One of the five priorities within our ‘Fit for the Future’ strategy is to create positive playing experiences for all participants. Introducing a Performance Pathway to stretch our talented athletes and retaining more young people in the sport is a key building block for this.

This Sunday, we will be hosting the Bowls England Junior Talent ID Day at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa for young players aged 18 and under at the start of the season. This event will provide an opportunity for the best young bowlers in the country to develop their skills under the watchful eye of our Performance Team – including Managers, Selectors and specialist Coaches. There will also be some off green education activity to assist their personal development.

Seventy juniors have been invited to attend on the day. They will play in a variety of matches during the day, showcasing their bowling talents. The juniors have three workshops off the green to compliment the bowls and these include; Social Media and Internet Safety with Katy and Daniel from our Communications Team, Sports Psychology with Róisín Kelly, a leading sports psychologist from Loughborough University, and two-time Commonwealth Games medal winner Jamie-Lea Winch will be telling the story of her rise to the Commonwealth Games.

We are expecting it to be a glorious occasion for everyone involved where all juniors attending will learn something to enhance their bowling abilities for the future. They could become part of the Commonwealth Games squad for 2026.