Louis Ridout is branding bowls the 'curling of the summer'

Louis Ridout has branded bowls the 'curling of the summer' in a bid to get more people involved in the sport.

Ridout, 32, won bronze at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and was recently selected for the home Birmingham bonanza this year.

And the Torquay star is calling for greater visibility for his sport after curling – a similar target sport played on ice – captured the hearts of the nation during the Winter Olympic Games.

Ridout, speaking ahead of Bowls' Big Weekend on May 27-29, said: "I think to promote our sport is massive.

“We are not a sport that gets huge recognition on television or media platforms.

"But we saw during the Winter Olympics what effect the curling had and how many people were gripped by it and I don't see how bowls can't have the same effect.

"There are similarities in the sport and there are a lot more bowls greens around than there are bowling rinks.

"Most people live within about 30 minutes of a bowls club so they should come down and give it a try this summer and then hopefully get attached to the sport and come watch us at the Commonwealth Games."

Ridout was lead for the men's fours team in their medal-winning run on the Gold Coast, beating Wales 15-9 in the bronze medal match to claim their place on the podium.

He added: "On the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games was brilliant and to win a medal in a southern hemisphere environment was huge for Team England.

"In a home Games I think we have to target a minimum of a medal in all disciplines. But we're going for the gold.
"I think we've got a strong team. I will be very surprised if we don’t walk away with a gold medal."

The two-time British champion's dominating mentality has stemmed from a long-term involvement in the sport as he pushed against common stereotypes.

He said: "Unfortunately you still have that stereotype that it's an old man's game that you play when you retire, but most of the people who do give it a go really enjoy it.

"I started because my dad was involved and my dad played. I was four years old just playing carpet bowls and started from there.

"There's so many different reasons to play, I mean the social side of bowls is fantastic. It's so much more than just bowls and if you are looking for that sort of thing then a bowls club is the perfect place to join."

Origially from Somerset, it was his local club of Ilminster that shaped Ridout into an international medallist and he now wants to pass on that enthusiasm at Bowls’ Big Weekend.

Currently training at Kings Bowls Club - which boasts five of ten athletes selected by Team England - Ridout hopes the event on May 27-29 will kick off an influx of bowls lovers in time for Birmingham 2022.

He said: "I will be popping down to one or two of the clubs in the local area to help out and share my experiences and hopefully get some people signed up to play bowls.

"You never know, you might take it up and then in four years' time be in the next Commonwealth Games.

Find your nearest participating club at http://www.bowlsbigweekend.com