The World Bowls Tour is an organisation which promotes indoor bowls and organises competitions (primarily in the United Kingdom), including the World Indoor Bowls Championships[1]

Quick Facts Abbreviation, Website ...
World Bowls Tour
AbbreviationWBT
Websitewww.worldbowlstour.org
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History

In 1990 the sport was under a period of fragmentation following the loss of the television coverage connected with the World Indoor Bowls Championships. John Hall the President of the English Bowls Association unsuccessfully called for closer co-operation between the indoor and outdoor game.[2] In 1992, a player led organisation formed the Professional Bowls Association, during the 1992 World Indoor Bowls Championship, which were held in the Preston Guildhall to promote indoor Bowls worldwide and on television.

On 1 January 1997, under the then chairman Richard Corsie, the PBA created the World Bowls Tour and after the 1997 championship replaced the World Indoor Bowls Council as the leading indoor organisation.[3] The purpose of the World Bowls Tour was to set up and create championships and competitions to further the aims of the PBA.[4]

Structure

More information Position, Name ...
Position Name
Chairperson David Bolt
Tournament Director Tom Weir
Assistant Tournament Director & Finance Director Martin Gale
Corporate Director Jason Parkinson
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Awards

Events

Current and former indoor bowls competitions organised by the World Bowls Tour.[5]

World Indoor Bowls Championships

Scottish International Open

The International Open (defunct)

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Runner-Up Score Ref
1983 England David Bryant (1/2) Scotland Bob Sutherland 7–4 7–3 7–1 [6]
1984 Wales Terry Sullivan England Tony Allcock 5–4 (sets)
1985 Northern Ireland Jim Baker Scotland John Watson 5–7 4–7 7–0 7–3 7–3 7–6 7–4
1986 Wales Stephen Rees England David Bryant 7–3 7–2 7–0 7–1 2–7 3–7 4–7 4–7 7–0 [7]
1987 England Tony Allcock Northern Ireland David Corkill 7–6 1–7 2–7 7–3 7–0 4–7 7–4 5–7 7–5 [8]
1988 England Gary Smith Scotland Richard Corsie 6–7 7–5 7–5 7–6 7–6 3–7 6–7 7–0 [9]
1989 England David Bryant (2/2) Northern Ireland David Corkill 1–5 5–7 7–6 7–5 7–3 [10]
1991 England Andy Thomson (1/3) England Tony Allcock 6–7 4–7 7–5 7–2 7–1 [11]
1992 England Andy Thomson (2/3) Wales John Price 7–3 3–7 7–5 7–5 [12]
1994 Hong Kong Mark McMahon England Andy Thomson 4–7 7–5 7–3 7–0 [13]
1995 Scotland Hugh Duff Australia Ian Schuback 2–7 7–3 7–4 7–1 [14]
1997 England Les Gillett Scotland David Gourlay 7–5 7–0 6–7 7–4 [15]
1998 Scotland David Gourlay (1/5) Wales John Price 7–0 0–7 7–6 3–7 7–2 [16]
1999 Australia Ian Schuback Scotland David Gourlay 5–7 6–7 7–5 7–3 7–2 [17]
2000 Scotland David Gourlay (2/5) Wales John Price 7–2 7–2 0–7 5–7 7–3 [18]
2001 England Ian Bond England Greg Harlow 7–4 6–8 2–1 [19]
2002 Scotland David Gourlay (3/5) Wales Jason Greenslade 9–7 6–7 2–1 [20]
2003 England Andy Thomson (3/3) England Les Gillett 9–10 13–4 2–1 [21]
2004 England Greg Harlow (1/3) Australia David Gourlay 10–4 4–8 2–0 [22]
2005 England Greg Harlow (2/3) Wales Robert Weale 8–12 10–5 2–0 [23]
2006 England Greg Harlow (3/3) Australia David Gourlay 12–7 10–8 [24]
2007 Scotland Paul Foster (1/2) Wales Jason Greenslade 15–5 5–6 2–1 [25]
2008 Scotland Darren Burnett Australia Brett Wilkie 13–4 10–9 [26]
2009–2012 not held
2013 Scotland Alex Marshall England Robert Paxton 10–2 10–1 [27]
2014 Scotland Paul Foster (2/2) Scotland Alex Marshall 9–8 15–3 [28]
2015 England Nick Brett Scotland Alex Marshall 12–4 9–8 [29]
2016 Scotland David Gourlay (4/5) England Jamie Chestney 11–9 10–6 [30]
2017 England Jamie Chestney Scotland Stewart Anderson 9–4 8–6 [31]
2018 Scotland David Gourlay (5/5) England Greg Harlow 11–9 5–9 2–1 [32]
not held since 2018
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Sponsors and previous names

  • CIS UK Championship (1983-1993)
  • Saga/BUPA Care Homes International Open (1994-2004)
  • engage International Open (2005-2008)
  • Co-op International Open (2013-2018)

Welsh International Open (defunct)

Sponsors and previous names

  • Former Names - Welsh Masters / Welsh Grand Prix

World Matchplay (defunct)

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Runner-Up
2007 England Greg Harlow England Mervyn King
2008 England Andy Thomson Scotland Alex Marshall
2009 England Mervyn King Australia David Gourlay
2010 England Ian Bond Wales Jason Greenslade
not held since 2010
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Statistics

Most successful bowlers (singles only)

More information Bowler, The International Open ...
Bowler World Indoor Bowls Championships The International Open Scottish International Open Welsh International Open World Match Play Total wins
Scotland Paul Foster5231-11
ScotlandAustralia David Gourlay1521-9
England Greg Harlow133-18
England Andy Thomson331-18
Scotland Alex Marshall61---7
England David Bryant321--6
England Tony Allcock31-1-5
Wales John Price14---5
Scotland Stewart Anderson2-3--5
Scotland Richard Corsie3-1--4
England Nick Brett112--4
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Youngest Player

Desmond Lai, at age of 15 (January 2024) from Hong Kong China, in World Bowls Indoor Championships 2024 [33]

References

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