British Isles Championships 2024- Gents Pairs Preview
We have arrived at the week of the 2024 British Isles championships, which will see Scottish champions compete across 14 different disciplines to test their might against their fellow national championship winners. We have been speaking with all the players and teams prior to the event, to get some insight into their feelings ahead of such an occasion, as well as looking at their journey to Leamington Spa. We also sought some insight on the bowlers, by asking them to pick between one of TVs most divisive duos.
We were also given the opportunity to have a chat with newly capped Ryan Gualtieri, who will be representing Scotland in both the British Isles championships, skipping the gents pairs, and the British Isles International series at the tail end of the week. Ryan has drafted in his older brother, Darren to play with him in the British Isles pairs.
Darren and Ryan have always played together, since Ryan’s early teens, where they also played with their father, sister and grandfather, who they affectionately call “Nonno”.
Like all of the national championship competitors, Ryan had to win, and qualify from his district, which the Hyndland player was able to do. From there, five games stood between Gualtieri and a national title. Their first major test came in the second round, where Ryan drew the shot within inches with his last bowl to secure victory. They eased their way through the quarter finals, into the semis, where they looked down and out, trailing by 8 at the halfway stage. This did not concern Ryan though, as he and his teammate Steven Borthwick dug deep, and managed to turn it around. The final was a close game, with Ryan four shots up playing the 17th, and final end. His opposition played a wonder-bowl, which forced the umpire to measure shots, for a potential extra end. Thankfully for Ryan, the umpire declared that it was only three bowls, and the Hyndland pair were victorious.
Ahead of the British Isles championships this week, Ryan expressed his excitement at the prospect of battling for the title and also claiming victory. He explained how Hyndland Bowling Club have performed well nationally in recent years but have never managed to get their hands on British gold before, and how he hopes that he can be the first to achieve this feat. He is also looking forward to the support that both the club, and country brings, and sets his eyes on team Scotland heading back across the border with multiple titles.
We also spoke to Ryan about his team’s formation ahead of Leamington, due to the fact that his lead at Northfield would not be making the trip. In this conversation, Ryan confirmed that his brother, Darren would be joining him in England. Darren boasts a host of experience, having won the Scottish national singles in 2022, as well as achieving a silver medal at the 2022 at the World Bowls champion of champions event, in Australia. A remarkable achievement!
Ryan headed down-under for his favourite bowler, tipping his hat to Aron Sherriff, while he went in favour of the majority, when it came to asking him about TV stars Ant and Dec. Gualtieri went for Dec in what seems to be the most popular choice so far!
Darren and Ryan will be in action, in the second session of day one (26th June, 13:30), where they will face Wales’ Chris Ashman and Phil Robins, at the quarter final stage.