Local bowls duo Daphne Arthur-Almond and Cecil Alexander represented the Falkland Islands in the inaugural World Indoor Bowls Championship this week. The competitors went head to head against teams from 36 countries. A total of 64 competitors took part.

In the mixed doubles, the pair defeated Namibia before losing to Thailand and England. They finished in third place for the group. In the women’s singles, Daphne finished fourth in her group after coming up against Gloria Ha of Hong Kong, Colleen Piketh of South Africa, and Rose Ogier of Guernsey. Cecil lost to defending World Champion Gary Kelly, from Ireland, and Mohamad Fairus Abd. Jabal, from Malaysia, but finished on a positive note by beating Hank Veenstra of the Netherlands. In his men’s singles group, he finished third.

This comes ahead of the Falkland Islands Bowls team looking to take part in the Commonwealth in July-August this year.

Although the pair might not have made it through, they impressed organisers, with Gary Smith, the Chief Executive of World Bowls, saying, “We’re delighted that the Falklands Islands are here – [they’re] one of our development members of World Bowls. It just shows you, all you people in the Falkland Islands – get down to that bowls club. That could be you competing in a world championship one day.”