Episode 68 of What a Load of Bowls sees Simon and DJ back behind the microphones discussing plenty of action happening around the bowls world.

The lads dive into a series of major announcements from World Bowls, including regional qualifiers for the 2027 World Championships and a significant step towards Olympic recognition through collaboration with the World Petanque and Boules Federation.

They also take a look at the updated World Bowls Series rankings, highlight the upcoming World Bowls Indoor Championships, and discuss what it all means for the global growth of the sport.

Closer to home, the conversation turns to the TAB Platinum Pennant competition, with a full wrap of the opening rounds and how the ladder is shaping up early in the season.

Plus:

NSW representative trial squads announced

The massive Cabramatta 100K event and its incredible new trophy

Bowls popping up in places like Namibia and Bali

The realities of playing bowls in extreme heat

Simon also shares updates on The Bowls Academy and the growing interest from clubs looking for player development and advisory support.

As always, the bias is strong, the banter is stronger, and there’s plenty happening around the greens.

🎧 Listen now and stay up to date with everything happening in the world of bowls.

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🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
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📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
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Platinum Pennant 3 is here… and we’re breaking it all down.

In Episode 67 of What A Load of Bowls, DJ Dilworth and Simon Lyttle preview the 2026 Platinum Pennant season (PP3), including:

The two new teams entering the competition

The new positional swap rule and what it means tactically

Full squad analysis from bottom to top

Home-green advantages and key matchups

Dark horse predictions

Our Top 5 calls (and Simon’s Bottom 4 👀)

We also touch on:

BPL finals

Malaysia’s rise on the international stage

Commonwealth Games selection headaches

The ongoing bowls shoe debate

And yes… the foot fault conversation returns.

This one’s a proper deep dive into elite domestic bowls.

Grab a coffee and settle in.

Don’t forget to join the Platinum Pennant tipping comp.

Bowls BSW PP3 trailer video... https://www.facebook.com/reel/1423539869277507

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

In Part 2 of our conversation with Welsh bowls icon Robert Weale, we go deep into the big questions shaping the future of the sport and reflect on one of the most remarkable international careers bowls has ever seen.

Rob shares honest insights on:

The Commonwealth Games move indoors and what it means for elite selection

Sets play vs traditional formats - what’s gained and what’s lost

The realities of the World Bowls Tour, Potters, and global participation

Why bowls still has a genuine Olympic opportunity and what must change

His decision to step away from international representation

Life after retirement, leadership roles, and giving back to the game

Being inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame and the inaugural World Bowls Hall of Fame

This episode is reflective, honest, and full of perspective from someone who has seen every level of the game, competed under the highest pressure, and still cares deeply about where bowls is heading next.

If you love bowls or care about its future, this is essential listening.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of What A Load of Bowls, DJ and Simon sit down with Welsh bowls legend Robert Weale to unpack the early chapters of one of the sport’s most remarkable careers.

From rolling his first bowls alongside his father, to becoming the youngest competitor at a World Championships, Robert shares the stories that shaped him - family triumphs, loyalty to his hometown club, and the mindset that carried him onto the international stage.

We dive into:

Growing up in bowls and winning Welsh titles with family

Becoming a specialist lead and fast-tracking into the Welsh team

First World Championships experiences and early lessons learned

What representing Wales really means

Why patience, positioning, and thinking differently set elite players apart

This episode is rich in insight, nostalgia, and high-performance lessons and it’s only the beginning. Part 2 takes us deeper into Commonwealth Games gold, singles success, and Robert’s place among the game’s greats.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

The boys reflect on the Christmas break, coaching plans for the year ahead, and the early build-up to a huge bowls season that includes Commonwealth Games selection, pennants, state championships, and major international events.

The episode opens with a heartfelt tribute to Australian bowls legend Rob Perella, recognising his influence on the modern game and his lasting legacy.

From there, DJ and Simon dive into:

Summerland Pairs results and standout performances

Burnside Pairs and New Zealand Nationals highlights

Mental health in bowls, sparked by online reactions to Ben Twist

World Indoor Championships at Potters – the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable questions

Why bowls struggles to attract younger audiences

What bowls could learn from sports like darts and the BPL

Whether the World Bowls Tour needs a circuit-breaking change

This is a wide-ranging, honest conversation about where bowls has come from and where it needs to go next.

