David Bryant (bowls) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
David Bryant
CBE

Personal information
Nationality	English
Born	(1931-10-27)27 October 1931 Clevedon, North Somerset, England
Died	27 August 2020(2020-08-27) (aged 88)
Sport
Sport	Bowls
Club	Clevedon
Medal record Representing  England Men's Bowls World Outdoor Bowls Championships Gold 1966 Kyeemagh Singles Bronze 1966 Kyeemagh Pairs Bronze 1976 Johannesburg Singles Silver 1976 Johannesburg Triples Silver 1976 Johannesburg Team Gold 1980 Frankston Singles Gold 1980 Frankston Triples Gold 1980 Frankston Team Bronze 1984 Aberdeen Singles Gold 1988 Auckland Singles Silver 1988 Auckland Pairs Commonwealth Games Gold 1962 Perth Singles Gold 1962 Perth Fours Gold 1970 Edinburgh Singles Gold 1974 Christchurch Singles Gold 1978 Edmonton Singles World Indoor Bowls Championships Gold 1979 Coatbridge Singles Gold 1980 Coatbridge Singles Gold 1981 Coatbridge Singles Gold 1986 Bournemouth Pairs Silver 1987 Coatbridge Singles Gold 1987 Bournemouth Pairs Gold 1989 Preston Pairs Gold 1990 Preston Pairs Gold 1991 Preston Pairs Gold 1992 Preston Pairs Silver 1993 Preston Pairs Silver 1995 Preston Pairs British Isles Championships Gold 1961 singles Gold 1972 singles Gold 1973 singles Gold 1974 singles Gold 1966 pairs Gold 1975 pairs Gold 1986 triples Gold 1970 fours Gold 1972 fours

David John Bryant CBE (27 October 1931 – 27 August 2020) was a three-times World (outdoors) singles bowls champion (in 1966, 1980 and 1988), a three-times World indoors singles champion (in 1979, 1980 and 1981) and a four times Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist. He is generally considered to be the greatest bowler of all time, winning 19 World and Commonwealth gold medals in total.

The beginning

Born into a bowling dynasty, his grandfather was a founder member of the Clevedon Bowling Club in Chapel Hill, Clevedon, North Somerset. His father, Reginald Bryant, won three national fours rinks titles. David joined the club when he was 16 and during his first season with the club he won the Clevedon Bowls handicap.

Bowls career

World Outdoor Championships

He won the inaugural World Outdoor singles title at Kyeemagh in 1966 and went on to win five gold medals (three singles, one triples and one team). He won eleven medals in total (three more silver and three more bronze), from 1966 until 1988.

Commonwealth Games

Bryant claimed a double gold medal at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth in both the singles and fours. This was the catalyst for four singles gold medals and five gold Commonwealth Games gold medals in total. The singles golds were in 1962, 1970, 1974 and 1978. No bowls competition was held at the 1966 Commonwealth Games which arguably stopped Bryant from winning a fifth.

World Indoor Championships

Bryant also reached legendary status indoors after winning nine World Championships, three in singles and six in the pairs with Tony Allcock.

National

Bryant also helped his county win the Middleton Cup on numerous occasions, where among his Somerset teammates was former Scottish League international footballer Bobby Black.

In addition to the Middleton Cup victories he was crowned National Champion on 16 occasions for Somerset.

• Singles - 1960, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
• Pairs - 1965, 1969, 1970
• Triples - 1966, 1977, 1985
• Fours - 1957, 1968, 1969, 1971

Awards

In the 1969 New Year Honours, Bryant was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to bowls. He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours, again for services to bowls.

Personal life

Bryant was born in Clevedon, North Somerset, on 27 October 1931 and died on 27 August 2020, aged 88. He was famous for smoking a tobacco pipe whilst playing, and in 1986 was honoured with the award for Pipe Smoker of the Year. His father Reginald Bryant won three National fours/rinks titles.

See also

In Spanish: David John Bryant para niños

• List of Bowls England champions