David Bryant (bowls)

David John Bryant CBE (27 October 1931 – 27 August 2020) was a three-times World (outdoors) singles bowls champion (in 1966, 1980 and 1988), a three-times World indoors singles champion (in 1979, 1980 and 1981) and a four times Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist.[1] He is generally considered to be the greatest bowler of all time,[2] winning 19 World and Commonwealth gold medals in total.[3][4]

David Bryant CBE

Personal information
Nationality	England
Born	27 October 1931 Clevedon, North Somerset, England
Died	27 August 2020 (aged 88)
Sport
Sport	Bowls
Club	Clevedon
Medal record Representing  England Men's Bowls World Outdoor Bowls Championships 1966 Kyeemagh Singles 1966 Kyeemagh Pairs 1976 Johannesburg Singles 1976 Johannesburg Triples 1976 Johannesburg Team 1980 Frankston Singles 1980 Frankston Triples 1980 Frankston Team 1984 Aberdeen Singles 1988 Auckland Singles 1988 Auckland Pairs Commonwealth Games 1962 Perth Singles 1962 Perth Fours 1970 Edinburgh Singles 1974 Christchurch Singles 1978 Edmonton Singles World Indoor Bowls Championships 1979 Coatbridge Singles 1980 Coatbridge Singles 1981 Coatbridge Singles 1986 Bournemouth Pairs 1987 Coatbridge Singles 1987 Bournemouth Pairs 1989 Preston Pairs 1990 Preston Pairs 1991 Preston Pairs 1992 Preston Pairs 1993 Preston Pairs 1995 Preston Pairs

Bowls career

World Outdoor Championships

He won the inaugural World Outdoor singles title at Kyeemagh in 1966[5] and went on to win five gold medals (three singles, one triples and one team). He won eleven medals in total (three more silver and three more bronze), from 1966 until 1988.

Commonwealth Games

Bryant claimed a double gold medal at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth in both the singles and fours. This was the catalyst for four singles gold medals and five gold Commonwealth Games gold medals in total. The singles golds were in 1962, 1970, 1974 and 1978. No bowls competition was held at the 1966 Commonwealth Games which arguably stopped Bryant from winning a fifth.[4]

World Indoor Championships

Bryant also reached legendary status indoors after winning nine World Championships, three in singles and six in the pairs with Tony Allcock.[6]

National

Bryant also helped his county win the Middleton Cup on numerous occasions, where among his Somerset teammates was former Scottish League international footballer Bobby Black.[7]

In addition to the Middleton Cup victories he was crowned National Champion on 16 occasions for Somerset.[8][9]

• Singles - 1960, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
• Pairs - 1965, 1969, 1970
• Triples - 1966, 1977, 1985
• Fours - 1957, 1968, 1969, 1971

Awards

In 1969 he was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to bowls, and in 1980 he was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), again for services to bowls.

Personal life

Bryant was born in Clevedon, North Somerset, on 27 October 1931 and died on 27 August 2020, aged 88.[10] He was famous for smoking a tobacco pipe whilst playing,[3] and in 1986 was honoured with the award for Pipe Smoker of the Year. His father Reginald Bryant won three National fours/rinks titles.

Bibliography

Bryant wrote many books on the subject of bowls, including:

• Bryant on Bowls — Outdoor & Indoor 1966 ISBN 0-304-93687-1
• Bowl with Bryant 1984 ISBN 0-00-218025-1
• The Game of Bowls (co-authored with David Rhys Jones) 1990 ISBN 1-85225-101-8
• Bowl to Win (co-authored with Tony Allcock) 1994 ISBN 0-00-218523-7

See also

• List of Bowls England champions

References

1. "Profile". Bowls tawa.
2. Mason, Peter (30 August 2020). "David Bryant obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
3. "OBITUARY: DAVID J. BRYANT CBE (SOMERSET)". Bowls England.
4. "David Bryant wins a fourth consecutive lawn bowls singles title at Edmonton 1978". Inside the Games.
5. Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-414-3.
6. "David Bryant CBE". Somerset Bowls.
7. Bobby Black interview Archived 26 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
8. "Past Records". Bowls England.
9. Hawkes/Lindley, Ken/Gerard (1974). the Encyclopaedia of Bowls. Robert Hale and Company. ISBN 0-7091-3658-7.
10. "David Bryant: Winner of multiple world bowls titles dies aged 88". BBC Sport. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.

External links

• David Bryant on the Somerset Bowls Association website