Indoor elite’s big winter hots up

AFTER dominating the Island Games programme, Guernsey’s leading indoor bowlers are preparing for a bigger challenge at this weekend’s Professional Bowls Association (PBA) qualifiers.

On the road again: After featuring in an all-Guernsey singles final at this summer’s Island Games Ali and Ian Merrien have back-to-back weekend qualifiers in the UK. (Picture By Peter Frankland, 32605888)

Eight Sarnians will face bowlers from all over the UK and further afield, competing for places in the World Bowls Tour Indoor Bowls Championships, held at Potters Resort in Hopton-On-Sea in January.

Among them are Alison Merrien MBE and Ian Merrien who have already started their campaign at Desborough Indoor Bowls Club in the Scottish International Open qualifiers, and where Ali stayed on for the women’s World Matchplay qualifier where she made the semi-final only to lose to the up and coming Welsh player Lauren Gowan.

But, having got seven matches under her belt over the weekend, Ali was not too disappointed.

‘I was quite pleased and took out a few scalps. It was a good weekend away,’ she said yesterday.

In Poole the Merriens will be joined by Dave King, Kris Lowe, Nicole Le Noury, Bradley Le Noury, Steve Le Noury and Mike Le Noury, at the Dolphin Indoor Bowls Club, all competing for spots in the World Indoor Singles and World Indoor Pairs qualifiers.

The Poole event are straight knockouts, making the task even harder. Unfortunately, Dave King and Ian Merrien have drawn each other in the opening round.

Ali Merrien said it will be great experience for those who have not had the level of exposure she and her husband have had over the years.

‘To be able to play on different surfaces – they have two greens in Poole – and having to adapt to different situations will be good for them.’

For those wanting to follow the action, some matches over the weekend will be live streamed on YouTube under ‘Wrong Bias Podcast Live’, while the Guernsey Indoor Bowling Association Facebook page will be kept up to date with the latest results.

All in all, it promises to be an exciting and challenging winter for the island’s indoor elite.

November sees the qualifier for next year’s World Indoor Bowls Championships which is being held in Guernsey in April.

December features local finals, while that month Josh and Catherine Bonsall head to Glasgow for the Under 25 World Indoor Bowls Championships.

January sees the CI area finals hosted at the GIBA Stadium, the winners of which will go on to play in the British Isles in Chelmsford in March.

But the event that will set this season apart from the rest is the World Indoor Championships which should see representatives from 30-35 countries coming over to Guernsey to compete.