30 January – 8 February in Vienna, Austria
The Austrian Bowling Federation (ÖSKB) and the Viennese Bowling Federation (LVWB) welcome the European Grand Senior Championships 2026 to Vienna in 2026 at Plus Bowling Centre, a well-known bowling centre in the western part of Vienna and host of a lot of international events in the past 30 years.
Team England Squad
No changes to the Grand Senior Ladies team who won multiple medals last time round in Reno at the World Senior Championships and Grand Senior medalists Gary Baker and Kim Johnson back and joined by Gordon Humphries and Steve Carnall.
Men – Kim Johnson, Gary Baker, Gordon Humphries, Steve Carnall
Ladies – Angie Brown, Diane Johnson, Sandra Simmonds, Lynn Squibb
Reports
Men’s Singles
We finally got started on Sunday morning with Men’s singles day and the first of two squads saw Steve Carnall and Gordon Humphries starting us off. Steve opening with a fine 228 and Gordon finding his way with 184. A pair of 204’s followed for Steve and Gordon improving all the time with 191 and 224. A slight drop for Steve to 170 and 173 but Gordon going up the leader board with 213 and 212 with a game to go. Steve ending well with 204 for 1180 in 13th and Gordon with 181 for 1205 in 8th.
Next up on Sunday afternoon was Kim Johnson and Gary Baker. Gary with a bright 209 opener but unlucky with three splits and ending with 157 in the second game, Kim flying with 255 and a split and open slowing things to 210 in the second. Kim was on it again in the third with 258 and 723 in the books at the halfway stage, Gary flying wth front four and ending with 226 and 592 going into game four.
So into the second half and Kim sitting pretty but then splits pegging him back for 169 and Gary with just one single pin miss slowing progress but a good 201 in the books. Good news was Kim was pacing second overall and leading the second block despite the 169 so staying around 225 for the next two would hopefully be enough for a top four finals place. Spares slowing things early in the fifth game for Kim but Gary flying with a front four. Kim grabbing a couple of doubles and Gary going well still. Kim with 214 and Gary with 225 as head headed to the last game and excitement high.
Looking like needing around 220 to be third or fourth Kim slowed by a split open but back strong with a double and spare. Gary front three this time then spares. A big double from Kim near the end as other around were faltering and Gary still clean though nine frames. Kim ending with 204 and 1310 with Gary ending with 224 and a fine 1242. Did Kim make it though? Yes, fourth place and into the semi finals.
Men’s Singles Finals
A semi final against the top seed Wolfgang Hauska from the home nation Austria awaited Kim Johnson and not an easy match given the obvious home advantage. We don’t send out athetes that fear others though and Kim was also not going to make this fun for the home fans.
Both players with an open in the first few frames and Kim the first to hit a double but an open in the seventh put him 10 pins behind. Back strong with a double as the Austrian spared in the ninth. First one in the tenth for a turkey and now ahead but the Austrian also striking in the tenth. A single pin leave for Kim and a spare for 204 and into the final as Wolgang his 194.
What an achievement for Kim Johnson, making the final in both the World Championships and European Championships in the last bowling year. Up against Slovakia’s Anton Zoricak. Kim opening with a strike but open in the second then back on strike as Anton hit a spare and a double. The Slovakian hitting a turkey as Kim spared and falling behind early on. Back on strike in the fifth and Kim fist pumping the air but Anton Zoricak now with four in a row. Kim was not giving this up though and hitting a turkey but the Slovakian with a six pack. A nine spare ending Kim’s run in the eighth and Anton making it seven in a row on a 290 pace. Looked like we were to settle for Silver again sadly but still an amazing result no matter what. Kim ending with 195 and Anton a well deserved Gold with 267.
Ladies Singles
Monday was Ladies Singles day and starting off for Team England were Sandra Simmonds and Lynn Squibb. A bright start for Sandra with 200 but dropping to 176 then 146 before bouncing back with 178. Lynn just not getting going over the first four games with 157,162,149 and 144. Time still to find a good rhythm for the block and later events.
Lynn back in style in the ffth game with 226 and a good 187 for Sandra. Sandra ending as she started with 201 and 1088 but Lynn sadly struggling final game of 148 and 986 overall.
Diane Johnson and Angie Brown up in the afternoon and a great start for Diane with 222 then 177 and 203 to place among the chasing leaders. Angie close but not quite enough with games of 165,153 and 169 as we headed into the second half of the block. Further games of 179,184 and 175 for Diane who was pushing hard for a place near the end with 1140. Angie much better with 192,186 and a drop to 157 for 1022. No medals today but reasons to be hopeful for some in the doubles, team and all events.
