Alison and Ian Merrien are representing Guernsey at the 2026 World Bowls Indoor Championships in Australia.
Starting next week, the pair will be competing in the Ladies and Mens singles, and the Mixed Pairs.
Alison Merrien MBE said other players may have moved on to outdoor bowls at home now the weather is sunnier, but she’s looking forward to the competition in Australia.
They’ll be playing against teams from 31 other nations at Ocean Grove Bowling Club which has two greens.
Ms Merrien said the organisers will be using the facilities to maximum effect to make for a short, sharp tournament.
Each player will be in up to five games per day, making about eight hours of competition daily for everyone.
“I am really looking forward to these championships, competition is fierce as always and I’m feeling good in my own game at the moment,” said Ms Merrien.
“The draws are tough, there are some familiar faces and some new ones, I think it is the unknown that can cause headaches but also good challenges to keep you on form. My aim is to make the knockout stages and see what happens.”
The Ladies and Mens singles are in 4 groups, with the top two going straight into the quarter-finals, whereas the Mixed pairs are in eight groups, so only the top pair will go through to the quarter-final.
The Championship starts on Monday 11 May with the knockout stages on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May.
Mr Merrien said he’s also looking forward to the competition.
“I’ve got through to the group stages the last few times and medalled with Ali at every one of these championships we’ve played together so I’m looking forward to testing myself once again. I think the surface will be a little slow, which will catch some people out to start with. Hopefully that’s not me!”
The full schedule, competitors and results can be found online HERE.