Leach Excited For Indoor Bowls In Guernsey
[Written by Stephen Wright]
David Leach thought his indoor bowls days were firmly behind him until he discovered the sport was on the schedule of events at the NatWest International Island Games in Guernsey, the Channel Islands.
The Londoner, who moved to Bermuda five years ago, will play his first competitive match for 17 years when he faces William Nelson, from the Western Isles, in group A of the Open Singles Group Stage at the Guernsey Indoor Bowls Stadium on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old, who works as a group chief risk officer for Monument Re, told Bernews: “I’m coming out of retirement unexpectedly. I thought I’d have to wait until I was 65 before I started playing again!
“I used to play a lot when I was in my teens. I won the Surrey County Under-25 Singles competition in 1999.
“To my knowledge, there’s nowhere to play indoor or outdoor bowls in Bermuda.
“Since I’ve known I’d be playing at the Games, I’ve spent some time in the UK practising with my dad.”
Leach, a former member of the Richmond Indoor Bowls Club, added: “I’m heading to Guernsey with low expectations.
“I’ll go out and try my best. Maybe it’s like riding a bike, and I’ll get back right into it.”
Indoor bowls is essentially an indoor version of the outdoor game.
Players attempt to score points by rolling a heavy ball along a flat surface to gain as many shots as possible by getting their bowls nearer to the jack than their opponents.
