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Steve Bigg wins ‘Most Improved Player’ Award

Posted on by Matt Wordingham

Disability Bowls England is delighted to announce that the ‘Most Improved Player’ Award for 2019 goes to Northamptonshire’s Steve Bigg.

This was one of the hardest decisions for the panel to make, with many players making a significant improvement over the last 12 months.

DBE sees people who have never played bowls now playing in friendly matches as well as the club player progressing in county and national competitions and those who achieve international recognition.

The panel looked at events over the last indoor and outdoor season and identified a number of key factors that made Steve a worthy recipient of the award:

  • Through injury and pain, Steve continued to participate in club and DBE events improving with each match
  • He attended group coaching sessions and arranged personal sessions to help raise standard of play
  • Although not always a winner, Steve’s improvement resulted in coming very close to winning several DBE competitions over the last 12 months
  • He played well in the DBE Inter Region events, Inter Club Triples, Gedling Open Pairs and also performed well in the Test Matches against Australia this summer
  • Steve was recently selected to join the Indoor High-Performance Squad

Steve has proven that practice, competition play and sheer dedication can improve performance, and DBE was delighted to recognise this by presenting him as the

We are delighted to award Northamptonshire’s Steve Bigg with the ‘Most Improved Player’ Award for 2019.

Sue White presented with DBE Special Award

Posted on by Matt Wordingham

Northamptonshire’s Sue White, of Desborough IBC, has won the Disability Bowls England Special Award for 2019.

The DBE Special Award can be presented to a player, volunteer or club; for achievement, endeavour, services to bowls or any other outstanding contribution to our great sport.

The panel this year elected to present the award to Sue, who has dedicated many years encouraging people with a disability to get into the sport.

Sue runs a weekly session for players with a disability but focuses on ability, finding ways to help every player achieve their personal goals, whether that is meeting up for a social roll-up or being encouraged to enter club and DBE events. Such is the success that the club has agreed to her holding a second regular weekly session and has added it to their weekly schedule.

Last year Sue organised a “Pro Am Pairs Comp” which not only brought club members together but raised awareness of players with disability, broke down a lot of preconceptions and demonstrated how easy it is for a club to be inclusive. We understand that this will be an annual event.

As well as the work Sue has done for the players at her club, over the last year she has been an active Ambassador for Disability Bowls England, spreading the word and raising awareness in Northamptonshire.

Sue helped organise a DBE stand and spent a long hot day at the “Sport4Fitness” Disability Fun Day in Northampton informing individual and group leaders of the benefits of playing bowls. There was instant success with a couple of local groups asking to attend the club for “Try Bowls” sessions.

Sue successfully ran the DBE Midlands Region Inter Club Triples Competition and has helped organise DBE High Performance Coaching and Squad Days.

Sue was presented her award by DBE Patron Greg Harlow.

[Photograph Credit: Steve Watson (ST Sports)]

Learning Disabilities Indoor Bowls International Series

Posted on by Dennis Bell

Learning Disabilities Indoor Bowls International Series

On the 5th and 6th of June 2019 Falkirk Indoor Bowls Club will host the inaugural Learning Disabilities Indoor Bowls International Series.  The countries involved are England, Scotland and Wales.  Teams of 12 mixed gender bowlers will compete to lift the Munro cup.  Each team will be divided into four groups of three playing singles and pairs and then joining together to play triples.  The England team are very excited at being given the opportunity to represent their country.  They are Chris Gray, Daniel Adams, Harry Atkin, Amy Brooks, Gemma Broadhead, Barry Nicholson, Steven Nicholson, Andrew Bayston (all DBE) and Lucas Manousios, Rhys Milton, Dougal Watson and Carlos Hazell.