Sport | Bowls |
---|---|
Founded | 1979 |
Continent | International (Professional Bowls Association / World Bowls Tour) |
Most recent champion(s) |
2017 Open Singles Paul Foster 2017 Women's Singles Katherine Rednall 2017 Open Pairs Les Gillett & Jason Greenslade 2017 Mixed Pairs Nick Brett & Claire Johnston. |
TV partner(s) | BBC Two (UK (Final)) |
The World Indoor Bowls Championship was first held in 1979 at Coatbridge in Scotland for men's singles only. The event was sponsored by Embassy in the early years and grew in stature. In 1988 the venue changed to Alexandra Palace and one year later Churchill Insurance took over the sponsorship when the championships were held at Preston Guild Hall. The Midland Bank and SAGA were two more sponsors during the Preston era. In 1999 Potters Holidays came in to take over the sponsorship and the event moved to Potters Resort in Hopton-on-Sea, where it is still held today. The BBC also show live coverage of the championships during the last week which includes all four competition finals.
The men's pairs started in 1986, the women's singles in 1988 and the mixed pairs in 2004. Both the men's singles and men's pairs changed to open singles and open pairs following the rule change which allowed women to compete in them.
Alex Marshall from Scotland has won the event a record six times. Fellow Scot Paul Foster is one wins behind with five successes.
Wins by individual
Performance by country
The Men's Pairs now Open Pairs allows women to compete, this is not to be confused with the Mixed Pairs. It was a men's only competition until 2012.