

Men – Nick Brett (Huntingdonshire), Andrew Knapper (Berkshire), Robert Paxton (Devon), Sam Tolchard (Devon) and Jamie Walker (Northamptonshire)

Women – Ellen Falkner (Cambridgeshire), Sian Honnor (Kent), Lorraine Kuhler (Oxfordshire), Katherine Rednall (Norfolk) and Sophie Tolchard (Devon)

Bowls England wishes the selected team the very best for the upcoming Championships.