David Bryant (bowls)


David John Bryant is a former three-times World singles bowls champion and also three-times a World indoors singles champion. He is generally considered to be the greatest bowler of all time.

Bowls career

World Outdoor Championships

He won the inaugural World Outdoor singles title at Kyeemagh in 1966 and went on to win five gold medals. He won eleven medals in total, 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.

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.

National

Bryant also helped his county win the Middleton Cup on numerous occasions, where among his Somerset teammates was former Scottish League internationalist footballer Bobby Black.
In addition to the Middleton Cup victories he was crowned National Champion on 16 occasions for Somerset.
In 1969 he was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to bowls, and in 1980 he was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, again for services to bowls.

Personal life

Bryant was famous for smoking a tobacco pipe whilst playing, and in 1986 was honoured with the award for Pipe Smoker of the Year. His father Reginald Bryant won three National fours/rinks titles.