David Bryant (bowls)

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = David Bryant
{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}}}

| image =

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| nationality = British (English)

| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|10|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Clevedon, North Somerset, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|08|27|1931|10|27|df=y}}

| death_place =

| sport = Bowls

| club = Clevedon BC

| medaltemplates =

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David John Bryant {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|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.{{cite web|url=https://bowlstawa.nz/titles/players/titles/2273|title=Profile|publisher=Bowls tawa}} He is generally considered to be the greatest bowler of all time,{{cite news |title=David Bryant obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/aug/30/david-bryant-obituary |access-date=30 August 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Peter |last=Mason |date=30 August 2020}} winning 19 World and Commonwealth gold medals in total.{{cite web|url=https://www.bowlsengland.com/obituary-david-j-bryant-cbe-somerset/|title=OBITUARY: DAVID J. BRYANT CBE (SOMERSET)|website=Bowls England|date=27 August 2020 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1061126/david-bryant-wins-a-fourth-consecutive-lawn-bowls-singles-title-at-edmonton-1978|title=David Bryant wins a fourth consecutive lawn bowls singles title at Edmonton 1978|publisher=Inside the Games}}

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{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Patrick|title=Guinness Bowls Records|year=1986|publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd|isbn=0-85112-414-3}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://somersetbowls.org.uk/david-bryant-cbe/|title=David Bryant CBE|publisher=Somerset Bowls}}

= 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.[http://www.qosfc.com/AboutUs/QueensLegends/tabid/115/Default.aspx Bobby Black interview] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226000000/http://www.qosfc.com/AboutUs/QueensLegends/tabid/115/Default.aspx |date=26 February 2009 }}

In addition to the Middleton Cup victories he was crowned National Champion on 16 occasions for Somerset.{{cite web|url=https://www.bowlsengland.com/about-us/past-records|title=Past Records|publisher=Bowls England}}{{cite book|last=Hawkes/Lindley|first=Ken/Gerard|title=the Encyclopaedia of Bowls|year=1974|publisher=Robert Hale and Company|isbn=0-7091-3658-7}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19600820/096/0017 |title=Bowls |work=Daily Mirror |date=20 August 1960 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=23 August 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19720826/293/0030 |title=Avenger Bryant Makes History |work=Daily Mirror |date=26 August 1972 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=19 August 2024}}

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.United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=44740 |date=20 December 1968 |pages=14 |supp=y}} He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours, again for services to bowls.UK: {{London Gazette |issue=48212 |date=13 June 1980 |pages=8 |supp=y}}

Personal life

Bryant was born in Clevedon, North Somerset, on 27 October 1931 and died on 27 August 2020, aged 88.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/bowls/53931692|title=David Bryant: Winner of multiple world bowls titles dies aged 88|website=BBC Sport |date=27 August 2020 |access-date=29 August 2020}} 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.

Bibliography

Bryant wrote many books on the subject of bowls, including:

Bryant on Bowls — Outdoor & Indoor 1966 {{ISBN|0-304-93687-1}}
Bowl with Bryant 1984 {{ISBN|0-00-218025-1}}
The Game of Bowls (co-authored with David Rhys Jones) 1990 {{ISBN|1-85225-101-8}}
Bowl to Win (co-authored with Tony Allcock) 1994 {{ISBN|0-00-218523-7}}