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World Indoor Bowls Championships

International lawn bowl competition

International lawn bowl competition

FieldValue
sportBowls
founded1979
current_season2026 World Indoor Bowls Championship
continentInternational (Professional Bowls Association / World Bowls Tour)
champion2026 Open singles
ENG Robert Paxton
2026 Women's singles
ENG Katherine Rednall
2026 Open pairs
SCO Paul Foster &
SCO Alex Marshall
2026 Mixed pairs
NIR Chloe Wilson &
ENG Jamie Walker
TVBBC Two, YouTube
Note

the event organised by the World Bowls Tour

ENG Robert Paxton 2026 Women's singles ENG Katherine Rednall 2026 Open pairs SCO Paul Foster & SCO Alex Marshall 2026 Mixed pairs NIR Chloe Wilson & ENG Jamie Walker

The World Indoor Bowls Championship is an international bowls competition held annually at Potters Resorts in Hopton on Sea.

In recent history matches are streamed live on YouTube & Facebook, attracting around four million views annually. The last week of the competition is televised live on BBC where the open singles and open pairs', women's singles and mixed pairs' finals are shown.

History

The competition was first held in 1979 in Coatbridge, Scotland as a men's singles only event. The first event was sponsored by Embassy Cigarettes.

In 1986, the men's pairs competition was added to the championship. In 1988, a rule change allowed women to compete for the first time and the women's singles competition was created. This rule change also changed expanded the men's singles and pairs competition and both become open tournaments.

In 1989, the championships moved to the Guild Hall in Preston, England and Churchill Insurance took over the sponsorship. While the competition was being held in Preston, Midland Bank and SAGA were also sponsors at various times.

In 1999, Potters Holidays took over the sponsorship and, as part of the agreement, the event moved to its current home at the company's resort in Hopton-on-Sea. The mixed pairs competition was added to the championship in 2004.

Men's/Open singles champions

YearWinner1979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994
ENG David Bryant (1/3)
ENG David Bryant (2/3)
ENG David Bryant (3/3)
SCO John Watson
SCO Bob Sutherland
NIR Jim Baker
WAL Terry Sullivan
ENG Tony Allcock (1/3)
ENG Tony Allcock (2/3)
SCO Hugh Duff (1/2)
SCO Richard Corsie (1/3)
WAL John Price
SCO Richard Corsie (2/3)
AUS Ian Schuback
SCO Richard Corsie (3/3)
ENG Andy Thomson (1/3)
YearWinner1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010
ENG Andy Thomson (2/3)
SCO David Gourlay
SCO Hugh Duff (2/2)
SCO Paul Foster (1/5)
SCO Alex Marshall (1/6)
WAL Robert Weale
SCO Paul Foster (2/5)
ENG Tony Allcock (3/3)
SCO Alex Marshall (2/6)
SCO Alex Marshall (3/6)
SCO Paul Foster (3/5)
ENG Mervyn King
SCO Alex Marshall (4/6)
SCO Alex Marshall (5/6)
ENG Billy Jackson
ENG Greg Harlow
YearWinner2011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
SCO Paul Foster (4/5)
ENG Andy Thomson (3/3)
SCO Stewart Anderson (1/3)
SCO Darren Burnett
SCO Alex Marshall (6/6)
ENG Nick Brett
SCO Paul Foster (5/5)
ENG Mark Dawes (1/2)
SCO Stewart Anderson (2/3)
ENG Robert Paxton (1/2)
ENG Mark Dawes (2/2)
ENG Les Gillett
ENG Jamie Walker
SCO Stewart Anderson (3/3)
SCO Jason Banks
ENG Robert Paxton (2/2)

Wins by individual (Open Singles only)

NameTitlesRunners upWinning Years
SCOAlex Marshall62
SCOPaul Foster53
SCORichard Corsie34
ENGAndy Thomson32
ENGDavid Bryant31
SCOStewart Anderson31
ENGTony Allcock3-
ENGRobert Paxton23
SCOHugh Duff21
ENGMark Dawes2-
WALJohn Price13
ENGMervyn King13
ENGGreg Harlow13
AUSIan Schuback12
NIRJim Baker11
SCODavid Gourlay11
WALRobert Weale11
ENGNick Brett11
SCOJason Banks11
SCOJohn Watson1-
SCOBob Sutherland1-
WALTerry Sullivan1-
ENGBilly Jackson1-
SCODarren Burnett1-
ENGLes Gillett1-
ENGJamie Walker1-

Performance by country (Open singles only)

CountryTitles
SCO Scotland24
ENG England19
WAL Wales3
AUS Australia1
NIR Northern Ireland1
Total48

