The World Bowls Championship is the premier world bowls competition between national bowls organisations.

World Outdoor Championships

First held in Australia in 1966, the World Outdoor Bowls Championships for men and women are held every four years. From 2008 the men's and women's events were held together. Qualifying national bowls organisations (usually countries) are represented by a team of five players, who play once as a single and a four, then again as a pair and a triple. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each of the four disciplines, and there is also a trophy for the best overall team — the Leonard Trophy for men and the Taylor Trophy for women. Northern Ireland & the Republic of Ireland compete as one combined Irish team.

The 2020 event was postponed twice and scheduled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However following continual issues surrounding the pandemic the Championships were officially cancelled on 9 March 2021. Furthermore, it was decided that the World Championships would take place every two years starting in 2023. This also resulted in the fact that qualifying events for the Championships were no longer required meaning the Atlantic Bowls Championships and Asia Pacific Championships were terminated.

Men's titles

YearVenueSingles GoldPairs Gold *Triples Gold *Fours Gold *Team Champion
1966Sydney, AustraliaEngland David BryantAustralia Geoff Kelly, Bert PalmAustralia John Dobbie, Athol Johnston, Don CollinsNew Zealand Bill O'Neill, Gordon Jolly, Ron Buchan, Norm LashAustralia Australia
1972Worthing, EnglandWales Maldwyn EvansHong Kong Eric Liddell, Saco DelgadoUnited States Dick Folkins, Clive Forrester, Bill MillerEngland Peter Line, Ted Hayward Cliff Stroud, Norman KingScotland Scotland
1976Johannesburg, South AfricaSouth Africa Doug WatsonSouth Africa Bill Moseley, Doug WatsonSouth Africa Kevin Campbell, Nando Gatti, Kelvin LightfootSouth Africa Kevin Campbell, Bill Moseley, Nando Gatti, Kelvin LightfootSouth Africa South Africa
1980Melbourne, AustraliaEngland David BryantAustralia Peter Rheuben, Alf SandercockEngland David Bryant, Tony Allcock, Jimmy HobdayHong Kong Omar Dallah, Eric Liddell, George Souza, Philip ChokEngland England
1984Aberdeen, ScotlandNew Zealand Peter BellissUnited States Skippy Arculli, Jim Candelet, George Adrain *Jim Baker, Sammy Allen, Stan EspieEngland Tony Allcock, John Bell Julian Haines, George TurleyScotland Scotland
1988Auckland, New ZealandEngland David BryantNew Zealand Peter Belliss, Rowan BrasseyNew Zealand Phil Skoglund, Morgan Moffat, Ian DickisonJim Baker, Sammy Allen, John McCloughlin, Rodney McCutcheonEngland England
1992Worthing, EnglandEngland Tony AllcockScotland Alex Marshall, Richard CorsieIsrael Cecil Bransky, Lawrence Mendelsohn, Leon BluhmScotland Angus Blair, Willie Wood, Alex Marshall, Graham RobertsonScotland Scotland
1996Adelaide, AustraliaEngland Tony AllcockSammy Allen, Jeremy HenryScotland George Adrain, Willie Wood, Kenny LoganEngland John Bell, Andy Thomson, David Cutler, Brett MorleyScotland Scotland
2000Johannesburg, South AfricaJeremy HenryScotland Alex Marshall, George SneddonNew Zealand Peter Belliss, Rowan Brassey, Andrew CurtainWales Will Thomas, Robert Weale, Stephen Rees, Mark WilliamsAustralia Australia
2004Ayr, ScotlandAustralia Steve GlassonCanada Ryan Bester, Keith RoneyScotland David Peacock, Willie Wood, Jim McIntyreJim Baker, Neil Booth, Noel Graham, Jonathan RossScotland Scotland
2008Christchurch, New ZealandMalaysia Safuan SaidNew Zealand Gary Lawson, Russell MeyerScotland David Peacock, Willie Wood, Wayne HoggNew Zealand Gary Lawson, Russell Meyer, Richard Girvan, Andrew ToddNew Zealand New Zealand
2012Adelaide, AustraliaAustralia Leif SelbyScotland Alex Marshall, Paul FosterScotland Graeme Archer, Darren Burnett, David PeacockAustralia Aron Sherriff, Mark Casey, Brett Wilkie, Wayne RuedigerAustralia Australia
2016Christchurch, New ZealandNew Zealand Shannon McIlroyAustralia Aaron Wilson, Brett WilkieEngland Robert Paxton, Andy Knapper, Jamie WalkerNew Zealand Ali Forsyth, Blake Signal, Mike Kernaghan, Mike NagyNew Zealand New Zealand
2020Gold Coast, Australiacancelled due to COVID-19
2023Gold Coast, AustraliaCanada Ryan BesterGary Kelly, Adam McKeownAustralia Carl Healey, Aron Sherriff, Corey WedlockAustralia Aron Sherriff, Carl Healey Aaron Teys, Corey WedlockAustralia Australia
2027tba

* Jim Candelet was taken ill during the pool stages and had to withdraw from the championships. As the USA did not have an available substitute the organisers allowed George Adrain, a reserve with the Scottish team, to take his place for the rest of the tournament.

