THERE’S a new reason to be bowled over at Victoria Park in Leamington.
A special plaque to commemorate the Commonwealth Games has been unveiled at the Lawn Bowls Pavilion.
The wooden plague, gifted to Warwick District Council by the Games organisers, was unveiled by Lawn Bowls Women’s Triples Gold Medallist Jamie-Lea Winch and Para Men’s B6-B8 Pairs Bronze Medallist Craig Bowler.
WDC Leader Coun Andrew Day said: “What a special moment to have Jamie-Lea and Craig return to Leamington’s Bowling Greens, where they won Commonwealth Games medals last summer, to unveil this commemorative plaque.
“Our Games legacy is not only seen in projects such as the improvements made to Victoria Park and the renovation of the Bowls Club House and Greens, as well as the Station forecourt and underpass. It also lives on through the lives that were touched and the happy memories that were shared when the world joined us for this amazing sporting spectacle, which adds yet more lustre to our town’s rich history.”
Jamie-Lea Winch said: “2022 was an incredible year for the Midlands and, in particular Leamington, where Victoria Park took centre stage to hold one of the biggest tournaments in bowls. Being fairly local myself and growing up playing bowls at Leamington, it will always be a very special place to me.
“Hopefully, Team England’s success at the Games has inspired people to give bowls a go, and with the improvements made as part of B2022, there is no better time to do so. A massive thank you to everyone at Victoria Park and the surrounding areas for letting us use your first-class facilities.”
Craig Bowler continued: “To win a bronze medal at Victoria Park in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was a great honour. And to be part of the plaque unveiling is a pleasure for me. I can’t thank them enough for letting the Commonwealth team take their bowls club over. Thank you from all of us from Bowls England.”
Sarah Windrum, Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The legacy from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is there for everyone to see every day in the wider public realm improvements in Leamington as well as the infrastructure changes to Victoria Park for bowlers to enjoy.
“Last summer was a really special time for the area with the wide range of Commonwealth Games sporting and cultural events having a lasting impact on so many people throughout the region.”
Following the event, a short mat bowls event took place for guests to try bowls.
