Team England Lawn Bowlers selected for Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games England has today announced the 17 players that will represent England in the Lawn Bowls events at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia next April.

The line-up includes Glasgow 2014 gold medallists in the Women’s Triples, Sophie Tolchard, Ellen Falkner and Sian Honnor. Falkner, a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, will be appearing at her fifth Games on the Gold Coast next year from 4th to 15th April 2018.

Team England athlete ambassador, Ellen Falkner, said:

“I am absolutely delighted to be selected for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. I have been fortunate to have been to four previous Commonwealth Games and I can honestly say that participating in the Commonwealth Games has been without question some of the most amazing moments of my life.

“For me, the Games encapsulate what sport is about; highs, lows, friendship and camaraderie. The experience bonds you and your team mates together for life and for a lucky few, they are connected through their place in history. 

“I am as hungry as ever for success on the Gold Coast and am very much looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and relish the opportunity to showcase our sport to the world and inspire the next generation.”

Natalie Chestney will be looking to medal again following her Singles Gold Medal in Delhi in 2010 and two silvers in Glasgow three years ago. There is also a first call-up at elite level for Suffolk’s Katherine Rednall, who will follow in the footsteps of her father John who represented England at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.

Jamie Chestney and Sam Tolchard have both been given the opportunity to medal again, similar to three years ago in Glasgow where Chestney picked up a silver medal in the Men’s Fours and Tolchard won bronze in the Men’s Pairs.

They will be joined by David Bolt, Robert Paxton and Louis Ridout who will all be making their Commonwealth Games debuts. However, Paxton is no stranger to success overseas having skipped England to the Gold Medal in the World Triples Championship last November in New Zealand.

Northamptonshire’s Kieran Rollings is the youngest member of the lawn bowls team making their way ‘down under’ – he will be just 18-years-old when he teams up with Glasgow 2014 bronze medallist Paul Brown and Mike Robertson, who won the Bowls England National Triples this year, in the Para-Triples event.

Team England athlete ambassador, Paul Brown, said:

“I was over the moon when I received the news that I had been selected for the Commonwealth Games 2018.  I was so excited upon reading the letter, I had to find something to occupy myself to calm down. 

“For me to be lucky enough to have the opportunity to represent my country again, to pull on that England shirt and compete against the best is an amazing experience that only increases.  The focus now over the winter months is preparation and I am especially looking forward to enjoying the Gold Coast experience with the team.”

Steve Simmons will partner Alison Yearling in the Visually Impaired Mixed Pairs with Mark and Sue Wherry as their directors.

Team England will send a team of around 600 athletes and staff in what will be England’s largest ever team to represent the nation in an overseas sporting event. The team will compete in 18 sports, including 38 para medal events.

Sarah Winckless, Chef de Mission for Commonwealth Games England, said:

“The depth and breadth of this lawn bowls and para-lawn bowls team is truly exciting. I am proud to welcome them to Team England and very much look forward to working with them on their journey to the Gold Coast next April.”

John Bell, England’s Lawn Bowls Team Leader, said:

“The final selection was always going to be very difficult with the whole initial squad consisting of extremely talented players. Indeed, I congratulate all the squad members on the way they have participated in the assessment programme, and sincerely thank them for the enthusiastic, supportive and professional manner they have conducted themselves.

“With regard to the selected team, it is a formidable line up and its selection follows a rigorous assessment process. The final team selection has the unanimous support of my Management Team, and we believe the team as selected will give the players the very best chance of winning medals on the Gold Coast, and continuing England’s proud record in Commonwealth Games events.”

Those selected to represent Team England in the lawn bowls are as follows:

As part of its plans to send the best prepared team to the Gold Coast, Commonwealth Games England will hold a 10-day preparation camp in Brisbane, create a dedicated performance centre inside the Commonwealth Games Village, and offer a full programme of support services.

Team England’s preparation camp for the Gold Coast will include a number of specially selected high-performance sports and support facilities that will enable athletes to continue training and complete their final preparations prior to entering the Commonwealth Games Village.

The dedicated performance centre will be at the heart of Team England’s headquarters inside the Commonwealth Games Village. It will provide an enhanced environment in the Village for athletes, coaches and support staff, where the team will have access to dedicated doctors, physios and a full range of clinical, rehabilitation, preparation services, kit, equipment, stretching and R&R areas.