Bowls: Snainton ace Turnbull targets world triumph (From Gazette & Herald)
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Bowls: Snainton ace Turnbull targets world triumph
2:40pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Sport
Chris Turnbull receives a grant from Scarborough District & Sports Council to help in his World Blind Bowls Championships glory bid
Snainton bowler Chris Turnbull has been selected for the England team to compete at next year’s World Blind Bowls Championships in Worthing.
Turnbull, Yorkshire’s sole representative, will compete for the mixed pairs title with partner Christine Linegar of Somerset.
However, Turnbull, who also plays for Scarborough Indoor Club, must first raise £2,400 in funding to take part, as bowls lost its classification as an Olympic and Paralympic sport in 1996, meaning England’s bowlers can no longer count on sponsorship from UK Sport.
He earned his place at the World Championships thanks to his outstanding domestic form since the last competition in 2009, held in Australia, where he finished fifth in the singles competition.
He went on to win the national singles and national pairs titles in 2011 and finished runner-up at the UK singles event in 2012.
“It was fantastic seeing all those medals won by Yorkshire’s sportsmen and women at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I’m hoping I can also use home-turf advantage to bring some more titles to the county next year,” said Turnbull.
“It’s difficult funding our own participation in bowls’ top tournaments but I’ve received a lot of support in the past from local businesses and bowls clubs, Yorkshire County Bowls Association and Scarborough District & Sports Council.
“I’m still some way from reaching my target but hopefully with a little help from the community I’ll be competing in Worthing and doing Yorkshire proud.”