Women's titles

YearVenueSingles GoldPairs GoldTriples GoldFours GoldTeam Champion
1969Sydney, AustraliaPapua New Guinea Gladys DoyleSouth Africa May Cridlan, Elsie McDonaldSouth Africa Kathy Bidwell, Yetta Emanuel, Sara SundelowitzSouth Africa May Cridlan, Kathy Bidwell, Yetta Emanuel, Sara SundelowitzSouth Africa South Africa
1973Wellington, New ZealandNew Zealand Elsie WilkieAustralia Dot Jenkinson, Lorna LucasNew Zealand Cis Winstanley, Noeleen Scott, Irene FooteNew Zealand Cis Winstanley, Verna Devlin, Noeleen Scott, Irene FooteNew Zealand New Zealand
1977Worthing, EnglandNew Zealand Elsie WilkieHong Kong Helen Wong, Elvie ChokWales Enid Morgan, Margaret Pomeroy, Joan OsborneAustralia Merle Richardson, Lorna Lucas, Connie Hicks, Dot JenkinsonAustralia Australia
1981Toronto, CanadaEngland Norma ShawNan Allely, Eileen BellHong Kong Lena Sadick, Rae O'Donnell, Linda KingEngland Eileen Fletcher, Gloria Thomas, Mavis Steele Betty Stubbings, Irene Molyneux*England England
1985Melbourne, AustraliaAustralia Merle RichardsonAustralia Merle Richardson, Fay CraigAustralia Mavis Meadowcroft, Norma Massey, Dorothy RocheScotland Frances Whyte, Annette Evans, Elizabeth Christie, Sarah GourlayAustralia Australia
1988Auckland, New ZealandWales Janet AcklandMargaret Johnston, Phillis NolanAustralia Dorothy Roche, Marion Stevens, Greeta FaheyAustralia Dorothy Roche, Norma Wainwright, Marion Stevens, Greeta FaheyEngland England
1992Ayr, ScotlandMargaret JohnstonMargaret Johnston, Phillis NolanScotland Frances Whyte, Janice Maxwell, Joyce LindoresScotland Senga McCrone, Frances Whyte, Janice Maxwell, Joyce LindoresScotland Scotland
1996Leamington Spa, EnglandNorfolk Island Carmen AndersonMargaret Johnston, Phillis NolanSouth Africa Hester Bekker, Barbara Redshaw, Jannie de BeerAustralia Daphne Shaw, Margaret Sumner, Marilyn Peddell, Gordana BaricSouth Africa South Africa
2000Moama, AustraliaMargaret JohnstonScotland Joyce Lindores, Margaret LethamNew Zealand Anne Lomas, Sharon Sims, Patsy JorgensenNew Zealand Anne Lomas, Sharon Sims, Patsy Jorgensen, Jan KhanEngland England
2004Leamington Spa, EnglandMargaret JohnstonNew Zealand Jo Edwards, Sharon SimsSouth Africa Loraine Victor, Jill Hackland, Trish SteynEngland Amy Monkhouse, Jean Baker, Ellen Falkner, Jayne ChristieEngland England
2008Christchurch, New ZealandNew Zealand Val SmithNew Zealand Jo Edwards, Val SmithSouth Africa Lorna Trigwell, Loraine Victor, Sylvia BurnsAustralia Karen Murphy, Claire Duke, Julie Keegan, Lynsey ClarkeAustralia Australia
2012Adelaide, AustraliaAustralia Karen MurphyAustralia Rebecca Van Asch, Kelsey CottrellAustralia Karen Murphy, Lynsey Clarke, Natasha ScottScotland Margaret Letham, Caroline Brown, Lynn Stein, Michelle CooperAustralia Australia
2016Christchurch, New ZealandAustralia Karen MurphyWales Jess Sims, Laura DanielsAustralia Rebecca Van Asch, Natasha Scott, Carla KrizanicAustralia Natasha Scott, Rebecca Van Asch, Carla Krizanic, Kelsey CottrellAustralia Australia
2020Gold Coast, Australiacancelled due to COVID-19
2023Gold Coast, AustraliaNew Zealand Tayla BruceMalaysia Ain Nabilah Tarmizi, Aleena NawawiAustralia Kelsey Cottrell, Lynsey Clarke, Dawn HaymanEngland Amy Pharaoh, Lorraine Kuhler, Jamie-Lea Marshall, Sophie TolchardNew Zealand New Zealand
2027tba

* Irene Molyneux played in the 1981 Fours & Pairs as an injury replacement helping England to the Fours Gold medal.

Summary

NationMenWomenTotal
SinglesPairsTriplesFoursTeamTotalSinglesPairsTriplesFoursTeamTotal
Australia2322413335452033
New Zealand2223211422221223
Scotland-341513-1131619
England5-222111--34819
South Africa111115-1412813
Ireland1212-634---713
Wales1--1-2111--35
Hong Kong-1-1-2-11--24
Canada11---2------2
USA-11--2------2
Malaysia1----1-1---12
Papua New Guinea------1----11
Norfolk Island------1----11
Israel---1-1------1

Para Bowls Titles

YearVenuePara Pairs Men GoldPara Pairs Women GoldVisually Impaired Mixed Pairs Gold
2023Gold Coast, AustraliaAustralia James Reynolds, Damien DelgadoNew Zealand Teri Blackbourn, Julie O'ConnellAustralia Jake Fehlberg, Jackie Hudson

See also

External links