Vicky Bayliss
Club: Waddesdon | County: Buckinghamshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Bowls: Henselite Tigers – Size 2
Favourite green/club to play at: Aylesbury Town BC – a club that holds a very special place in my heart as my grandparents were members there. I always enjoy going there and feeling like they are both there supporting me during my games!
Best bowlers she has played alongside: Wendy King, Sian Honnor and Wendy King
Favourite meal: My mum’s Beef Stroganoff
Nick Brett
Club: Brampton BC | County: Huntingdonshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and World Championships (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Started playing: 1985
Favourite green/place to play at: Leamington Spa
How he got into bowls: Local team was short one day and my father pull me in to make the numbers up
Favourite meal: Steak and chips
Emma Cooper
Club: Kings | County: Devon
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: In 2009, aged 12
Bowls: Aero Sonic – Size 2.5
Best bowlers she has played alongside: Natalie Chestney, Lorraine Kuhler, Nicole Rogers, Harriet Stevens and Sophie Tolchard
Why she loves bowls: I love the fact it is so inclusive and that you can compete on a level playing field with or against anyone.
Paige Dennis
Club: Appleyard | County: Kent
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Bowls: Taylor Ace – Size 2
Favourite format: Triples
Biggest influence on her career: My nan, Ann Dennis. She was an England International and I have always wanted to follow in her footsteps.
Paige is walking on to the green for a big match, what is she listening to to get in the zone: Pitbull ft. TJR – Don’t Stop The Party
Annalisa Dunham
Club: Carters Park | County: Lincolnshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Bowls: Aero Groove – Size 2
How she got in to bowls: My dad retired as a police officer and we moved to Lincolnshire from Lancashire. He had lots of free time and as a past crown greener he took up flat green as that was all they played in Lincolnshire. He decided to start a junior section at the local indoor club and I went along to make up the numbers at the age of 9. I then went on to play outdoor a few years later as I wanted to play during the summer too. Never looked back since.
Greatest achievement and notable highlights: Winning the National Mixed Pairs with my husband was a real highlight – He was my boyfriend at the time but proposed after we won!
Passions outside of bowls: Watching sport – supporting Liverpool, golf majors, snooker. I also love live music and have a broad taste though am a bit of a rocker.
Emily Ferguson
Club: Appleyard | County: Kent
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: 2006
Her greatest achievement in bowls, and other notable highlights: Being selected for the seniors for the first time in 2019 and though I wasn’t playing, working at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was incredible and something I’ll never forget.
Biggest influence on her career: Playing with Sian Honnor. I have learned a considerable amount from playing with her and she is really helpful in building up my confidence.
Favourite TV show: Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife – period dramas all the way.
Harry Goodwin
Club: Appleyard BC | County: Kent
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and Hong Kong International Bowls Classic
Nickname: Curls
Best bowlers he has played alongside: Sam Tolchard is the best in my opinion also playing with Jamie Chestney and Louis Ridout.
One thing he’d change about bowls: I would like a T20 format something fun and attracts more crowds and atmospheres.
Passions outside of bowls: Following Plymouth Argyle football club and playing golf.
James Hampton
Club: Topsham | County: Devon
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Nickname: Hamps
His favourite green/club to play at: Exonia rink 5 on red marks is a dream to play on
Favourite format: Fours
Inspirations outside of bowls: Family. Friends. Ambition to win. Jordan Peterson. Brian Cox. Magnus Carlsen.
Kevin Harrison
Club: Aspatria | County: Cumbria
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: Aged 13
Favourite place to bowl: Leamington Spa (National Finals), as it’s where you want to qualify each year and play.
Greatest achievement in bowls: Winning the 2022 National Triples Championship after losing in the final a couple of years earlier.
Favourite film: Shawshank Redemption
Ruby Hill
Club: Burton House | County: Lincolnshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Most memorable shot: Not a shot, but I have a memorable game – my first ever league game I got selected for at the club I started at when I was 9 years old. The man I lead against was 90 and I have remembered it ever since – purely because there’s not many other sports where that can happen!
Greatest achievement: Getting a silver and bronze medal at the European Championships in 2022. It was my first experience of playing senior level for England and I enjoyed the week so much with the team. To come home with two medals and as winners of the overall trophy was amazing.
Biggest influence on her career: Chelsea Spencer, one of my now best friends. I think I was around 12 when she asked me to play pairs with her for the first time. We’ve played together ever since and she was someone who believed in me from an early age and has taught me most of what I know about the game.
