Paul Brown (Wales), President International Bowls for the Disabled 2020-2025
The Executive Committee recently notified member nations and affiliated organisations that Paul Brown (Wales) was standing down as President at the end of March 2025 and will leave the organisation following a transitional handover.
The Executive Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul personally for the hard work and dedication he has given to the development and growth of International Bowls for the Disabled and para bowls generally during his involvement with the organisation.
Paul has been exemplary in his role as President and has been a vocal and active proponent of para bowls throughout his time with International Bowls for the Disabled. This has included supporting the development of emergent nations into para bowls and the modernisation of the organisation.
Paul made his Commonwealth Games debut at Glasgow 2014 representing Team England where he won a bronze medal in the para lawn bowls event. He subsequently went on to represent Team England as competitor and athlete ambassador for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.
In 2022 Paul made his third appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham representing Wales in the Men’s Para Pairs with his playing partner Chris Spriggs. Paul started playing para lawn bowls at the age of 28 before going on to hold a number of voluntary roles in para bowls including the treasurer at the British Wheelchair Bowls Association, captaining Englands Wheelchair Bowls Team and as Executive at Large Committee Member of International Bowls for the Disabled before becoming President in 2020.
Paul has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of para bowls throughout this period and the Executive Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul for his hard work. We look forward to welcoming Paul and his para colleagues from Bowls Wales to future International Bowls for the Disabled competitions and events and wish him the very best for all his future ventures.
Executive Committee International Bowls for the Disabled
Hearty congratulations to the winners:
Darron Wolland winning the Singles match up 21-15 over Peter Horne
Bruce Sayers and Lawrence Wickliffe for winning the pairs 18-10 over Geoffrey Caseldine and Snow Reardon.
Enjoy a few cold ones! Safe travels home!
After over 20 years as Head Classifier for International Bowls for the disabled, Sheila Corcoran will be standing down . The IBD Board went through the process of advertising the position and appointing her replacement. Sheila, thank you for all your hard work. We sincerely appreciate all your efforts.
The board are happy to announce that June McIntyre, International Medical Classifier for South Africa, will take on the role of Head Classifier, after a hand over period from Sheila.Professor Kim Mi Jung, International Medical Classifier from South Korea, will assist June, looking after the Asian region. Both will have a seat on the International Bowls for the Disabled Board. Asia is a fast growing region in regard to IBD, so it is opportune to have a representative from that area on the board.The goal is to eventually have Regional Classifiers for all the different World Sport Regions (e.g. Africa, Europe, North America etc.)Both June and Mi Jung have extensive experience in both classifying bowlers and training new classifiers. Please make them welcome in their new roles.Sheila will remain the Regional International Medical Classifier for Oceania.
For the next couple of months, please send all queries and new classifications to both Sheila and June, until the hand over is complete. The aim is for the hand over to be complete by the start of 2025.
June’s email address is juneash@mweb.co.zaMi Jung’s email address is kimmjreh@hanyang.ac.kr
International Bowls for the Disabled are saddened to announce the passing of a stalwart, longtime supporter and past President of International Bowls for the Disabled Brian Sneag. Brian also previously held the position of Manager for the Team South Africa Disabled Bowls Commonwealth Games Squad and was Past President of the International Blind Bowls Association amongst many other achievements within the sport.
Brian was extremely successful in his professional life of Optometry in various capacities including Chairperson of the Professional Board ( two terms) , President of SAOA ( two terms) and Ombudsman for initially ten years , amongst others. Brian continued to serve the profession as Ombudsman in recent years until his passing. Over the Years, Brian, deservedly , received various accolades including Life President award and more recently, the Centennial Life Achievement award.
Jan Palazzi, Executive Officer for IBD, recently met Brian with IBD Head of Classifications Sheila Corcoran at the 2024 World Championship’s in South Africa and recognised Brian’s immense contribution to the sport he loved over many years;
“Brian was such a lovely and caring man, and welcomed me with open arms into the IBD family. He will be missed and remembered by many.”
Brian ,whose legacy and memory lives on , will be greatly missed by the sport and all his friends and colleagues at International Bowls for the Disabled. The thoughts and condolences of everyone at IBD are with Brian’s family, friends, colleagues and fellow bowlers at this time.
R.I.P.
