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]
The beginning
editBorn into a bowling dynasty, his grandfather was a founder member of the Clevedon Bowling Club in Chapel Hill, Clevedon, North Somerset. His father, Reginald Bryant, won three national fours rinks titles. David joined the club when he was 16 and during his first season with the club he won the Clevedon Bowls handicap.
Bowls career
editWorld Outdoor Championships
editHe 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
editBryant 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
editBryant also reached legendary status indoors after winning nine World Championships, three in singles and six in the pairs with Tony Allcock.[6]
National
editBryant 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][10][11]
- Singles - 1960, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
- Pairs - 1965, 1969, 1970
- Triples - 1966, 1977, 1985
- Fours - 1957, 1968, 1969, 1971
Awards
editIn the 1969 New Year Honours, Bryant was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to bowls.[12] He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours, again for services to bowls.[13]
Personal life
editBryant was born in Clevedon, North Somerset, on 27 October 1931 and died on 27 August 2020, aged 88.[14] 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
editBryant 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "Profile". Bowls tawa.
- ^ Mason, Peter (30 August 2020). "David Bryant obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ a b "OBITUARY: DAVID J. BRYANT CBE (SOMERSET)". Bowls England. 27 August 2020.
- ^ a b "David Bryant wins a fourth consecutive lawn bowls singles title at Edmonton 1978". Inside the Games.
- ^ Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-414-3.
- ^ "David Bryant CBE". Somerset Bowls.
- ^ Bobby Black interview Archived 26 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Past Records". Bowls England.
- ^ Hawkes/Lindley, Ken/Gerard (1974). the Encyclopaedia of Bowls. Robert Hale and Company. ISBN 0-7091-3658-7.
- ^ "Bowls". Daily Mirror. 20 August 1960. Retrieved 23 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Avenger Bryant Makes History". Daily Mirror. 26 August 1972. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 44740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1968. p. 14.
- ^ UK: "No. 48212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1980. p. 8.
- ^ "David Bryant: Winner of multiple world bowls titles dies aged 88". BBC Sport. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
External links
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