Welcome to the official website of the Welsh Association of Visually Impaired Bowlers.

We are the National organisation that administers vision impaired bowls in Wales.

We coordinate a programme of bowling activities, training opportunities and competitions for Welsh bowlers (or those eligible to represent Wales).

There is also designated VI coaching available through affiliated clubs.

 

We are always keen to recruit new bowlers to our wonderful sport.

Maybe you have stopped playing bowls due to deteriorating vision and you can no longer see the jack.

Maybe you have never considered playing bowls due to sight loss, you didn’t think you could?

Perhaps now is the time to give it a try! You would be most welcome.

Bowls is both social and competitive.

Not only can you learn or improve a new skill, you will make great friends as well as play in competitions so why not challenge yourself or encourage someone you know with a vision impairment to get in touch with us here

Bowls is an amazing sport and there are so many reasons to play it.

We have members from early 20’s to 102! It is truly inclusive.

Bowls is a sport and can be played socially (club level) or competitively right up to the highest level on the International stage at World and Commonwealth Games.

Many of our players compete in mainstream clubs and play in sighted clubs and competitions successfully.

We believe everyone should be able to enjoy and benefit from playing sport. Bowls gives everyone that chance because it's a sport that CAN be played by ALL. It's INCLUSIVE sport at its best.

Some good reasons to try it:

Its a great way to improve your physical and mental health

There will be a club near you (not far to travel)

The rules are simple so you start playing fast

A very social side to bowls (Bowls clubs are full of people looking to have fun, so bowls is a great way to relax, make new friends and feel part of your local community.

Many varieties to try

Not expensive

Perfect for all

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Coaching and Clubs

We have VI coaching available at any one of our listed clubs.

But we work with many clubs and associations to try and ensure you would be welcome at any club near to you.

If you need help with some advice and training at an alternative venue please get in touch. Our Team Manager visits clubs regular to train and coach. He often takes other VI players with him to assist.

We have developed an accredited course for Director training and this assists anyone willing to learn how to best assist and direct a VI bowler in their game.

International Success

Wales has a proud history of success at International level ( find out more here ) achieving its share of medals and titles over the years with representatives playing in National, International, World, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games Championships.

As Para bowls events continue to grow and gather momentum , their place in combined World and European Tournaments becomes more certain and the inclusion of our amazing sport is real.

The first Para European Championships took place September 2024 and was won by Wales. Gold for VI Mixed Pairs.

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VI Bowls Community

Bowls offers many opportunities to get involved. As a group each club offers weekly session and WAVIB offers events training and get together.

Outside of our associated clubs, many of our players join the indoor stadiums, play league games, join an outdoor club, play county and Welsh competitions.  There is so much on offer, competitively or just socially.

What is Visually Impaired Bowls?

Although Bowls has been around for centuries it was not until 1959 that people with a vision impairment were introduced to the game of bowling.

In those early days the VI bowler would be placed on the mat and instructed to bowl to the sound of the voice, the clapping of hands or the ringing of the bell from behind the jack.

Today the coaching system used is based on the 'clock' system and enables bowlers to play bowls in a more streamlined and efficient way.

