The World Bowls Tour is an organisation that promotes indoor bowls and organises competitions including the World Indoor Bowls Championships, operating primarily in the United Kingdom.
History In 1990, the sport was experiencing period of fragmentation following the loss of the television coverage of 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 games. In 1992, a player-led organisation formed the Professional Bowls Association, during the 1992 World Indoor Bowls Championship, which was 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. The purpose of the World Bowls Tour was to create championships and competitions to further the aims of the PBA.
Structure PositionNameChairpersonDavid BoltTournament DirectorTom WeirAssistant Tournament Director & Finance DirectorMartin GaleCorporate DirectorJason Parkinson
Events
Current events
World Indoor Bowls Championships
Scottish International Open
Former events
International Open
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)
YearWinnerRunner-UpScoreRef 1983 David Bryant (1/2) Bob Sutherland 7–4 7–3 7–1 1984 Terry Sullivan Tony Allcock 5–4 (sets) 1985 Jim Baker John Watson 5–7 4–7 7–0 7–3 7–3 7–6 7–4 1986 Stephen Rees David Bryant 7–3 7–2 7–0 7–1 2–7 3–7 4–7 4–7 7–0 1987 Tony Allcock David Corkill 7–6 1–7 2–7 7–3 7–0 4–7 7–4 5–7 7–5 1988 Gary Smith Richard Corsie 6–7 7–5 7–5 7–6 7–6 3–7 6–7 7–0 1989 David Bryant (2/2) David Corkill 1–5 5–7 7–6 7–5 7–3 1991 Andy Thomson (1/3) Tony Allcock 6–7 4–7 7–5 7–2 7–1 1992 Andy Thomson (2/3) John Price 7–3 3–7 7–5 7–5 1994 Mark McMahon Andy Thomson 4–7 7–5 7–3 7–0 1995 Hugh Duff Ian Schuback 2–7 7–3 7–4 7–1 1997 Les Gillett David Gourlay 7–5 7–0 6–7 7–4 1998 David Gourlay (1/5) John Price 7–0 0–7 7–6 3–7 7–2 1999 Ian Schuback David Gourlay 5–7 6–7 7–5 7–3 7–2 2000 David Gourlay (2/5) John Price 7–2 7–2 0–7 5–7 7–3 2001 Ian Bond Greg Harlow7–4 6–8 2–1 2002 David Gourlay (3/5) Jason Greenslade 9–7 6–7 2–1 2003 Andy Thomson (3/3) Les Gillett 9–10 13–4 2–1 2004 Greg Harlow (1/3) David Gourlay 10–4 4–8 2–0 2005 Greg Harlow (2/3) Robert Weale 8–12 10–5 2–0 2006 Greg Harlow (3/3) David Gourlay 12–7 10–8 2007 Paul Foster (1/2) Jason Greenslade 15–5 5–6 2–1 2008 Darren Burnett Brett Wilkie 13–4 10–9 2009–2012 not held 2013 Alex Marshall Robert Paxton 10–2 10–1 2014 Paul Foster (2/2) Alex Marshall 9–8 15–3 2015 Nick Brett Alex Marshall 12–4 9–8 2016 David Gourlay (4/5) Jamie Chestney 11–9 10–6 2017 Jamie Chestney Stewart Anderson 9–4 8–6 2018 David Gourlay (5/5) Greg Harlow 11–9 5–9 2–1 not held since 2018
Welsh International Open
Previous names: Welsh Masters / Welsh Grand Prix
YearWinnerRunner-Up 2002 Les Gillett Robert Weale 2003 Tony Allcock David Gourlay 2004 Kelvin Kerkow (1/2) Andy Thomson 2005 Kelvin Kerkow (2/2) Robert Weale 2006 Jason Greenslade David Gourlay 2007 Paul Foster Robert Weale 2008 Mark Royal (1/2) Greg Harlow 2009 Robert Chisholm Simon Skelton 2010 Darren Burnett Simon Skelton 2011 Mark Royal (2/2) David Gourlay 2012 David Gourlay Greg Harlow not held since 2013
World Matchplay YearWinnerRunner-Up 2007 Greg Harlow Mervyn King 2008 Andy Thomson Alex Marshall 2009 Mervyn King David Gourlay 2010 Ian Bond Jason Greenslade not held since 2010
Statistics Most successful bowlers (singles only) BowlerWorld Indoor Bowls ChampionshipsThe International OpenScottish International OpenWelsh International OpenWorld Match PlayTotal wins Paul Foster 5231-11 David Gourlay 1521-9 Greg Harlow 133-18 Andy Thomson 331-18 Alex Marshall 61---7 David Bryant 321--6 Tony Allcock 31-1-5 John Price 14---5 Stewart Anderson 2-3--5 Richard Corsie 3-1--4 Nick Brett 112--4
Youngest player The youngest player is Desmond Lai from Hong Kong, who at the age of 15 (January 2024) took part in the 2024 World Bowls Indoor Championships.
See also World Bowls Tour Awards
References