John Watson (bowls)

John Watson

Personal information
Nationality	British (Scottish)
Born	(1945-11-22) 22 November 1945 (age 80)
Sport
Sport	Lawn and indoor bowls
Club	Foxley BC, Glasgow
Medal record Representing   Scotland Commonwealth Games 1982 Brisbane Men's pairs World Indoor Bowls Championships 1982 Coatbridge Men's singles

John Watson (born 22 November 1945) is a former lawn and indoor bowler from Scotland who competed at the Commonwealth Games.

Biography

Watson came to prominence in 1975 after winning the Scottish indoor junior singles title. Three years later he defeated Jim Blake in the Scottish National singles final ^{[1] [2] [3]} and then won his first international indoor cap in 1979.

Watson won the 1982 World Indoor Bowls Championship but refused to accept his prize money so that he could compete in the 1982 Commonwealth Games. ^{[4] [5]}

He subsequently represented the Scottish team at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia, ^[6] where he competed in the apirs event, with David Gourlay Sr.. ^[7] His decision to compete in the Commonwealth Games proved fruitful because he won the pairs gold medal. ^{[8] [9]}

References

1. "Watson overwhelms holder in National bowls title". The Glasgow Herald.
2. "Previous Winners". Bowls Scotland. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
3. Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 27–29. ISBN   0-85112-414-3.
4. "Scots go for gold in a rush" . Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. 8 October 1982. Retrieved 28 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
5. Newby, Donald (1987). Daily Telegraph Bowls Yearbook 88. Telegraph Publications. ISBN   0-86367-220-5.
6. "Scotland Brisbane 1982". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
7. "Scots pick 100 for Australia" . Belfast Telegraph. 16 August 1982. p. 16. Retrieved 4 January 2026– via British Newspaper Archive.
8. Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls the Records. Guinness Superlatives. ISBN   0-85112-414-3.
9. "Commonwealth Games Medallists Bowls". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 4 January 2026.