Bowler Bonsall tops off great year with world U25 medal

Bonsall (nee Snell) is no stranger to facing opposition like she did in East Kilbride, Scotland, but her result marked a massive step-up on previous events.

‘Being in Guernsey, having fewer players, you get more opportunities to go to these kinds of things, so I have had the chance to go a good few times and never made it out of my group,’ she said.

‘You go in with a view of doing a bit better than last year.

‘I was not expecting that particularly. To come away with a bronze was amazing – I am very, very happy.’

But it came down to several tense moments, with three of her four wins decided on tie-breaks.

The centrepiece of Bonsall’s unbeaten groups campaign was a dramatic day-one triumph over the home nation’s Sophie McGrouther, against whom she needed three shots on the last end of the second set to stay in the game.

Not to worry. She played a running bowl that took out all of McGrouther’s bowls to make a four and force a tie-break, which she won.

‘I was chuffed with that,’ Bonsall said.

She also edged Canada’s Jordan Kos on tie-break in the quarter-final, which otherwise was a match of two halves. The Sarnian had lost set one 6-1 then dominated the next 7-1.

But Ireland’s Shauna O’Neill, the eventual champion, proved too much for her in the semi-final.

O’Neill pinched the opening set 9-7 after a strong finish but hit full stride on the second, taking it 7-3 to end Bonsall’s impressive run.

However, Bonsall still has two years in the age group.

She has not put herself forward for next year’s event but has her eyes on 2025.

‘I think in my last year, I will go forward again and see if I can improve on it.

‘It definitely helps to know you’ve got that in the bag.’

Bonsall, who married bowls stalwart Josh in the spring, has had an excellent year on the green.

That included a golden moment at the home Island Games, where she shared top spot with Alison Merrien and Shirley Petit in the triples.

‘To top it off with this, it has been a great year for me.’

Merrien, who attended the U25 Worlds as IIBC president, was very pleased for the up-and-coming bowler.

‘I was very proud to present Catherine her bronze medal,’ she said.

‘Catherine played really well at these championships and played some big bowls when needed to keep her in the competition.’

• A Guernsey quartet won mixed gold at the Atlantic Senior (over-55s) Fours in Cyprus. The quartet of Terry and Brenda Brokenshire, Robin Herbert and Jackie Nicolle won 15-10 in Tuesday’s final against USA B.