John Ottaway announces international retirement

Norfolk's John Ottaway (Wymondham Dell BC) has announced his retirement from international bowls after 25 years.

John has been ever-present since making a winning debut for England in the 1985 British Isles Series. He has represented England successfully at World Championships and Commonwealth Games - including claiming gold in the fours at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

John is also a familiar face at the men's national championships, and has won the National Singles Championship on three occasions - 1989, 1996 and 2000 - plus numerous other national titles.

He explained: "It has been a great honour and privilege for me to have represented my country for the past 25 years and I feel the time is now right for me to retire from international bowls. I will continue to follow the international scene closely and hope earnestly that the selected team regain the International Series title in the summer."

Tony Allcock MBE, Bowls England Chief Executive, paid tribute to his former teammate. He said: "John has been a tremendous ambassador for the sport of bowls and has served England admirably over a long and distinguished period. He is one of England's finest lead players in history, and has set a fine example to future generations by illustrating the importance of drawing to the jack and maintaining a consistent approach whilst playing in such a specialised position. I am sure that John's will be a hard place to fill in the team, but all at Bowls England wish him a very happy retirement from the international scene."