Dai Wilkins

{{Short description|British lawn bowler}} {{Use British English|date=August 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = Dai Wilkins | image = | image_size =  | caption = | nationality = British (Welsh) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|7|22|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | club = Pontrhydyfen (outdoors)<br />Port Talbot (indoors) | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{WAL}}}} {{MedalSport|}} {{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}} {{MedalBronze | 1998 Kuala Lumpur|fours}} {{MedalBronze | 2002 Manchester|fours}} {{MedalCompetition|British Isles Championships}} {{MedalGold|2014|fours}} }}

'''David Wilkins''' better known as Dai Wilkins (born 22 July 1942) is a former Welsh international lawn and indoor bowler.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bowlstawa.com/titles/players/titles/2400|title=Profile|publisher=Bowls tawa|access-date=2017-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106011032/http://bowlstawa.com/titles/players/titles/2400|archive-date=2017-01-06|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Bowls career == Wilkins was the youngest ever winner of the Neath Bowls Open in 1969.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003431/19690814/132/0008 |title=Youngest winner of bowls tourney |work=Neath Guardian |p=8|date=14 August 1969 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref> The following year he represented the Welsh team,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004986/19700522/014/0014 |title=Welsh team best ever |work=Liverpool Daily Post (Welsh Edition) |p=14 |date=22 May 1970 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref> at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018081950/https://thecgf.com/results/games/3037/71/all |title=Scotland Edinburgh 1970 |website=Commonwealth Games Federation |access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref> where he participated in the singles competition.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hawkes/Lindley|first=Ken/Gerard|title=the Encyclopaedia of Bowls|year=1974|page=23-33|publisher=Robert Hale and Company|isbn=0-7091-3658-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Patrick|title=Guinness Bowls Records|year=1986|pages=82|publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd|isbn=0-85112-414-3}}</ref>

He went on to win two Commonwealth Games bronze medals in the fours at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/commonwealth/bowls.htm|title=COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALLISTS - BOWLS|publisher=GBR Athletics}}</ref>

He is a seven times Welsh National Bowls Championships winner, winning the singles in 1983<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004733/19830822/014/0014 |title=Price takes singles title |work=South Wales Echo |date=22 August 1983 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> & 1996,<ref>{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Patrick|title=Guinness Bowls Records|year=1986|publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd|isbn=0-85112-414-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.welshbowls.co.uk/WBAHandbookFinalProof.pdf|title=WBA Handbook|publisher=Welsh Bowls}}</ref> the pairs in 1987 with his son Jeff, triples winner in 1986 & 1991 and fours winner in 2012 & 2013.<ref>{{cite book|last=Newby|first=Donald|title=The Daily Telegraph Bowls Yearbook|year=1988|publisher=Telegraph Publications|isbn=0-86367-220-5}}</ref>

== Football == He had a soccer trial with Cardiff City F.C. before playing rugby for Glynneath RFC.

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkins, Dai}} Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Wales Category:Bowls players at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Category:Bowls players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Bowls players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:Welsh male bowls players Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in lawn bowls