If you love the sport and care about its future, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

The boys dive deep into:

A full wrap of the Australian National Championships, including Champion of Champions, Singles and Australian Sides

A behind-the-scenes look at the inaugural World Bowls Series Finals at Club Barham

What it was really like to be greenside and on commentary for a world-class event

Standout performances from Gary Kelly, Dawn Hayman, Max Kleining, Natalie Lewis and more

Why elite players don’t just “rock up” and what club bowlers can learn from their preparation

Simon then rounds out the episode with a Coach’s Corner focused on:

Mental clarity on the mat

Emotional control under pressure

Visualisation and pre-shot routines

How club players can apply elite habits immediately

The episode also marks the final show before the Christmas break, with reflections on the year that was and what’s ahead in 2026.

🎧 A must-listen for anyone who loves bowls, follows elite competition, or wants to genuinely improve their game.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

Simon and DJ set up greenside at Club Barham, home of the World Bowls Series Finals, to capture the atmosphere, background noise, and raw preparation of the world’s best.

You’ll hear:
• A full rundown of the World Bowls Series Finals format and player line-ups
• Insights into the greens, the surface, the canopy structures and the unique “fly capital of Australia” conditions
• Behind-the-scenes stories from the practice day
• Interviews with:
– Steve “Rowdy” Arthurs (Club Barham Bowls Coordinator)
– Emily Kernick (England)
– Dom McVitie (England)

- Sam Tolchard (England)

- Selina Goddard (New Zealand) - Ranked Number 1

- Ross Owen (Wales) - Ranked Number 1

• What it’s like travelling from across the world to play in Barham
• How players prepare on unfamiliar surfaces
• Stories from Hong Kong, World Indoors, and the Bowls for Brisbane international exhibition
• And plenty of laughs, friendly digs, and trademark DJ–Simon banter.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

Episode 61 of What a Load of Bowls is a special one - DJ sits down with Mark Casey OAM, one of the inaugural inductees into the World Bowls Hall of Fame.

From his early days as a five-year-old rolling bowls with 80-year-olds at Moonee Ponds, to representing three states (Victoria, Queensland & New South Wales) and winning Commonwealth and World Championship golds, Mark shares the full story behind his remarkable career.

They discuss:

His surprise call from Brett O’Riley telling him he’d been inducted into the Hall of Fame

The early days learning under Kelvin Kerkow and the South Tweed greats

Building success at Helensvale alongside Wilkie, Rice, and Clark

The creation of the UBC and what’s next for the sport

His transition from player to administrator at Deer Park Bowls Club

Plus DJ and Simon preview the World Bowls Series Finals, announce their upcoming first-ever in-person podcast recording, and tease a cheeky on-green challenge between TBA Targets and Barry Lester’s Bowls Bumper.

🎧 A must-listen episode packed with stories, laughs, and insight from one of bowls’ most decorated players.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

DJ’s back from Kuala Lumpur — and Episode 60 of What a Load of Bowls is a full recap of the inaugural World Bowls World Cup!

Simon grills DJ on his trip: the electric crowds, the Malaysian hospitality, and even his unfortunate airport slip-and-fall story. From billboard-level promotion to army-guarded venues, DJ shares every detail of how Malaysia delivered the re-vamped World Cup.

Together they break down all the results — gold medals for Australia, Wales, Hong Kong China, India, England, and the home nation Malaysia, plus James “Jimmy Two Golds” Reynolds taking out MVP honours.

Plus:

DJ’s first-hand commentary experience with Barry and Alex 

The launch of the Hall of Fame Dinner in KL 

DJ’s new role on the Board of Bowls NSW 

Listen now for insights, laughs, and a celebration of the sport we love on the world stage.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!

In this jam-packed episode of What a Load of Bowls, DJ and Simon are joined by World Bowls CEO Neil Dalrymple and President Brett O’Riley to preview the inaugural World Bowls World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

They unpack what promises to be one of the sport’s biggest events from the team formats, nations competing, and the vision behind the new festival of bowls, to the launch of the World Bowls Hall of Fame and the push towards Brisbane 2032 Olympic inclusion.

Brett also shares updates from his travels across Korea, China, and beyond uncovering growth stories, innovation, and even new green-surface technology that could change the future of the sport.

Plus, DJ and Simon dive into the BPL results, club news, and all the pre-event gossip as DJ prepares to jet off to Malaysia.

Listen now for world-class insights, plenty of laughs, and a fresh look at how bowls is stepping onto the global stage.

🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au 
Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel 

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au 
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies 

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au 

Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you!

📩 Simon Lyttle – [email protected] 
📩 DJ – [email protected] 

Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear:
🌐 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com 
🛒 https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com 

If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls:
⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📢 Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends
💌 Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!