Passions outside of bowls: Flower arranging/floristry
Laura Holden
Club: Clevedon | County: Somerset
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: 2004
Her most memorable shot: Taking a bowl out for 7 in a Walker Cup Regional Final to win
Best bowler she has played alongside: David Bryant
Favourite food: Chinese takeaway
Stuart Irwin
Club: Aspatria | County: Cumbria
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Nickname: Oscar
Favourite place/club to bowl: Argyll in Bournemouth
Most memorable shot: Drawing the shot on the last end with my last bowl to win and put us in the semi finals of last years national triples which we went on to win.
Favourite TV show: Match of the Day
Wendy King
Club: Appleyard | County: Kent
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: 1989
Greatest achievement: Winning a silver medal at World Bowls in 2008 and beating Karen Murphy and Lyndsey Clark from Australia to get to the final. I have so many highlights in my career.
Best bowler she’s played alongside: Ellen Falkner
Favourite meal: Roast dinner and/or Chinese
Lorraine Kuhler
Club: Oxford City & County BC | County: Oxfordshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and World Championships (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Started playing: 2002
Bowls: Drakes Pride Professional – Size 3 medium
Biggest influence on career: My Dad, John. Took me everywhere to play bowls when I was younger and either gave me advice or steered me towards the right people to get it from.
Favourite meal: Roast dinner
Jamie-Lea Marshall
Club: Kingscroft | County: Leicestershire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and World Championships (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Started playing: 2000
Her most memorable shot: Back toucher, last end of Commonwealth Games final
Biggest influence on her career: Lesley Wilson who introduced me to the game and used to support me around the world.
Favourite TV show: Line of Duty
Tom McGuinness
Club: Gerrards Cross | County: Buckinghamshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and Hong Kong International Bowls Classic
Bowls: Henselite Tiger – Size 4 Heavy
His greatest achievement in bowls, and other notable highlights: European Gold and Silver, British Isles Fours champions, four National titles and England Junior Captain.
One thing he’d change about bowls: Have a bowls premier league here in England
Tom’s walking on to the green for a big match, what is he listening to to get in the zone: Thunderstruck – AC/DC
Morgan Merryweather
Club: Island Bohemian | County: Berkshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: 2008
Bowls: Drakes Pride Professional – Size 3
How she got into bowls: My dad went to an open day at the island and when the football season finished he took me “bowling” not the bowling I expected but when stood on the edge of the river Thames getting a boat over to the island and finding the green, it’s something special.
Her most memorable shot: 2019 Ayr junior series. Last bowl v Ireland. I had been moved to skip due to illness. We were 1 down with my last bowl to come and we could have taken the 1 down and still won however I had only just missed getting the shot with my first. I manage to get down to shot wood and turn the jack to make 2. The celebration on our rink was unforgettable.
Rebecca Moorbey
Club: Brampton | County: Huntingdonshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Favourite format: Pairs
Most memorable shot: Last end of the Junior Pairs Final in 2021. We were 4 up going into the last end and currently sat game down. I drew a side toucher which ended up winning us the game. It is my most memorable shot because it was in a high pressure.
Greatest achievement and other notable highlights: Achieving the Singles Double (winning the U25’s and Ladies in the same year) the year after winning the Junior Pairs title in 2021. Other highlights would include getting to the Junior Singles final in 2016, aged 16.
Rebecca is walking on to the green for a big match, what is she listening to to get in the zone: Lose Yourself by Eminem
Edward Morris
Club: Essex County | County: Essex
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and World Championships (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Started playing: 2000
Bowls: Taylor Blaze – Size 4
Greatest achievement in bowls and other notable highlights: 2 National Singles titles, but probably the Triples stands out to me – I took two bowlers who had barely played Middleton Cup and we won the County, National and British Isles titles together, around 18 games
Favourite film: Sucker Punch
Amy Pharaoh
Club: Burton House | County: Lincolnshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and World Championships (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Favourite green/club to play at: Leamington Spa
Greatest achievements: Commonwealth Games Gold 2010, Silver 2022, Bronze 2002, 2006. World Bowls Gold 2004.
One thing she’d change about bowls: The image that non-bowlers have about the sport
Go-to karaoke song: Never Forget – Take That
Mark Read
Club: Stenalees | County: Cornwall
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Favourite format: Singles
Most memorable shot: Killing the end when 7 down in Middleton Cup final
Why he loves bowls: It’s in my blood, I have always played it although at times it can take over your life. It’s important to get a balance.
