 | |
| Sport | Bowls |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Wales |
| Abbreviation | WLB |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Affiliation | World Bowls |
| Secretary | Chris Gilmour |
| (founded) | 1904 |
| Official website | |
| www | |
 | |
Welsh Lawn Bowls (WLB) is the governing body for outdoor bowling clubs in Wales. The organisation is responsible for the promotion and development of lawn bowls in Wales, and is affiliated with the world governing body World Bowls. [1]
The Welsh Bowling Association was founded in 1904 but suffered with only 19 affiliated clubs. However following the Coal Industry Commission Act 1919, a Miners' Welfare Fund was set up, which included the provision of recreational facilities for miners and steelworkers. The sport experienced a boom with affiliated bowls clubs rising from 43 to 152. [2] The Welsh National Bowls Championships were inaugurated in 1919 and the Welsh Women's Bowling Association was formed in March 1932. [3]
In 1958 Cardiff hosted the Lawn bowls at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
In 2008, the Welsh Bowling Association was based at Llanishen in Cardiff [4] and comprised 10 affiliated counties and 286 affiliated clubs. The WBA organised competitions, including the county championship, and selected and manages the national side. [5] [6] Also in 2008, the Welsh Women's Bowling Association was based at Knighton, Powys. [4]
Notably, at the 2009 Atlantic Bowls Championships in Johannesburg, the Welsh women's team finished first. [7] [8] [9]
In December 2023, the Welsh Bowling Association and the Welsh Women's Bowling Association merged to become Welsh Lawn Bowls. [10]
Wales Rugby League is the national governing body for rugby league football in Wales.
The Sport Wales National Centre is a sports facility in Cardiff, Wales, set up to assist the development of elite athletes in Wales. The Centre, owned and operated by Sport Wales, was established by the then Sports Council for Wales in 1971 as the National Sports Centre for Wales. Renamed the Welsh Institute of Sport in 1994, it has been known as the Sport Wales National Centre since April 2010.
Sport Wales is the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales. Working alongside partners such as governing bodies of sport and local authorities, they aim to encourage sporting ambitions in the young and promote championship standards nationally.
Sport in Cardiff is dictated by, amongst other things, its position as the capital city of Wales, meaning that national home sporting fixtures are nearly always played in the city. All of Wales' multi-sports agencies and many of the country's sports governing bodies have their headquarters in Cardiff and the city's many top-quality venues have attracted world-famous sport events, sometimes unrelated to Cardiff or to Wales.
Welsh Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Wales. It was set up as a limited company in 2007, replacing the former Athletic Association of Wales. Welsh Athletics is part of UK Athletics, the national governing body for the sport in the United Kingdom.
Badminton Wales is the national governing body for badminton in Wales. Formed in 1928 as The Welsh Badminton Union, in 1934 it was one of the founder members of the Badminton World Federation. WBU became a member of the European Badminton Union in 1968. Over 90 senior clubs are affiliated to Welsh Badminton Union, and its membership is nearly 4000.
Basketball Wales is the sole controller and the national governing body of all aspects of the game of basketball in Wales. It is responsible for the management of the Basketball Wales National League, the national teams and for the organisation of all national and international basketball competitions held in Wales.
The Welsh Bowls Federation (WBF) is an umbrella partnership body comprising representatives from the four national governing bodies: the Welsh Lawn Bowls; the Welsh Indoor Bowls; the Welsh Short Mat Bowls Association; Welsh Crown Green Bowling Association. The two service bodies; The Welsh Bowls Coaching Association and Welsh Bowls Umpires Association are also represented. The WBF has 670 affiliated clubs and over 25,000 members.
The Welsh Crown Green Bowling Association (WCGBA), founded 1927, is the national governing body for crown green bowling in Wales. The WCGBA organise competitions, including the Welsh Club Championship, and select and manage the national side.
The Welsh Indoor Bowls (WIB) is the governing body for the indoor bowling clubs in Wales. It has 24 affiliated clubs. The WBA organise competitions, including the WIBA Club Championship, and select and manage the national side.
The Welsh Cricket Association (WCA) is the governing body of Welsh amateur cricket. It also runs the Welsh Cup and convenes the Welsh Coaching Forum. The WCA aims to promote, encourage, and improve amateur cricket in Wales, and to encourage and develop active participation in the game. Over 270 counties, associations, leagues and clubs are affiliated to the WCA.
Welsh Fencing is the national governing body of fencing in Wales. In 2003 it had 34 affiliated clubs, with 260 adult and 559 junior members. Welsh Fencing organises competitions including the Welsh Open, and is responsible for the selection and management of the Wales representative squad, who compete in the Winton Cup and the Commonwealth Games. At the European and World Championships Welsh fencers represent Great Britain, if selected.
The Welsh Judo Association is the governing body for the sport of judo in Wales. The WJA has 80 affiliated clubs and over 2,400 members. It is responsible for managing the Welsh Performance Squads the National Coach selects the Welsh national team to compete in international events. Double judo Olympic silver medallist Neil Adams is a former WJA National Coach.
Wales Netball, formally registered as the Wales Netball Association, is the national governing body for netball in Wales and was founded in 1945. Wales Netball is responsible for national championships, Wales national netball team selection, international matches, the training and development of players, coaches and umpires and for the Sport Wales National Centre Netball Academy, Cardiff.
The Welsh Pétanque Association is the governing body for the sport of pétanque in Wales. The WPA is affiliated to the Confédération Européenne de Pétanque (CEP) and the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP). It aims to promote the sport's development for all people in Wales. The Welsh Pétanque Association organises competition at national and international level, including League and National Competitions and the Welsh Cup for Clubs—the winning club qualifying for the EuroCup —and is responsible for the selection of the Wales national squads, who compete in international events including the Celtic Challenge, European Championships and World Championships.
Squash Wales is the national governing body of squash in Wales. It has 121 affiliated clubs and is a member of the World Squash Federation and the European Squash Federation. Squash Wales is responsible for the administration of all aspects of the game including clubs, regional and national leagues, player development and the selection and management of the international squad for competitions, including the European Team Championships and the World Championships. Recent success for the Wales team includes the Bronze medal won in the European Team Championships in Malmö, which was the 14th European Team medal won by Wales in all ages since 1997. The Wales team won a world silver medal in 1999.
Underwater Hockey Wales is responsible for underwater hockey in Wales. It is the association representing British Octopush Association (BOA) clubs based in Wales. Underwater Hockey Wales is affiliated to the Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs – the national governing body for underwater sports in Wales, comprising scuba diving, underwater hockey, and snorkelling.
The Table Tennis Association of Wales (TTAW) is the national governing body of table tennis in Wales. It is affiliated to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the European Table Tennis Union, and was a founding member of both organisations—in 1926 and 1956 respectively.
Tennis Wales (Welsh: Tennis Cymru) is the national governing body for tennis in Wales. It is part of the British tennis governing body, the Lawn Tennis Association. It was founded as the Welsh Lawn Tennis Association (WLTA) in 1887.