Commonwealth champion Ridout yet to watch back winning moment
But after a seismic summer at the sportâs storied Leamington Spa home, the Taunton native hopes his impact can continue to propel participation and accessibility to new heights.
Ridout, who plays for Kings Bowling Club in Torquay, clinched menâs triples gold in the most dramatic fashion alongside Jamie Chestney and Nick Brett at the spiritual home of the sport last year, withstanding an audacious Australian comeback to seal victory in the final end.
Millions of Brits tuned in to watch the classic England versus Australia battle â but 33-year-old Ridout revealed he is not one of them.
âIt was all a bit of a blur that five minutes,â admitted Ridout. âIâve not actually watched it back.
âI hope it came across, the atmosphere generated by 2,500 people there. The noise they created is something I will never go through in bowls again.Â
“I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, and I’m actually a lot more competitive than I thought I was!” đŞ #BowlsBigWeekend pic.twitter.com/vnzQU66Zcq
â Bowls England (@BowlsEngland) May 29, 2023
âBoth sets of supporters were clapping for Aussie and our bowls, thatâs the beauty of bowls. Itâs a competitive game but there is a friendly atmosphere and I just hope that came across on TV, it was magical.
âWhen we were actually playing the game, it didnât come to light how many people were actually watching but afterwards once youâve gone back to normality, hearing how many people watched it who have never watched bowls before.Â
âIt can only be good for our sport, more coverage will hopefully increase participation.â
Ridout will be one of thousands of bowlers taking to the greens for Bowlsâ Big Weekend, taking place from 26-29 May, which will see clubs across the country open their doors to new bowlers looking to give the sport a go.
Clubs are open to all abilities, from novices to Commonwealth champions, and Ridout admits his achievements still havenât hit home as he returns to regular local matches.
âIt still feels slightly strange, itâs the pinnacle of our sport,â he added. âItâs still surreal, it still doesnât feel real at times. There are still people coming up to us and congratulating us.Â
âI played a league match last weekend and two of the chaps were telling me they watched it and how much they enjoyed it, it was a great feeling.
Looking for something to do in the sunshine? âď¸
đŁď¸ “It’s a sport for everyone!” – England Junior Men’s Manager Stuart Thomas
âď¸ Try Bowls for free this Bowls’ Big Weekendhttps://t.co/xzAVOWFgAh#BowlsBigWeekend | #AvivaBowls | @avivaplc pic.twitter.com/EnSwjaY7oJ
â Bowls England (@BowlsEngland) May 27, 2023
âItâs such an inclusive sport, anyone can play it; any age, gender, experience, go and give it a go.
âA lot of people watched the Commonwealth Games and saw the atmosphere. I speak to people now and they say theyâll give it a go when they retire â I say why when you retire?Â
âI show them some clips and they are surprised by how young some bowlers are. Itâs a lot more enjoyable and louder than people think it is.Â
âThe social element is absolutely brilliant. You go down to most clubs on an evening and people are bowling, having a drink.
âYou donât have to be fit to play it, follow any fitness regimes, bowls is so inclusive â anyone can give it a go. Itâs an escape â a couple of hours not thinking about too much and just having a laugh.
âNext week is the perfect opportunity to give it a go, find your local club and give it a go. All you need is your flat footwear, theyâll provide everything and hopefully you get hooked.â
To find your nearest participating club and sign up for a free session go to bowlsbigweekend.com