Whitstable's three-time Commonwealth Games medallist Sian Honnor hoping a big summer can catapult bowls into the national spotlight

Sian Honnor hopes this summer can catapult bowls into the national spotlight ahead of a bumper few months of competition across the United Kingdom.

The three-time Commonwealth Games medallist, 34, has played a part in the last three Games dating back to Delhi 2010, winning gold in Glasgow four years later before bagging her second bronze medal on the Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018.

Now, Whitstable’s Honnor, who is editor of Bowls International magazine, believes bowls has the chance to take centre stage in England, with a European Championships in Ayr, Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the annual Bowls’ Big Weekend just around the corner.

Honnor said: “It’s an exciting summer with other events happening.

“We’ve just had a multi-national event with Australia, Malaysia, Wales, and this is a great opportunity to showcase the sport because we want people to see it on TV.

“These opportunities don't come around very often, and I think Bowls England are doing everything in their power to jump all over it and show people what a great game bowls is.”

The Middlesex University PR officer is also excited about the prospect of playing on familiar ground at Leamington Spa, as well as performing in front of her children for the first time.

She added: “Glasgow was as close to a home Games as I thought we were going to get at the time and that was amazing, because we did have quite a few people there and it was easier for our friends and family.

“It makes a real difference having that support and friendly home crowd, and I think that would be magnified at Leamington.

“We’ve played on the greens a lot and we do feel at home there.

“During the Commonwealth Games, there is a buzz of excitement. I think it comes from bowls lining up in