Women's singles champions

YearWinner1988199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001
NIR Margaret Johnston
Guernsey Fleur Bougourd
ENG Mary Price
SCO Sarah Gourlay
SCO Kate Adams
SCO Jan Woodley
SCO Joyce Lindores
ENG Sandy Hazell
ENG Norma Shaw
SCO Caroline McAllister (1/2)
SCO Caroline McAllister (2/2)
NZL Marlene Castle
SCO Betty Brown
YearWinner2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014
ENG Carol Ashby (1/3)
ENG Carol Ashby (2/3)
ENG Carol Ashby (3/3)
ENG Ellen Falkner (1/3)
ENG Ellen Falkner (2/3)
SCO Caroline Brown
AUS Ceri Ann Davies
ENG Debbie Stavrou (1/2)
ENG Debbie Stavrou (2/2)
Guernsey Alison Merrien
AUS Karen Murphy
ENG Rebecca Field
ENG Katherine Rednall (1/7)
YearWinner201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
WAL Laura Daniels (1/2)
ENG Ellen Falkner (3/3)
ENG Katherine Rednall (2/7)
ENG Katherine Rednall (3/7)
SCO Julie Forrest (1/3)
SCO Julie Forrest (2/3)
WAL Laura Daniels (2/2)
ENG Katherine Rednall (4/7)
ENG Katherine Rednall (5/7)
ENG Katherine Rednall (6/7)
SCO Julie Forrest (3/3)
ENG Katherine Rednall (7/7)

Open pairs champions

The Open Pairs (formerly the Men's Open pairs) allows anyone to compete, this is not to be confused with the Mixed Pairs. It was a men's only competition until 2012.

YearWinner198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006
ENG Tony Allcock (1/8) & David Bryant (1/6)
ENG Tony Allcock (2/8) & David Bryant (2/6)
AUS Ian Schuback (1/3) & Jim Yates
ENG Tony Allcock (3/8) & David Bryant (3/6)
ENG Tony Allcock (4/8) & David Bryant (4/6)
ENG Tony Allcock (5/8) & David Bryant (5/6)
ENG Tony Allcock (6/8) & David Bryant (6/6)
ENG Gary Smith & Andy Thomson (1/3)
AUS Ian Schuback (2/3) & Cameron Curtis
SCO Richard Corsie & Alex Marshall (1/7)
AUS Ian Schuback (3/3) & Kelvin Kerkow (1/3)
ENG Tony Allcock (7/8) & Mervyn King (1/3)
SCO Richard Corsie & Graham Robertson
WAL John Price & Stephen Rees
SCO David Gourlay & Alex Marshall (2/7)
ENG Les Gillett (1/2) & Mark McMahon
SCO Hugh Duff & Paul Foster (1/6)
ENG Tony Allcock (8/8) & David Holt
NIR Ian McClure & Jeremy Henry
AUS Kelvin Kerkow (2/3) & ENG Mervyn King (2/3)
ENG Billy Jackson (1/2) & AUS David Gourlay (1/2)
YearWinner20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
ENG Billy Jackson (2/2) & AUS David Gourlay (2/2)
ENG Andy Thomson (2/3) & Ian Bond (1/2)
AUS Kelvin Kerkow (3/3) & ENG Mervyn King (3/3)
ENG Andy Thomson (3/3) & Ian Bond (2/2)
SCO Paul Foster (2/6) & Alex Marshall (3/7)
SCO Paul Foster (3/6) & Alex Marshall (4/7)
SCO Paul Foster (4/6) & Alex Marshall (5/7)
ENG Greg Harlow (1/3) & Nick Brett (1/3)
ENG Robert Paxton & Simon Skelton
SCO Stewart Anderson (1/3) & Darren Burnett (1/3)
ENG Les Gillett (2/2) & WAL Jason Greenslade
ENG Mark Dawes (1/2) & Jamie Chestney (1/2)
SCO Paul Foster (5/6) & Alex Marshall (6/7)
ENG Greg Harlow (2/3) & Nick Brett (2/3)
ENG Mark Dawes (2/2) & Jamie Chestney (2/2)
SCO Stewart Anderson (2/3) & Darren Burnett (2/3)
ENG Greg Harlow (3/3) & Nick Brett (3/3)
SCO Stewart Anderson (3/3) & Darren Burnett (3/3)
SCO Jason Banks (1/1) & Michael Stepney (1/1)
SCO Paul Foster (6/6) & Alex Marshall (7/7)

