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Sian Honnor sets sights on Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham next year
06:00, 08 June 2021
England bowler Sian Honnor wants to give herself something to write about by landing a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year.
The 33-year-old is the editor of Bowls International magazine and aiming to make it to her fourth consecutive Games to add to her tally of one gold and two bronze medals.
The 2014 women’s triples gold medallist in Glasgow also commentates on the sport for the BBC and is desperate to experience the unbeatable feeling of standing next to her mates on the podium again.
Speaking at the Bowls Big Weekend where over 600 clubs opened their doors for newcomers to the sport, Kent ace Honnor said: “Standing next to my team-mates, who are good friends, on the podium having won a medal - there’s not much that can beat that.
“I’ve been very lucky to play at three Commonwealth Games and this next outdoor season is fundamental for me personally, as I’m trying to get in the England team for Birmingham next year.
“I feel like every time I play it’s so important that I play well and just do my best to see if I’m good enough to make the grade.
“I’d love to be selected because my children are at an age now where they can come and watch which would be amazing alongside my family. I want it as much as everyone else does.
“This is the strongest team I’ve been in since I’ve been involved with a really good mix of age and experience and whoever gets picked has a hell of a chance of coming away with lots of medals.”
Mum-of-three Honnor believes home advantage, with the lawn bowls taking place at Leamington Spa, will be a huge help as England strive for success.
“The more time we can spend on those greens at Leamington, which we will do in the coming months, it will be a massive advantage for us,” she added.
“We need to go out there and play to the best of our ability and anyone who plays at the home Games is so lucky that their friends and family will be able to come and watch them.”
Honnor - who met her husband playing the game - is keen to be the female role model needed to help bring young girls into the sport and explained the era of white skirts and flat brown bowls shoes is over.
She said: “There are fewer women that play bowls and it's really important for me to get women in.
“Girls tend to drop off with sport generally around the teenage years so it’s crucial to get them in with a group of their peers to keep them in our sport.
“We are getting the message across that the days of the white skirts and the flat brown bowl shoes are thankfully long behind us.
“Even when I started you had to wear a certain shade of tights and that didn’t help with the image or retaining players.
“But once people are in and they can see what a fun and sociable game it is, perceptions start to change, and they tell their friends who come down for a drink.
“Bowlers are good people and clubs are great places to be.”
Find your nearest participating club at www.bowlsbigweekend.com
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