The polls are now open to vote for the next players to join the England ‘All-Star’ rinks.
Followers will be able to vote via Bowls England’s Twitter account (@BowlsEngland) until Monday morning (27th April), for the players to take up the position of second in both men’s and women’s rinks.
Jean Baker, Nancie Colling MBE, Wendy Line and Jayne Roylance feature in the poll for the women’s rink, with the men’s poll being contested between Stuart Airey, Julian Haines, Mervyn King and Wynne Richards.
Jean Baker represented England at four Commonwealth Games, winning bronze medals in 1998 and 2006. Baker also won bronze medals at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 World Championships, before winning a gold medal in the fours at the 2004 World Championships in Leamington Spa.
Nancie Colling MBE won a silver medal in the women’s fours at the 1973 World Bowls Championship in Wellington, New Zealand and also earned a bronze medal in the team event (Taylor Trophy). Nancie won the National Singles Championships three times (1956, 1958 and 1970), remarkably winning the third of her National titles in 1970 just four years after a spinal injury had temporarily paralysed her.
Wendy Line only started bowling at the age of 40 but won the gold medal in the women’s singles at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Scotland. Two years later, Wendy won a bronze medal in the pairs at the 1988 World Bowls Championships and further represented England at both the 1990 and 1994 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand and Canada respectively.
Jayne Roylance won two silver medals at the 1988 World Championships in the women’s triples and the women’s fours. Jayne then represented England at both the 1990 and 1994 Commonwealth Games in partnering Mary Price to a bronze medal in the women’s pairs in 1990. She played for England in BIWBC Internationals for more than 20 years, making over 60 appearances before her last Series in 2010.
Stuart Airey competed for England at multiple Commonwealth Games, which saw him win silver medals in the men’s pairs in Delhi and the men’s fours in Glasgow. Airey also represented England with distinction at the 2012 World Bowls Championships and many other international events at home and abroad, winning the Hong Kong Classic twice.
Julian Haines represented England for a number of years, but his finest moment came when he won the fours gold medal at the 1984 World Bowls Championship in Aberdeen with Tony Allcock, John Bell and George Turley. Julian also represented England in the fours at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
Mervyn King has represented England at three Commonwealth Games – 2002, 2006 and the 2010 Games in Delhi where he won a silver medal with Stuart Airey in the men’s pairs. He has also won two bronze medals at the 2004 World Bowls Championship in Ayr in the triples and fours events.
Wynne Richards began bowling in Wales before moving to London and winning the National Singles in 1984 and 1986. He won two bronze medals in the triples and fours at the 1988 World Bowls Championship and represented England in the fours event at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada.
To cast your vote, go to www.twitter.com/bowlseng or search for @BowlsEng on Twitter.
Only votes cast via the polls on Bowls England’s Twitter feed will be counted.