11-05-2025
Llandrindod to become home of disability bowls in Wales
A CELABRATORY event will take place next week to mark Llandrindod Wells becoming the centre of excellence for disability bowls in Wales.
Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club, in the spa town's Rock Park, will become the home for Wales' disability bowls squad, which include para and visually impaired athletes.
The squad includes many hopefuls ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, along with athletes who have previously competed at the games.
The decision has been a collaborative effort between Sam Roff and Eddie Williams, members at the Powys club, and John Wilson, the Welsh Para Bowls co-ordinator and Disability Bowls Wales team manager.
The club, and its exquisite playing surfaces, will become home for the all the disabled squads and will host performance training sessions and future competitions.
An event celebrating the announcement will be held at the club, located at Rock Park Greens (LD1 6AE), next Wednesday, May 14, from midday.
'I give my heartfelt thanks to the club for so actively embracing inclusion and working with me over the last few months to reach this next step in what I hope will be a long and successful partnership,' said Mr Wilson.
'This venue is renowned and respected throughout the world as a fantastic place to play, on first rate greens of excellent quality, in a beautiful location.
'It will provide opportunities to our players to train on a quality surface in preparation for future international (tournaments) and (against) world class opposition they will face in other top-quality venues.
'I am delighted the club are so actively supporting inclusion of our sport for all abilities.
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'We are very grateful to the club and its members for demonstrating they clearly support inclusion in our sport.
'All of our players are absolutely delighted to have a home for our teams, which puts us on a par with Bowls England and Bowls Scotland.'
The Disability Bowls Wales Squad boasts Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medallists, as well as gold medallists from the first-ever inclusive European Championships, held in 2024.
The squad boasts a number of international and national champions, as well as several players who feature regularly for their county teams.
'Having a home is really important,' said Welsh lawn bowl player Julie Thomas, a former primary school headteacher and a double Commonwealth Games medallist and European champion, who lost her sight in 2014.
'For far too long we have relied on the kindness of individual host clubs but now we finally have a base and can offer to host world class events for ourselves.
'It now gives us real equity with the other Welsh international teams. We all now belong at the 'Home of Welsh Bowls'.
'It is a fantastic step forward and I am delighted, as are the other squad members.'
Owen Williams, chair of Welsh Association of Visually Impaired Bowlers (WAVIB), added: 'I am delighted that the home of Welsh bowls, Llandrindod Wells, will be the centre of excellence for disability bowls.
'Having such wonderful greens to practice on and develop our players' skills will only help us to further promote the game of bowls for everyone.
'Congratulations to John and all involved in making this possible.'
