Plymouth helping Falkland Islands’ first-ever bowls team

A member of the Falkland Islands’ first-ever bowls team to take part in the Commonwealth Games has been welcomed by a Plymouth club for training – as the islands do not currently have a bowling green. Chris Locke was welcomed by Plympton Bowling Club as part of his final preparations for the forthcoming games in Birmingham, having only previously been able to train on mats in a school corridor back home.

Mr Locke first set eyes on the remote archipelago in the South Atlantic when he was 18, as part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1977. As part of the Royal Navy, he also had a role in the retaking of the Falklands by British forces after the invasion by neighbouring Argentina in 1982.

He has since made the Falklands his home, recently retiring from his role in the Falkland Islands Government as Marine Officer and Harbour Master. Mr Locke is even credited with playing a role in the formation of the islands’ first bowls team, as he spends part of his time in Plympton St Maurice and was part of discussions to enter a team into the Games, which start on July 28.

But without a single green to train on in the Falklands, Mr Locke said he and the other team members resorted to taping mats together in a corridor to create a makeshift rink.

He said: “We can only practise after school hours but are lucky to have somewhere to train. However, playing on grass is very different to playing on our mats and why being able to practise on Plympton Bowling Club’s green has been fantastic.”

During a stint at the end of June, he was coached by former county player Peter Stapleton and entered as many club events as he could in order to improve his game. He added: “Colin Way, the club secretary, has been amazing at helping me make full use of