Experienced Welsh international bowlers Chris Ashman and Anwen Butten announced as Welsh Team Managers for the 2023 outdoor season. Both are seasoned international players themselves having medalled at European and Commonwealth Games respectively.

Chris Ashman began his bowling career at the age of 6 but states that he “was not allowed to play my first game for Porthcawl until I was 10.” Since then he has gone on to represent Wales at numerous events winning individual and combination titles at national, international and European level. He noted that his biggest achievement within his bowling career “would be winning the Carruthers Club Championship shield twice as it means so much to club individuals to compete at national level.”

Chris’ role will include overseeing the Junior, Senior and World Bowls Men’s side for the coming season. He notes that “it’s a huge honour to follow in the footsteps of the previous team managers, many of whom I’ve looked up to over the years.” He hopes to encourage young talent into a growing Welsh side. Looking forward towards the World Bowls Championships Chris feels that the team has a great chance of medalling and hopes that the new International Series format of “Super 10”, will provide experience to the players as well as a Junior Internationals on home soil. Chris looks forward to working alongside the new ladies manager, Anwen Butten as well as Stephen Rees and John Wilson as they look to grow the status of Welsh Bowls.

Anwen Butten is notably one of Wales’ greatest female bowlers having attended and medalled at all major outdoor bowling events. She started bowling almost forty years ago at Lampeter Bowling Club and has since gone on to win county, national, British Isles, Atlantic, World and Commonwealth medals. Last summer Anwen was selected for her sixth Commonwealth Games, where she also became the first bowler to be selected as overall team captain for the whole of Team Wales.

Anwen announced her retirement from major championships but says she is “excited to be giving back to bowls”. She hopes her wealth of bowling and coaching experience will hold her in good stead and is driven to lead the ladies team to further success. Anwen is looking forward to working alongside the other managers in the build up to this years events. Anwen will manage Under 18, Under 25, Senior and World Bowls teams for the coming year.