Men’s Doubles
Men’s doubles day on Tuuesday and Gordon off to a flying start with 235 and Steve finding his way with 182. Gordon’s Alive a writers thoughts as he added 221 then a massive 286. Steve with 165 then finding his mojo with 223 to help to a 509 in the third.
Steve causing carnage now and adding 209 and 226 as Gordon added 194 and 209. Our boys in second and just behind Finland with a game to go. Steve strong at the end with 225 and 1225 and Gordon with 184 and 1329. A fantastic double effort and sitting in a finals place with a squad to go.
Our second doubles team of Gary Baker and Kim Johnson took to the Vienna lanes in the afternoon and both starting well as Kim hit 217 and Gary with 213 for 430, further games of 376 and 380 then a good jump up to 451 as Gary hit from eight for a 257 in game four. 426 saw our duo going up the standings and not impossible yet to make the top four as we entered the final game. Kim ending with 205 and Gary with 193 and 1229 for an overall of 2460 and ending in seventh overall. Great new though as Steve and Gordon advance to the doubles semi finals in third place.
Men’s Doubles Finals
Another medal this week already and a tough match against Finland. A couple of opens from both Steve and Gordon early on as Finland staying closed though two frames. Steve and Gordon both with a strike despite the opens. Split from Finland’s Erkki Koivuranta in the third as Steve spared and Gordon doubled to cheers from the England fans in Vienna.
Tight in the fourth as both lead off pulling though the face for spares but Gordon Alive again with a Turkey as Finn Leif Tuomisalo missed a single pin and opened. Steve sensing a chance was back on strike in the fifth but so were Finland, Gordon staying firm with a fourbagger as Finland struck again.
Pretty much all level at this point and all athletes on a strike. Double for Koivuranta and Spare for Steve, double for Tuomisalo and spare for Gordon in the sixth. Steve not giving up and back on strike again but a turkey from Finland’s leadoff, A spare for Gordon then a chance as Leif Tuomisalo split opens.
Into the eighth and almost a double but tenpin spare from Steve and Finland’s Erkki Koivuranta’s run of strikes ending with a spare. Gordon back on strike and matching Finland. A edgy finish now and a seven count spare from Steve and strike from Gordon to cheers from our watching ladies, coaches and supporters. Finland’s Leif Tuomisalo hitting an important double though.
Tenth frame and strike for finland, spare for Steve then ending with a strike for 180, Finland hitting the double and this one falling away from us. Gordon’s run of strikes ending with a nine spare and a strike from Tuomisalo put this one to bed. Gordon ending with 224 and our 404 not enough to better Finlands 419. A fantastic Bronze earned.
Ladies Doubles
Hopes high for another medal today and first to make an attempt were Sandra Simmonds and Lynn Squibb. Sandra yet again starting brightly with 203 but dropping to 159 in the second game. Lynn held back by a few splits for 143 and then looking much better pegged again at te end by a split for 169. Games of 343 and 328 on the scorecard.
A jump upwards next with games of 397 and 416 but then dropping to 309, Lynn back with 217 and 199 but a few unforced errors dropping to 147, Sandra with 181 and up to 217 before falling to 160 with a game to and in 5th place chasing a place. 176 for Sandra at the end and a good 1096, Lynn finishing with strikes for 178 and 1052 for 2148 overall and sitting in third place with a squad to go.
Diane Johnson and Angie Brown were up in the early afternoon and a good start for both as Angie hit 209 and Diane added 194 for a 403 starter. Diane flying in game two with 213 and Angie supporting with 201 for a 414 game. Leading after two and pacing the top seed spot in the finals our ladies added a 361 game. Diane striking out for 184 and Angie pinned with a split in the tenth for 177 for 361 in game three then a 369 game as Diane hit 180 and Angie 189 with two games to go.
Coasting in game five as Diane fired 212 and Angie with 209 for 411 and still top with a game to go. Sadly a few teams pacing more than squad 1 so we were likely to lose Sandra and Lynn from the top four at the end. A final game of 344 and Diane with 164 and 1149, Angie a shade better with 180 and 1167 and overall of 2314 in the top seed spot for the semi finals.
Ladies Doubles Finals
We only smashed it and were top seeds for the semi finals in Vienna and a date now with host nation Austria. This was not going to be easy and so proved as a tight match. Diane with 183 and Angie with 170 for 353 but 196 for Gerda Hauska and 179 for Monika Schmotz for the Austrians just edge our ladies with 375.
Another brilliant Bronze for our dynamic duo.
Team Day 1
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Team time and first up for Team England were our Men for the first block and games 1-3. Medals so far in Singles and Doubles and our squad looking to add more. Game 1 and Gordon with 186, Steve a pin behind with 185, Kim with a solid 223 and Gary adding 200 for a 794 opener and sitting in third place.
