ALEX MARSHALL MBE to Join Bolty on Thursday 12 September

Press Release

6th September 2019

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Two Bowls legends come to Daventry!!

Bowls is Bowls, the organisation established to encourage all bowls organisations and bowlers of all ages, creeds, colour and abilities to work together, is delighted to announce that as part of its week-long initiative to promote the sport, Scottish bowling world-record breaking legend, Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall MBE will be appearing at Daventry Indoor Bowls Club (IBC) on 12th September, between 11.30-1.30pm, alongside another legendary medal-winning member of England’s Commonwealth Games bowls team, David Bolt ‘Bolty’.

The two icons of the game will appear at the venue alongside Daventry IBC President, Sue Pernyes, where they will not only play some fine exhibition bowls, but also provide invaluable coaching advice to those players and audience members present, and afterwards hold an informal Q&A session.

The 12th September ‘Bowls is Bowls’ day will aim to provide a clear emphasis on the organisations intention to bring all forms of Bowls at all levels and platforms together to help promote the sport, whilst demonstrating the openness and limitless opportunities for the sport to reach out into communities, via hospitals, care home facilities, youth clubs and other related areas. The possibilities are endless!

During the day, both David and Alex will pay a visit to Daventry Town Bowls Club, where they will meet Duggie Mitchel Chairman & Director of Disability Bowls England and take part in a ‘Triathlon of bowls’.

The culmination of the day will involve a visit to Daventry Town Football Club, where as part of an initiative to also promote football, ‘Bolty’, being an avid supporter and follower of his beloved Sunderland AFC, will meet with players and Daventry Town Manager, Arron Parkinson and have chance to demonstrate his footballing prowess. There will also be a Football v Bowls challenge, ‘How far can your ball go’, which will involve participants from both sports seeing how far their respective balls can travel.

Councillor Alan Hills, Community, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council said: “It’s great to see our local clubs working together to promote sporting activity in Daventry District. As a District council we support all kinds of sports and I would encourage people to come along to these open events and find out more about how to get involved in bowls.”

A live music performance from the Rock n Roll Bowler, Max Milner, followed by a disco hosted by Robert Palser of World Series Bowls fame will close the days proceedings.

David Bolt ‘Bolty’ needs no introduction to players and fans alike, winning a Bronze medal as part of the lawn bowls men's fours on the Gold Coast, whilst Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall MBE is a World champion record-breaking Scottish Bowls player.

Alex ‘Tattie’ Mitchell was awarded an MBE in the 2007 New Year Honours List for his services to the sport, having started his bowling career at the age of eight supported by both his father and grandfather, going on to represent his country in 1988. Alex is a record breaking six-time World Indoor Singles Champion, with six World Indoor Pairs titles to his credit (four Men's Pairs & two Mixed Pairs), plus six World Outdoor Championship Gold medals (Pairs in 1992, 2000 and 2012, Fours in 1992, and Team in 1992, 1996 & 2004).

His other achievements include five Commonwealth Games Gold medals (Pairs in 2002, 2006, 2014, & Fours in 2014, 2018), one Atlantic Games Team Gold (in 2015), and three Hong Kong International Classic Pairs titles (in 1993, 1996, 2002).

Commenting on Alex’s appearance at the Bowls is Bowls day, ‘Bolty’ said, “To have a player of his (Alex) distinction visit any club is fantastic and I see this as an amazing opportunity for not only Daventry IBC but the game of Bowls to promote itself far and wide due to Alex’s stature.”

Bowls is Bowls is the brainchild of Boul Traders Chief Executive, Mark Courtney, himself a keen bowler since childhood and a Level 1 Coach Bowls Coach, member and main coach of & Northampton Whyte Melville Bowls Club.

For more information about Bowls is Bowls and future events, please visit the website http://www.astrobowls.co.uk/community/bowls-is-bowls-13426/home

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Notes to editors

About Bowls is Bowls:

"Bowls is Bowls" is about encouraging all Bowls organisations and Bowlers to work together in the modern world to promote all formats of bowls equally, in order to increase participation in the sport and membership of clubs and associations.

It is the proud sponsor of Bowls England and the Bowls England Womens National Championships and wish all Bowlers in the country a successful and enjoyable season. https://www.bowlsengland.com/

For further information about Bowls is Bowls, news and future events, view: http://www.astrobowls.co.uk/community/bowls-is-bowls-13426/home

1. If you have any queries on this press release, please contact Andy Scott (07770 520484) or email: [email protected]