One of the best-known lady bowlers in our county is Ceris Hewlings and this week Bill Carne popped down to Saundersfoot to have a chat with her about her involvement at club, county and Welsh levels . . .

Ceris Hewlings is rightly regarded as one of the best bowlers in Pembrokeshire and Wales, with a string of successes to her name as she turns out for Saundersfoot and West Wales, and has represented Wales for over a decade at junior and then senior level.

So how did Ceris start out in bowls?

“My dad Ken was a music teacher and my main hobby when I was in Greenhill School was the musical activities there, and bowls never got a look in!

“I first joined Tenby Bowling Club in the summer of 1992 because my dad, Ken, was a bowler and I had always gone to the green with him, but never started to play until then.

“My mum Winifred gave me every encouragement to play and it was through bowls that I also met my partner of nine years, John Roberts. He now plays at Tenby Bowls Club and has also represented Wales at senior level, both indoors and out.

“There were just a few juniors when I started out in Tenby but I was made very welcome and had coaching from Mike Crockford and every encouragement from Julia King Thomas, so it wasn’t long before I was in the swing of things.

“We used to play junior games against a strong Haverfordwest team that included Kerry Frayling, who was my playing partner when we won the Welsh junior pairs title in 2002, after being runners-up the year before.

“We then went on to represent Wales in the British Isles Championships in Edinburgh the following year and where the junior international series was being held, and we were runners-up to Ireland.

Ceris had her first Welsh junior international cap in 1998 in Leamington Spa and she was a member of the junior team for five years until she was too old!

“We had to supply our own kit, which included a red polo top, white skirts and white shoes. Luckily, we didn’t have to wear white hats but, unbelievably, we had to have a white handbag!

“In 2000, Wales won the series for the first time in the history of the event when it was held on home soil in Llandrindod Wells, but for me that success was tinged with great sadness as that was the last time I saw my father.

He and my mum, Winifred, had been supporting us. The following day, dad tragically collapsed and died whilst walking the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park with two of his bowls friends.”

Ceris then moved into playing for her country at senior level and was soon competing well as she received every encouragement from the senior players, none more so than Ann Lewis from her own club.

“We played the other home countries at Llandrindod Wells and again we had to supply our own uniforms, with the difference being we had to wear a red blazer and red shoes – and carry a red handbag!”

As well as her junior title success, she helped win the Welsh triples in 2011 and was runner-up in the British Isles Championships the following year in Ireland. Ceris also represented Wales in the Atlantic Championships in Cyprus in 2011 and the European Championships in Spain in 2013.

Not content with that little lot, Ceris also played in a test match against Israel in 2000 and against Australia and New Zealand in 2013 when the two countries came over to practice on the Commonwealth Games greens in Glasgow, but stopped off en route in Llandrindod Wells.

Ceris is now playing her seventh season with the Welsh ladies team at senior level and she is also a member of the Welsh elite squad and non-travelling reserve for the Commonwealth Games this year, missing out by a whisker on playing in the games in Glasgow later this year.

It was disappointing because Ceris has been part of the Welsh Elite Squad of 12 bowlers who took part in trial games (with three training weekends on the greens in Glasgow to be used in the Commonwealth Games as part of that process).

“But I am pleased for those who were picked because we are a close-knit group and I am good friends with all those chosen.”

During her time at Tenby, Ceris won all four singles trophies and during one season was in with a chance of the club ‘grand slam’ but Mair Marquiss beat her in one final to prevent Ceris claiming an historic four timer!

She has also won the club pairs and mixed pairs events during her time there.

“It is nice to see my name on the honours board,” admitted Ceris, “I have fond memories of my time at Tenby. Bowls has introduced me to many lovely people and has led me to making a number of friends.”

Ceris joined Saundersfoot Bowling Club in 2006 for a fresh challenge.

It certainly worked because since then she won the club’s singles title for a record five times on the trot before missing the competition last season because of other commitments – and also has won her share of silverware in two-wood singles, pairs and mixed pairs competitions as a bonus.

At Christmas, whilst on a family holiday to Australia with John, they came fourth of over 50 pairs competing in a tournament at the local club, no mean feat because they had to use different woods in unusual conditions.

There has also been considerable success with the West Wales Ladies Bowling Association.

“I received my county badge in the year 2000, when my coach, friend and bowls partner at Tenby, Julia King Thomas, was president. I am currently senior vice-president and will take over the presidential role in October!

“I have my name on all four of the main county titles – singles (three years on the trot), pairs, triples and rinks, as well as the U25 Cup and the Victrix Ludorum, which is something else that I am very proud of.

Ask Ceris her bowling ambitions and she would be quick to answer:

“There is another Commonwealth Games in four years and who knows what will happen if I stay focussed.

“Recently, I have heard I have been invited with my friend and bowls colleague, Laura Thomas from West Glamorgan, to play in the Hong Kong Classic which takes place in November so that's something amazing to look forward to.”

“Off the green, I am secretary of Saundersfoot Bowling Club - it's all about giving something back to the club that supports me,” she says with typical understatement.

And Ceris Hewlings certainly does that because, on and off the green, she is a splendid advertisement for Pembrokeshire and Welsh bowls!