Chepstow bowls champ is chip off old block (From Free Press Series)

Chepstow bowls champ is chip off old block

5:10pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Sport

A CHEPSTOW man whose father managed the Scottish bowling team at the Commonwealth Games is making a name for himself with a major success.

Mike Dick, 44, claimed the Welsh Indoor Bowls Association Open Singles title, to the delight of his proud family.

The dad-of-two saw off stiff competition, first beating Chris Lewis from Llandrindod Wells 21-15 and then Dai Prosser from the Cynon Valley 21-9 at the Islwyn Indoor Bowls Club.

The success on February 2 was even more notable as, due to work commitments for packaging giant Ardagh, Chepstow Bowling Club member Mr Dick only gets to practise once or twice a week.

He comes from a family of enthusiasts in the sport.

Dad Robert, 73, managed the Scottish bowling team at the 2002 Manchester and 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games while his mum Ann, sister Fiona, 39, and brother Kenneth have been known to take to arenas in their native Scotland.

Mr Dick, who has lived in Chepstow with wife Lorna, 47, and their two boys for the past 11 years, now goes forward to represent Wales in April’s World Indoor Championships in Jersey.

He will also play for his country at the British Isles Indoor Championships at Stanley in March 2014.

“It’s a national title, it was the one I wanted to win so I was delighted. My father started me off in bowls so I know what it meant to him,” said Mr Dick, who was named Welsh Champion of Champions in 2010.

Mr Dick’s wife was ill with the flu, so unfortunately missed her husband’s win.

“I couldn’t believe it. I am massively proud of what he achieved,” she said.