Game two and splits for all in a lower 678, Gordon with 172, Steve with 183, Kim with 152 and Gary with 171 and back to sixth place and 100 off the cut. Some work to do but plenty time yet to do it. Strikes beginning to flow more in the final game of the block, Gordon with 195, Steve with 199, Kim on 202 nand Gary with 208 for a game of 804. Fifth place and just 30 or so pins off the cut.
Our ladies on the lanes in the afternoon and but for three split and an open the first eight frames were looking good, Diane with a turkey and Sandra firing a fivebagger covering the opens. Lynn with an out of character gutter ball that she then spared and went off the sheet for 186 and a great comeback. Super Sandra with a 222, Diane with a solid 209 and Angie after owning two of the three splits fighting back with a double at the end for 179 and a good team opener of 796 and top spot after game 1.
Game two and a few more opens appearing but not for Sandra who was smashing it again with a fourbagger. Lynn again striking out for 158, Sandra on fire with 227, Diane adding 170 and Angie a disappointing 143 for 698. Game three and Lynn better with 186 and , Sandra with an amazing 251 a massive 700 on the nose, Diane with 181 for 560 and Angie with 163 and 485 for an overall 2275 and leading overnight.
The ladies were back first on Friday morning to complete qualifying. Sitting in the top spot overnight but some way to go yet and dropping to third overall after a first game of 655 and Lynn with 155, Sandra with 163, Diane with 162 and Angie with 175. Splits playing a role in game five, only Angie avoiding any at the halfway point. Lynn with a good 182 and Sandra finding strikes again but split in the tenth for 189. Diane also with a split at the end for 133. Angie looking much more comfortable today and an important 200 for 704. Sitting third but with an 80 pin buffer over fourth place Denmark. A few opens and splits in the final game made for a tense time for watching fans. Lynne ending with 151 and 1018, Sandra split in thnth for 154 and 1206. Diane adding 157 for 1012 and Angie with 157 and 1012 for a final game of 614 and overall of 4248. Heartbreak as that was 16 pins adrift of the fourth place. A silver lining in that we got two into the Masters as Sandra and Diane both advanced.
Our Men were sitting in fifth place overnight and already chasing just behind the top four and hopes yet to advance. Not really the start we wanted with 683, Gordon on 155, Steve with 184, Kim with 162 and Gary on 182. A drop to ninth place and 130 pins behind the cut. A lot now to do and game five and a sense our guy knew now was the time to step up a few gears. Gordon, Steve and Gary all with early doubles in the first few frames but Steve with two opens also. Gordon Alive yet again firing six in a row and ending with 259, Steve back with a double after the opens and ending with 192, Kim hitting a fourbagger at the close for 206 and Gary with 188 and a team game of 843 and up to sixth place but 124 pins off a medal placing with a game to go.
The final game didn’t really get going in terms of a big score or flowing strikes but Gordon, Kim and Gary could all still make the masters, Steve just outside also had an outside chance. Gordon with 181 and 1148, Steve with 179 and 1122, Kim with 186 and 1131 and Gary ending strong with 222 and 1169 for a final game of 768 and overall of 4570 in seventh place.
Great news though as Gordon 11th, Kim 12th and Gary 14th all make the masters tomorrow.
Masters
No easy matches from here on in and in fact some tough moments to come on the final day of the 1st European Grand Senior Championships. Gary a date with Finland, Kim with Germany and Gordon a home nation instant classic against Scotland. Sandra against Iceland and Diane facing France.
Step 1
Lane 8
Gary Baker vs Erkki Koivuranta (Finland)
G1 245 vs 236 (1-0)
G2 192 vs 223 (1-1)
G3 185 vs 227 (1-2)
Lane 10
Gordon Humphries vs Alan Keddie (Scotland)
G1 182 vs 198 (0-1)
G2 212 vs 223 (0-2)
Lane 12
Kim Johnson vs Ralf Grawe (Germany)
G1 247 vs 169 (1-0)
G2 190 vs 197 (1-1)
G3 232 vs 248 (1-2)
Lane 21
Sandra Simmonds vs Gudny Gunnarsdottir (Iceland)
G1 178 vs 214 (0-1)
G2 183 vs 176 (1-1)
G3 169 vs 196 (1-2)
Lane 24
Diane Johnson vs Catherine Roux (France)
G1 231 vs 164 (1-0)
G2 200 vs 181 (2-0)
Step 2
Lane 20
Diane Johnson vs Sara Aviram Harlap (Israel)
G1 192 vs 175 (1-0)
G2 204 vs 183 (2-0)
Step 3 – Semi Final
Lane 20
Diane Johnson vs Martina Beckel (Germany)
G1 182 vs 235 (0-1)
G2 159 vs 227 (0-2)
Bronze medal for Diane Johnson
Results
Results will appear first on the Official website
Singles
Doubles
Team
All Events
Masters
Schedule