Bowler putting domestic life on hold in pursuit of more summer glory

By Jonny Bray

Craig Bowler admits he is happy to sacrifice family time in his pursuit of more glory on the greens.

The aptly-named Olney bowls star, 44, bagged a brilliant Commonwealth bronze medal last summer and is now gearing up for another jam-packed summer of action.

Bowler is a triple amputee after attempting to take his own life 15 years ago and spending nearly two months in a coma.

He lost both his legs and an arm before he was ‘nursed back to life’ by his physiotherapist’s assistant, Abby, with the two remarkably now married and having two children, Max and Tilly.

The Buckinghamshire star insists his memorable Leamington Spa medal is only the start of his journey and he is willing to put domestic life on hold as he chases more outdoor season success.

"My wife calls herself a bowls widow," said Bowler, speaking at a Bowls’ Big Weekend event in Chingford.

"I am playing about five or six days a week, but I love the sport and I love helping other people enjoy the sport as well.

"Because I am never at home, I am literally playing most nights, I am at the bowls club a lot of evenings.

"But I think deep down she probably enjoys that; she enjoys her space and I do most weekends with the kids and the family.

"So, during the week I play bowls and then during the weekend it is all about family."

Bowls’ Big Weekend took place between 26-29 May, with clubs across the country holding open days to encourage new players to give the sport a go.

The event gave the bowls community the opportunity to come together and celebrate the sport, with clubs across the country opening their doors for free to enable new participants to discover everything that is great about the game.

Bowler joined forces with partner in crime Kieran Rollings to battle onto the podium at last summer’s Commonwealth Games.

And he’s relishing the prospect of another exciting season of domestic action.

He said: "I for my local club in Top Club, which is quite a big national competition so I am looking forward to that.

"I have got county pairs that I am still in, county triples and also Disability Bowls England pairs as well which is coming up in the future."

Bowler was first inspired to take up the sport by Bob Love, who competed for England in the open para-sport triples event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and won a bronze medal.

And Bowler said: "I started obviously playing able-bodied stuff first for my local club.

"Then I watched a bloke called Bob Love, he was born with no arms, and he bowled with his feet.

"In 2014, he won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal bowling with his feet.

"It just made me think that if a bloke with no arms can do it then I should give it a try."

To find your nearest participating club and sign up for a free session go to bowlsbigweekend.com