Salmon is biggest fish in youth pond

In a brilliant exhibition of international bowls Welshman Daniel Salmon has captured the 2017 World Youth Championships men’s singles gold medal at the Broadbeach Bowls & Community Club on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Salmon, a 22-year-old painter and decorator from Cardiff, won 21-17 against 20-year-old Australian Corey Wedlock, a green keeper at Sydney’s Cabramatta club. in a gripping contest.

It was the appropriate finish to a sensational week of championship bowls that threw up more than its fair share of challenges.

Salmon and Wedlock were clearly the best two players in the singles competition, completing their round-robin qualifying rounds undefeated, and they continued that form into their semi final matches, both claiming 21-19 wins over Aussie teammates Nathan Pedersen and Aaron Teys respectively.

Results – Day 7:

Men’s singles:

Semi finals: Corey Wedlock (AUS) bt Aaron Teys (AUS) 21-19, Daniel Salmon (WAL) bt Nathan Pedersen (AUS) 21-19. Final: Salmon bt Wedlock 21-17.

Women’s singles:

Semi finals: Pricilla Westlake (CAN) bt Chloe Stewart (AUS) 21-16, Ellen Ryan (AUS) bt Kristina Krstic (AUS) 21-20. Final: Westlake bt Ryan 21-20.

Mixed pairs:

Final: Connie Rixon (MLT), Billy Johnson (AUS) bt Claire Walker, John Fleming (SCO) 21-17.

Photo: Men’s singles finalists Corey Wedlock and Daniel Salmon.