Party trick: Balancing coins on elbow and catching them…sometimes
Kirsty Richards
Club: Whitnash | County: Warwickshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Her most memorable shot: Last bowl in the Ladies National Singles in 2017. Score was 20-20 and I was down with only my bowl left. Played with pace to take two bowls out to stay for shot and win the game. Probably the best feeling I have ever had from playing bowls.
Biggest influence on her career: My bowls coach Neville. He dedicated so much time for the junior section and with that I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. Every club needs someone willing to give up their own time to coach others. He made a solid junior section when I was growing up, there must have been about 40 of us at one point in one club! He ran singles and pairs leagues and it was a great introduction to the game.
Favourite TV show: Made in Chelsea
Passions outside of bowls: Netball, gym, swimming and skiing
Nicole Rogers
Club: Kings | County: Devon
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and Hong Kong International Bowls Classic
Started playing: 2006 (indoors) and 2015 (outdoors)
How she got into bowls: Both of my parents played bowls at Loddon Vale IBC and one day I decided to join in on the junior sessions on a Saturday morning.
One thing she would like to change about bowls: I’d love bowls to become a sport where you can turn pro and make a living out of it.
Go-to karaoke song: Sunflower by Post Malone and Swae Lee
Charlie Souter
Club: Egham | County: Surrey
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Favourite green/club to play at: Essex County BC
How he got in to bowls: My grandparents and parents played, was always down the bowls club as a child so bugged them to let me play.
Your most memorable shot: A firing bowl in the National Champion of Champions at my old club Weybridge. I managed to take a bowl out for three but my bowl had somehow flown up off the bowl and landed in the gutter of the clubhouse. I’ve seen a few jacks go off the green but never a bowl go so high, it was a sight to see.
Biggest influence on his career: My mum definitely, always used to drive me to games and support me when I was younger, even now supporting whenever she can. Also with the success she’s had within bowls inspired me to want to do better and make her proud. I wouldn’t still be playing if it wasn’t for her
Harriet Stevens
Club: Kings BC | County: Devon
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and Hong Kong International Bowls Classic
How she got into bowls: Family – My Dad played at the infamous Teignbridge IBC and all the juniors grew up together there.
Why she loves bowls: I love the competitiveness, the skill and the community!
Favourite TV show: Anything Crime/True Crime or mystery. I also like awful reality shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians.
Harriet’s walking on to the green for a big match, what is she listening to to get her in the zone: Old R&B
Sophie Tolchard
Club: Kings BC | County: Devon
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland) and World Championships (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Started playing: 2005
Favourite Format: Pairs
Greatest achievement: Commonwealth Gold medal at Glasgow 2014
Favourite film: Harry Potter
Jamie Walker
Club: Kings | County: Devon
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: 2003
Favourite green/club to play at: Northampton West End
Most memorable shot: Most memorable would probably be my first bowl on the extra end of the World Triples Final in New Zealand
Inspirations outside of bowls: Kevin Sinfield
Andrew Walters
Club: Welford-On-Avon | County: Warwickshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Favourite format: Pairs
His greatest achievements in bowls: Indoor and Outdoor singles titles and European Gold in the pairs.
Biggest influence on his career: Adrian Burbridge
Favourite film: The Italian Job
Rebecca Wigfield
Club: Desborough | County: Northamptonshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Started playing: 1998 – age 9
How she got into bowls: Under 18 coaching sessions held at my local club during school summer holidays.
Why she loves bowls: I love everything about the sport, from the competitiveness on the green to the friendships made off it. I also love the fact that you can play at any age; it’s a very inclusive game.
Favourite meal: Anything pasta related!
Wayne Willgress
Club: Norfolk | County: Norfolk
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
Bowls: Greenmaster – Size 4
Favourite format: Fours
Best bowler he has played alongside: Jamie Chestney
Favourite food: Curry
Chris Yeomans
Club: Gosforth | County: Northumberland
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)
How he got into bowls: My grandad
His most memorable shot: Took a bowl out for 4 with last bowl to win the National Family Pairs.
Best bowler he has played alongside: David Bolt
Favourite TV show: Nitro Circus
Michelle Coleman
Club: Brampton | County: Huntingdonshire
England appearances in 2023: British Isles Series (Ayr, Scotland)