David John BryantCBE (27 October 1931 – 27 August 2020) was a three-timesWorld (outdoors) singles bowls champion (in 1966, 1980 and 1988), a three-timesWorld indoors singles champion (in 1979, 1980 and 1981) and a four timesCommonwealth Games singles gold medallist.[1] He is generally considered to be the greatest bowler of all time,[2] winning 19 World and Commonwealth gold medals in total.[3][4]
Born into a bowling dynasty, his grandfather was a founder member of the Clevedon Bowling Club in Chapel Hill, Clevedon, North Somerset. His father, Reginald Bryant, won three national fours rinks titles. David joined the club when he was 16 and during his first season with the club he won the Clevedon Bowls handicap.
He won the inauguralWorld Outdoor singles title atKyeemagh in 1966[5] and went on to win fivegold medals (three singles, one triples and one team). He won eleven medals in total (three more silver and three more bronze), from 1966 until 1988.
Bryant claimed a double gold medal at the1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth in both thesingles and fours. This was the catalyst for four singles gold medals and five gold Commonwealth Games gold medals in total. The singles golds were in1962,1970,1974 and1978. No bowls competition was held at the1966 Commonwealth Games which arguably stopped Bryant from winning a fifth.[4]
Bryant also reached legendary status indoors after winning nine World Championships, three in singles and six in the pairs withTony Allcock.[6]
Bryant also helped his county win the Middleton Cup on numerous occasions, where among his Somerset teammates was former Scottish League international footballerBobby Black.[7]
In addition to the Middleton Cup victories he was crownedNational Champion on 16 occasions for Somerset.[8][9][10][11]
In the1969 New Year Honours, Bryant was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to bowls.[12] He was promoted toCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the1980 Birthday Honours, again for services to bowls.[13]
Bryant was born inClevedon,North Somerset, on 27 October 1931 and died on 27 August 2020, aged 88.[14] He was famous for smoking atobacco pipe whilst playing,[3] and in 1986 was honoured with the award forPipe Smoker of the Year. His father Reginald Bryant won three National fours/rinks titles.
Bryant wrote many books on the subject of bowls, including:
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