Jamie basks in world championship glory

It was a day of celebration and pride when Jamie Stiles returned to work at National Grid Electricity Distribution – as a newly crowned world champion.

The Engineering Specialist was greeted with a cake from colleagues to mark his sporting glory at the World Short Mat Bowls Championships in Scotland.

Jamie was part of the triumphant Welsh Triples team which beat their English counterparts 10-7 in a tense final.

“It feels great,” said West Wales-based Jamie. “We managed to play a good last end and come away with the win. “In any form of competition you always want to win, and to win the biggest competition of all feels brilliant.”

Belying the stereotypical age profile of bowls players, one of Jamie’s team mates was just 16 while the oldest player in the Welsh squad was 39.

Bowls could be in the blood for Jamie who followed in his mother and grandmother’s footsteps when he took up the sport in 2006. He progressed to play for his country at under-21 level and this was his third appearance representing Wales at the world championships, something he describes as a huge honour.

Welcoming Jamie back to work, West Wales Distribution Manager Ryan Davies said: “We’re thrilled for Jamie’s success! To have a world champion at the Llanfi Depot is something that deserves to be celebrated even though Jamie did not want any fuss!

“It is a fantastic achievement that he should be proud of because I know all his colleagues are extremely proud of him. Fingers crossed he can bring it home in 2024!”

Jamie will be aiming to defend his title with his team mates at the world championships in Belfast next March.