WAYNE Simmonds has celebrated a stellar year in which he rewrote the Wiltshire men’s bowls record books, writes Dave Eaton.

The 29 year old, the Holt club secretary, became the first player in county history to win all four men’s major championship titles – singles, pairs, triples and fours – since they began when the Wiltshire Men’s Association was formed in 1914.

Simmonds achieved his feat at the championships at Devizes last month and celebrated at Wiltshire Men’s centenary dinner and presentation evening at the Assembly Hall, Melksham.

The Trowbridge-born bowler combined with Justin Davis, Wayne Snook and Ben Gadd to take the fours, won the triples with Snook and Gadd and also joined up with club colleague Gary Potton to successfully defend the secretary’s and treasurer’s event.

His winning streak continued on the second day as he beat holder Mel Biggs (Westlecot) 21-10 to win the singles, then teamed up with Snook to win the pairs.

“It was very pleasing to win all those titles and to make Wiltshire history,” said Simmonds.

“But it would not have been possible without Wayne (Snook) and Ben (Gadd) who have also had successful seasons and they have played a big part in my achievements this season outdoors.”

The former Walwayne Court Primary School, and John of Gaunt School pupil in Trowbridge, who also studied at Trowbridge College, Simmonds currently works for the NHS, primarily based in Bath.

“I played my first bowls match in 2001 for Trowbridge Town BC against Blue Circle in a mixed friendly and played there until joining Holt in 2008,’’ said Simmonds.

“I think bowls was in my blood, as my mum (Sue) started playing when she was in her teens at Malmesbury, where she went on to play Johns Trophy for Wiltshire and won the ladies unbadged singles in 1983.

“My dad, Mike, also played bowls from a young age and my nan, auntie and uncle, have also played at some point Simmonds’ grandad, Cecil Exton, was a respected bowler in Wiltshire for many years and is a life member at Malmesbury BC.”

He added: “The year I was born, my granddad, dad and uncle played together in the national fours, qualifying for Worthing and reaching the third round. You could say I was born into a bowls family.

“I have always had lots of support and advice from them over the years.’’ Simmonds also won the Bath open tournament pairs with his dad in 2006 and in his last year at Trowbridge Town in 2007 won the county U25 singles.

He won that title again the following year at Holt, the triples championship in 2010 and was runner-up in both 2008 and 2011 finals.

He has made 34 Middleton Cup appearances for Wiltshire and has competed in the national championships, representing Trowbridge once and Holt six times at Worthing and six times at Leamington this year.

He also met his girlfriend Sarah Gould, a science teacher at St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, through bowls. with her father Norman, playing at Amesbury BC. The couple now live in Warminster.

Simmonds added: “I don’t think I would have achieved what I did this year and played as well as I have if it wasn’t for Sarah’s support and encouragement through the season.”

He was presented with his trophies at the presentation evening, which was Dave Richards’ (Trowbridge Westbourne) last function as the county president before handing over the men’s county chain of office to Supermarine’s Richard Gardiner, the president for 2015.

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