Mixed pairs champions

YearWinner200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
SCO Alex Marshall (1/2) & ENG Amy Monkhouse
WAL John Price (1/2) & ENG Carol Ashby (1/3)
WAL John Price (2/2) & ENG Carol Ashby (2/3)
ENG Greg Harlow & ENG Jo Morris
AUS David Gourlay (1/3) & Ceri Ann Davies (1/3)
AUS David Gourlay (2/3) & Ceri Ann Davies (2/3)
SCO Alex Marshall (2/2) & ENG Carol Ashby (3/3)
ENG Simon Skelton & Guernsey Alison Merrien (1/2)
SCO David Gourlay (3/3) & ENG Debbie Stavrou
SCO Paul Foster (1/3) & WAL Laura Thomas (1/2)
SCO Paul Foster (2/3) & WAL Laura Thomas (2/2)
ENG Robert Paxton (1/2) & WAL Marion Purcell (1/2)
YearWinner20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
SCO Darren Burnett & ENG Katherine Rednall
ENG Nick Brett (1/3) & SCO Claire Johnston
ENG Jamie Chestney & SCO Lesley Doig
ENG Robert Paxton (2/2) & ENG Ellen Falkner
ENG Nick Brett (2/3) & WAL Marion Purcell (2/2)
SCO Stewart Anderson (1/2) & SCO Julie Forrest (1/2)
SCO Paul Foster (3/3) & GUE Alison Merrien (2/2)
SCO Stewart Anderson (2/2) & WAL Ceri Ann Glen (3/3)
ENG Nick Brett (3/3) & SCO Julie Forrest (2/2)
SCO Jason Banks (1/1) & SCO Beth Riva (1/1)
NIR Chloe Wilson (1/1) & ENG Jamie Walker (1/1)

Open under–25 champions

YearWinner201620172018
WAL Joseph Mower
AUS Ellen Ryan
NIR Chloe Watson
YearWinner201920202022
SCO John Orr
ENG William Moulton
SCO Daniel Pool (1/2)
YearWinner20232024
SCO Daniel Pool (2/2)
SCO Darren Weir

Players with five or more titles ==

NameOpen singlesWomen's singlesOpen PairsMixed PairsTotal
SCO Alex Marshall6N/A7215
SCO Paul Foster5N/A6314
ENG Tony Allcock3N/A8-11
ENG David Bryant3N/A6-9
SCO Stewart Anderson3N/A328
ENG Katherine Rednall-7-18
ENG Nick Brett1N/A337
SCO/AUS David Gourlay1N/A337
ENG Carol Ashby-3-36
ENG Andy Thomson3N/A3-6
SCO Darren Burnett1N/A315
SCO Richard Corsie3N/A2-5
ENG Greg Harlow1N/A315
SCO Julie Forrest-3-25

References

References

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  2. (January 2018). "World Indoor Bowls Championships 2018: Schedule and BBC coverage". BBC Sport.
  3. Newby, Donald. (1989). "Bowls Year Book 89". the Daily Telegraph.
  4. (13 January 2023). "World Bowls at Potters: 'There's nowhere else I'd rather be'". BBC News.
  5. "Marshall bowls another record-breaking winner". BBC Norfolk.
  6. (25 January 2009). "Jackson takes world indoor title". BBC Sport.
  7. (25 January 2010). "Bowling: 'Spot-on' Harlow edges out qualifier for indoor crown". The Independent.
  8. (24 January 2011). "Foster claims biggest world bowls prize at Potters". Great Yarmouth Mercury.
  9. (29 January 2012). "Andy Thomson wins third World Bowls Championship". BBC Sport.
  10. (27 January 2013). "Stewart Anderson wins World Indoor bowls title". BBC Sport.
  11. (26 January 2014). "World Indoor Bowls: Darren Burnett beats Mervyn King in final". BBC Sport.
  12. "World Indoor Bowls: Alex Marshall MBE Wins Record Extending 6th World Title". Henselite.
  13. (24 January 2016). "World Indoor Bowls: Nick Brett beats Robert Paxton for first title". BBC Sport.
  14. (29 January 2017). "World Indoor Bowls: Paul Foster beats Greg Harlow to win fifth world indoor title". BBC Sport.
  15. (28 January 2018). "Radcliffe bowler Mark Dawes wins world title". Bury Times.
  16. (27 January 2019). "World Indoor Bowls: Stewart Anderson wins second title". BBC Sport.
  17. "Crediton bowler Robert Paxton crowned world indoor champion". Crediton Courier.
  18. (24 January 2021). "Blackpool bowls stalwart Mark Dawes crowned double world champion for second time". Blackpool Gazette.
  19. (23 January 2022). "World Indoor Bowls: Les Gillett secures first singles title to deny Paul Foster a historic sixth". BBC Sport.
  20. (24 January 2023). "Northampton bowler Jamie Walker is on top of the world!". Northampton Chronicle and Echo.
  21. (21 January 2024). "Stewart Anderson wins World Indoor Bowls singles title - what he and Alex Marshall said, prize money". The Scotsman.
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  77. (28 January 2016). "County's Mower is on top of the world". East Lothian Courier.
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  79. (30 January 2018). "Co Down bowler dedicates Under 25 World Championship win to 'inspirational' grandfather". Belfast Live.
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  81. "William Moulton has the World Indoor U25 Champion title". World Bowls Tour.
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