BOWLS: Bowls in Swindon and Wiltshire is mourning the sad loss of former national champion Barney Fernandes who died suddenly a couple of days ago in the Great Western Hospital.

Wiltshire secretary and fellow Swindon Bowling Club member Alan Woodland paid his tribute to the 72-year-old Swindon legend.

He said: "Barney was very well known throughout the world of bowls for his massive contribution to the sport, including his involvement in coaching and youth development, as well as being a very fine bowler in his own right.

"He was a Middleton Cup player of long standing and was a member of the Wiltshire team that won that trophy for the only time in 1986.

"And more recently he played in the 2003 side that lost in the semi-final at Worthing to Devon.'' Fernandes also won several national titles.

He teamed up with Swindon member Reg Jackson to win the National 55 and over Pairs title in 1990 and followed this up by winning the National 55's and Over Singles Title twice, in 2000 and 2002, having been runner up in this event in 1989 to David Bryant.

Fernandes was also the runner up in the National Champion of Champions Singles at Worthing in 1993.

Amongst many other things in which he became involved, Barney served as county coach, regional coach and National Director of Coaching, as well as being heavily involved with the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme.

More recently, he was a member of the Swindon Bowls Club team that won the Wiltshire Four Rink League title in 2005. And he was also a respected member of the prestigious Dennyside Bowls Association.

Fernandes' contribution to the sport will be greatly missed, both locally and nationally.

Funeral arrangements are still to be finalised.

  • SWINDON & District representative side will be looking for their second win of the season tomorrow.

After a convincing win over the Wiltshire Executive a fortnight ago at West End the team under the leadership of president, Dave Herold, face Portsmouth and District at Westlecot.

  • Team Rink 1: George Milne, Norman Nichols (Wanboro), Roy Major (Swindon) and Dave Thompson (West End). Rink 2: Dave Eatwell, Mike Parry (Westlecot), Ron Merry and Mike Large (Wanboro). Rink 3: Gordon Foster R Hunter , Frank Etherington (Highworth) and Dave Herold (Town Gardens). Rink 4: Jock Kinnard (W'lecot), Gordon Packer (Wanboro), Sid Corbett (TG) and Mike Sawyer (West End). Rink 5: Jim Cremin (W End), Derek Fry (TG), Tony Glasscoo and Dave Woodbridge (Wanboro). Rink 6: Joe Mazzotta, Dennis Shrewbridge, Alan Groves and Bob Scammell (W'lecot).
  • WILTSHIRE continue their build-up to the county championship tomorrow in Southampton.

They face Hampshire in their second of three Middleton Cup trials at Atherley BC.