Since its launch in 1981, Bowls International has been the go-to place for bowlers. Why? Because everyone who is involved with the magazine is passionate about bowls.
We offer news, debates, features and coaching tips, but we also highlight the issues. The result is a monthly magazine packed with articles that you will not find elsewhere – what’s happening on the greens and in the game right now.
We pride ourselves on what we deem to be an ideal blend of interesting, entertaining, informative and instructive articles, supported by the latest news and views from some of the sport’s biggest and influential names.
Editor at Large Ceris Hewlings has been involved in the sport of bowls since joining Tenby Bowling Club in West Wales where she lives in 1994 following in the footsteps of her late father Ken.
Ceris represented Wales outdoor at junior, senior and elite level, representing her country at the Atlantic Championships, European Championships and Hong Kong Classic. She was reserve for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
Ceris’s experiences throughout her bowls career and having worked for her local newspaper for over 20 years prior to joining the Bowls International team three years ago combine to bring a unique insight at the head of the magazine and an ability to relate and comment on all issues and topics within the sport.
She said: “Bowls International is about celebrating everything that is good about bowls and bowlers while striving to protect the future of the game by tackling controversial topics and shaking off the stereotypes so that the wider world sees that bowls is an incredible sport for all.”
For all things editorial, email: editor@bowlsinternational.com
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Meet the Bowls International team:
John Quinn
John Quinn, Author of Performance Bowling Greens, writes about greencraft issues in Bowls International.
He owns and runs the Bowls Central (bowls-central.co.uk) website to help bowling clubs with greenkeeping and club management. The Bowls Central Academy is a popular online training resource for Bowls Greenkeepers.
John provides advice, soil analysis services and devises greenkeeping programs for clubs all over the UK and beyond. His Performance Greens Programme is followed by hundreds of greenkeepers in the UK.
John is one of around 70 Master Greenkeepers worldwide and has worked in the sportsturf industry for 37 years. He was previously a Director at Elmwood College in Fife.
John lives on a farm in upland Perthshire where he is kept busy dealing with the antics of his two Donkeys, two Border Collies and three daughters, not necessarily in that order.
David Rhys Jones
David Rhys Jones may have retired ‘officially’ but will still contribute to the magazine with his witty and thought-provoking articles and insights into the game that he has been passionate about since starting as a backdrop to his drama teaching career.
He was a BBC commentator for 25 years, becoming widely known as the ‘Voice of Bowls’.
He used to play pairs with the legendary David Bryant and together they won 29 titles.
David has travelled around the world reporting on all manner of bowls events.
Allan Thornhill
Allan Thornhill is a world renowned Umpire and writes about laws of the sport and matters arising on the green.
He says: “Inspired by my grandparents I started playing bowls when I was 14 years old. It was in 1989 that I took the first tentative steps as a junior Club Level Umpire. It took a while for a 21 year old to earn respect as an official but I progressed and was supported along the way by many club and county colleagues.?
It was not long before I yearned for more and took the chance on the tougher exams to become a National Grade Umpire in 1996.
Very soon after this and having completed a number of successful National Championship performances I was selected for my first International event in 1999. From then my feet have not really touched the ground having attended five consecutive Commonwealth Games starting with Manchester 2002 where I was honoured to mark the Men’s Gold Medal Singles. I have also worked for 20 years on the World Bowls Tour panel of officials.
Administratively, I have served as a National Tutor and National Development Officer with the English Bowls Umpires Association. Latterly, I have become a member of the World Bowls Laws Committee.
Outside of Bowls, I am married and have a teenage son. I am the Head of two laboratories at the prestigious Institute of Cancer Research. My interests include wildlife, conservation and photography as well as website design.”
Sian Honnor
Sian has nearly 30 years of experience in bowls, representing England since the age of 13 and has gained a deep understanding of both elite and grassroots aspects of the sport. Professionally, Sian is a seasoned journalist and communications expert with extensive experience leading to her being a skilled storyteller.
Kelsey Cottrell
Kelsey is the youngest ever Australian representative, a world champion, Commonwealth Games gold, silver and bronze medallist, she was the inaugural World Bowls Series No 1 female player.
John Rednall
John is England’s longest serving outdoor international earning over 100 caps for his country. He won a bronze medal in the men’s fours at the 2004 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Ayr and represented England at the 1994 Commonwealth Games again in the fours event in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.