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
NationalityEnglish
Born(1931-10-27)27 October 1931
Clevedon, North Somerset, England
Died27 August 2020(2020-08-27) (aged 88)
Sport
SportBowls
ClubClevedon
Medal record
Representing  England
Men's Bowls
World Outdoor Bowls Championships
1966 KyeemaghSingles
1966 KyeemaghPairs
1976 JohannesburgSingles
1976 JohannesburgTriples
1976 Johannesburg Team
1980 Frankston Singles
1980 Frankston Triples
1980 Frankston Team
1984 AberdeenSingles
1988 AucklandSingles
1988 AucklandPairs
Commonwealth Games
1962 PerthSingles
1962 Perth Fours
1970 EdinburghSingles
1974 ChristchurchSingles
1978 EdmontonSingles
World Indoor Bowls Championships
1979 CoatbridgeSingles
1980 CoatbridgeSingles
1981 CoatbridgeSingles
1986 BournemouthPairs
1987 CoatbridgeSingles
1987 BournemouthPairs
1989 PrestonPairs
1990 PrestonPairs
1991 PrestonPairs
1992 PrestonPairs
1993 PrestonPairs
1995 PrestonPairs
British Isles Championships
1961singles
1972singles
1973singles
1974singles
1966pairs
1975pairs
1986triples
1970fours
1972fours

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

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.
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