If you’re a bowler, you’ll probably have 17 days marked on your calendar every January. Yes, the Ambassador Cruise Line 2025 World Indoor Bowls Championships are just days away, commencing on Friday 10th January. And we’re getting everything ready for the biggest event in the sport.
At the turn of every year, Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea becomes the epicentre of the bowling world. A fixture since 1979, this internationally renowned event attracts players and spectators from across the globe, culminating in a thrilling 17-day competition that is broadcast and followed by fans worldwide.
The event’s coverage is massive, with over 2.4 million viewers watching seven days of finals week action on the BBC. The Championships also see significant engagement across digital platforms, including 3.8 million video views on YouTube and Facebook.
BBC Sport hosts coverage during finals week, live from Potters Resorts Hopton-on-SeaHeld on the famous blue rink in The International Arena, a venue as synonymous with bowls as The Crucible Theatre is with snooker, the Championships see the top players in the sport competing for the chance to reach one or more of four major finals that take place; The Open Pairs, Mixed Pairs, Ladies Matchplay, and the flagship Open Singles Championship.
Each day features three sessions, drawing up to 1,100 spectators per session. Many are bowls enthusiasts staying at Potters Resorts for a fully inclusive getaway, while others grab their seats with day tickets. In total, over 18,000 visitors are welcomed throughout the Championships, creating the ultimate experience for both players and fans.
WBT Players Mark Dawes (left) and Greg Harlow (centre) take time out for a coffee break with guestsGreg Harlow, Potters Resorts Bowls Ambassador & current World Number 15, says: “These Championships are unlike any other sporting event in the world. It’s a chance for bowls enthusiasts to experience the sport’s best venue, while enjoying the outstanding hospitality Potters is known for. With most of the players staying on resort as well, it’s such a unique atmosphere with guests bumping shoulders with the players. I can’t think of any other world event where that happens.”
The history and the sport’s biggest names
First held in 1979 in Coatbridge, Scotland, the event was initially a men’s singles competition. Over the years, it evolved, adding the World Indoor Pairs Championship in 1986 and the Ladies World Matchplay Championship in 1988. After moving to Potters Resorts in 1999, the Championships have continued to grow in stature. The World Mixed Pairs Matchplay was added to the schedule in 2004.
Alex Marshall MBE won a record-breaking sixth Open Singles title in 2015The Championships have produced some of the most legendary names in the sport. Players like David Bryant CBE, Richard Corsie MBE, Paul Foster MBE, and Alex Marshall MBE have become household names. Foster and Marshall, in particular, have dominated the Open Singles Championship in recent decades, amassing 11 singles titles between them.
On the women’s side, Katherine Rednall has etched her name in history with six World Matchplay titles, including her most recent victory in 2024.
Katherine Rednall won a record-extending sixth Ladies Matchplay title in 2024Meanwhile, in the pairs events, the likes of Tony Allcock OBE and Alex Marshall MBE have made their mark, with Allcock winning an impressive eight World Indoor Pairs titles.
Building a world event
“You’d think after 26 years, it gets a little easier every time!” quips Potters Resorts Group Operational Director, Kirstie Hood.
“We’ll meet with the WBT (World Bowls Tour) in the summer to go over the previous year’s event. We discuss any changes they wish to make operationally and take onboard any feedback they have.
“We’re grateful to have a very experienced team who’ve supported the WBT during this event for many years, ensuring everything runs smoothly. That makes preparation for the championships quite a natural process. Everyone knows what their responsibilities are well before any spectators start to arrive.
“During the event, to put it in perspective, we look after just as many visitors in those 17 days as we do across our entire peak summer season of July, August and September. So however prepared you are, it’s always a challenge on Resort. But it’s one we thrive on.”
2024 Open Singles Champion, Stewart Anderson, holds aloft the trophy in The International ArenaA little more behind the scenes, Head of Sales Sallyanne Gooch also has World Bowls in mind from around 6 months before.
“In sales and marketing, World Bowls really starts to ramp up in June. We’ll begin putting together our day tickets and coach packages, and working with the WBT on the Championships’ schedule. Fans know what matches they want to see so that schedule becomes crucial to the sales process. I’ll also be reaching out and meeting with stewards too. It’s vital that Gary Mackay (Head Steward) has an experienced and knowledgeable team every day during the event.
“We’ll work hand in hand with Marketing to promote the Championships via email, door drops, our website, and so on. While it’s only 17 days, it’s a huge event and a big focus for our team.
“During the championships, we’re creating the daily schedules for operations, welcoming coaches, and handling rebookings. Most breaks for the following year will sell out before the Championships are even over.”
Getting the stage set
Transforming the six-rink International Arena into a single rink with space for 1,100 spectators in no small task. So we also took a moment to chat with Site Services Supervisor, Tom Rackham, who oversees the process in a surprisingly quick timeframe.
Getting the International Arena prepared for the World Indoor Bowls Championships is a team effort“The rinks are in use up until the new year, so within a matter of days and alongside the WBT, we’ll oversee a temporary wooden floor being laid, the installation of the advertising boards, lighting, seating, getting the hospitality area ready for players and the media, and adding power for all the cameras and technical equipment.
“Amidst all that, the WBT will roll out their blue rink, which sits above our own rink. Not everyone realises that, but their portable rink is much quicker for the professional game.
“There’s a lot of people working in the arena at the same time, so everyone’s safety is my responsibility. Not everything happens at once, someone is always waiting for someone else to finish different areas and tasks.”
But once the tournament is over, we assume there’s a little less pressure, Tom?
“There’s actually more! We have our own bowls tournament starting in the arena the Monday after Sunday’s final. As soon as the last guests leave the arena, the team is straight in there en masse to de-rig!”
A new name on the logo
If you’re a keen supporter, you may notice a new name on the advertising boards this year.
Gordon Nardini, Chief Marketing Officer from Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “We’re thrilled to announce Ambassador Cruise Line as the title sponsor of the 2025 World Indoor Bowls Championships, the most prestigious competition in the bowls calendar.
“We know many of our guests share a keen interest in bowls and we are looking forward to meeting many of them across the tournament while introducing ourselves to a new and exciting audience. The Partnership will see Ambassador provide exclusive offers on its wide range of cruise itineraries to attendees and supporters alongside fan engagement experiences and brand and marketing exposure opportunities.”
Meanwhile, John Potter said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ambassador Cruise Line as the title sponsor of the World Indoor Bowls Championships.
“Their unique position in the cruise industry makes them a natural partner, and we look forward to hosting the Ambassador team at the Resort for what will be our 27th consecutive year of staging this prestigious World event at Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea.”
A final word from WBT Tournament Director, Tom Weir
“It’s always a great feeling to return to Potters at the turn of each year for this prestigious event. The standard gets better and better, and we’ve got some extremely strong youngsters breaking through. You only have to look at the brilliant 2023 Open Singles Final between two qualifiers, Jason Banks and Jamie Walker, to highlight that.
“And our record-breaking 6-time Ladies Matchplay Champion, Katherine Rednall, is just 28 years old too. I think that really highlights the growth that the sport has seen in recent years and these televised Championships play such a huge part in that.
“We look forward to seeing you all in the stands, and some brilliant bowls action on the rink this January.”
The Ambassador Cruise Line 2025 World Indoor Bowls Championships run from Friday 10th to Sunday 26th January at Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea. Fully Inclusive Short Breaks are extremely limited in availability, but you can visit www.PottersWorldBowls.com or call 0333 3207 439 for more information.
To visit for the day, click here to make plans from only £15 per person.