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Congratulations, Llongyfarchiadau Emma Gittins and Ross Owen 👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Winning a BRONZE medal 🥉in the 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Great to have live streaming and live scoring to follow along, even if the weather didn’t want to play ball ( bowl 🤣)Well done both 👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀BRONZE MEDAL 🥉 MEDAL EFYDD 🥉Congratulations, Llongyfarchiadau Emma Gittins and Ross Owen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Photograph courtesy of Bowls Europe ... See MoreSee Less
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Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club hosted a fully inclusive test series over the weekend between Wales and Scotland and what a super 2 days of quality bowls it was.The live scoring that was available added to the excitement as all the scores from the Para, Men’s and Women’s disciples were combined together for one Welsh Team score.Day 1 saw 3 sessions of play and after 36 matches there were only 2 points separating the two teams. So all to play for on the last session. The final session proved to be really exciting as the test could go either way. With only 1 win separating the two nations, you could sense the tension. After an intense showdown with some games going right down to the wire, the lead changing hands constantly as both nations fought for points, it finished with Wales and Scotland tied on 52 points each.It then came down to shot difference and Scotland just managed to win their test series against Wales with a 2 point shot difference. How close was that after 48 games? Congratulations.Diolch i’r Alban, Thank you Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿It was a great series to be a part of, the first genuinely inclusive series hosted in Wales.Everyone who worked on this, you did a superb job and should be very proud 👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Well done.The game is certainly moving forward.John Wilson BowlsWales Welsh Lawn Bowls Disability Sport Wales International Bowls for the Disabled World Bowls Sporting HighlightsPictures courtesy of WLB and some of our team & supporters ... See MoreSee Less
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Great to have live scoring available over the next two days for the test match in Llandrindod.Live Scoring 👇llandrindod-bowling.co.uk/live.php ... See MoreSee Less
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Good luck 🍀 to all our players selected to represent Wales in the upcoming Test Match against Scotland this weekend🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿It will certainly be an exciting event featuring a full line-up of teams : Men's teamWomen's teamPara team (includes PD & VI)Please come and support your Welsh team at Llandrindod Wells B.C for this test match. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿John Wilson Disability Sport Wales Nathan Rhys Stephens @ ... See MoreSee Less
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Amazing news and the fact it includes para bowlers too. The sport continues to grow across the globe and becomes ever more inclusive. Well done everyone. The growth in para bowls is really positive and this growth will need a rethink on how qualification for events is achieved. It’s brilliant news that 6 spots in the Commonwealth Games is no longer enough. We have too many teams. Awesome news 👏👏👏 Well done International Bowls for the Disabled World Bowls and everyone 👍 ... See MoreSee Less
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2 months ago

Well what a very successful Welsh National Finals that was for inclusive bowls.It started on Saturday 9th with Julie Thomas ( a VI bowler ) playing lead for Port Talbot ladies in the Double Fours. 🥈Silver medal/Runners up 👏Then on to Thursday 14th with the Para Pairs and Triples Finals ( rounds had already been played ) With some super play and some tight games especially in the VI Pairs decided on the last end, it was a great day of competition.There was even a little live streaming 😀Full inclusion and a great welcome. Well done Llandrindod Wells Bowling ClubResults:#VI Pairs🥇Matt Thorne/Steffan James🥈Julie Thomas/Jon CoxPD Pairs🥇Rob Sawyers/Chris Spriggs🥈Paul Brown/Robbie ByrneILD Pairs🥇lan Kelleher/Antanas Schiastney🥈Leighton Frances/Cian RoweVI Triples🥇Julie Thomas/Steffan James/Jon Cox🥈Gareth Rowe/Mike Davies/Matt ThornePD Triples🥇Rob Sawyers/Steve Potter/Chris Spriggs🥈Paul Brown/Liam Walker/Robbie ByrneILD Triples🥇Simon Bould/Robert Parker/Sean Thackwray🥈Daniel Jones/Cian Rowe/Warren DaviesBut that wasn’t enough. Still a little more to come. Finishing off with Chris Spriggs( a PD bowler )playing lead for Havelock Park in the Fours.🥈 Silver medal/Runners up 👏What a great finals week 👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Thank you to all who made this such a great finals 👏👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿From the players, directors, the supporters, everyone behind the scenes who work tirelessly, often unseen and without thanks. All at Llandrindod BC and at Welsh Lawn Bowls and of course our team manager John Wilson who is feeling incredibly proud.Great work everyone. See you next year 😀👍Please check out the great 📷courtesy of Sporting Highlights belowBowlsWales Disability Sport Wales International Bowls for the Disabled World Bowls Nathan Rhys Stephens Bowls International ... See MoreSee Less
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