Who are our National Council members and what do their roles involve? Our series will cover each of our heads of departments and their involvement in our sport from the time they first bowled to what’s in store for the future.
We continue with one of our newest members, Meet Head of Equality and Diversity Vicky Knightsbridge
For many it’s a corporate visit, date night, family outing, kids party or wanting to try, where did bowling start for you?
I bowled briefly in a league when I was 18, but my real love for the sport didn’t begin until much later. After encouraging my now husband, Daren, to take up a new hobby, I soon found myself making up numbers in a team. I started with an average of 80 at age 30, and Daren’s determination to learn how the sport had evolved over the years inspired me to learn more as well. Back in 2015, we visited the Kegel Training Center in Florida for the first time, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
What is it about the sport that got you hooked? Pun intended😁
I love the camaraderie that comes with bowling, something you don’t always find in other sports. I’ve never been a big fan of watching sports, whether on TV or in person, but after seeing the Weber Cup live in 2017, I was completely won over. The atmosphere was incredible, and what really stood out to me was how, regardless of which team you support, everyone cheers each other on. It’s such a welcoming, encouraging environment.
How did you get involved more with the local association?
Last year, Daren became Chairman of Sussex, so naturally I began helping out with the marketing and supporting him in running tournaments. We also had the opportunity within Sussex to complete the EBF Level 1 course, which I saw as a chance to deepen my understanding of the sport. It opened the door for me to become involved with Crawley YBC, and I also stepped into the role of manager for our Grand Senior team.
Coaching the kids and managing a county team have both given me wonderful opportunities to meet new people, encourage others into the sport, and support their development and competitive journeys. At the same time, these roles have helped me grow personally; expanding my skills, confidence, and passion for giving back to the bowling community.
Social media is now a big part of life and a great way to spread bowling news, you have greatly improved the Sussex Area media. What is the next step to try to get more county media platforms spreading your news and stories?
Social media, especially Facebook has become an invaluable way to share news, celebrate achievements, and keep our bowling communities connected with what’s happening locally. It’s a joint effort across the Sussex Committee, but we’re passionate about leading the way and showing other counties how they, too, can grow and strengthen bowling in their areas.
We’d love to expand onto more platforms in the future to reach even more people; however, in the meantime, I believe it would make a big difference if all counties, and the BTBA shared each other’s tournaments, updates, and good news stories. Working together to boost visibility would give our whole bowling community greater exposure, encourage more participation, and highlight just how much is happening in the sport across the country.
You have taken on role with the BTBA as Head of Equality and Diversity and hit the floor running, making sure important days are celebrated and connecting with all who enjoy participating in bowling in England through content on the BTBA website and Facebook page. Why did you decide to take a position with our National Association and what does your role entail?
The role of Head of Equality and Diversity immediately appealed to me because I truly believe that bowling is a sport for everyone. In my day job I’m already involved in Diversity and Inclusion, so I’m always thinking about ways to ensure people feel welcomed, supported, and able to participate fully.
In this role, I’m responsible for supporting the development and well‑being of everyone involved in tenpin bowling, and for making sure equality, opportunity, and representation are recognised and celebrated across the sport. I feel I’ve been able to bring some fresh, out‑of‑the‑box thinking to the position, and I’m excited about what more we can achieve. My goal is to continue improving our sport and making it even more accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable for all.
What plans do you have for the position going forwards?
During February and March, we have collaborated with Parkinson’s UK, which has been a fantastic opportunity to not only learn more about the disease but to work with a great bunch of people. We launched a pilot in 4 centres; Margate, Tunbridge Wells, Crawley and Wigan, so I would love to see this collaboration escalate countrywide and encourage people living with Parkinson’s to take up bowling as a hobby to help manage their symptoms.
In addition to this it would be great to get other communities involved. I have reached out to various National Disability Sports Organisations (NDSO’s) to gain an insight if they have tenpin bowling amongst their listed sports. Many do not, so it would be fantastic to see tenpin bowling listed as a disabled sport and ultimately see a individuals and teams enter events again such as the Special Olympics and Deaflympics representing Britain!
Bowling has always been an inclusive sport with a diverse range of ages and physical abilities all enjoying both leisure and competitive play. We have international teams in many Para events and others that need support, how can the BTBA help these National teams or individuals?
The great thing about bowling is that it can be enjoyed by absolutely anyone. It’s a low‑impact sport that can be adapted to suit all ages, abilities, and levels of confidence. As a National Body, I believe we should actively encourage people with disabilities to come forward and help educate local associations on how to be more inclusive, after all, those with lived experience are often best placed to explain what support, adaptations, or approaches will genuinely work.
It would be fantastic to see the BTBA champion this even further by supporting disabled individuals or teams who want to compete on the world stage, offering the same level of coaching, development, and financial backing that we provide for Team England. With the right support and visibility, we could help open doors for more bowlers to achieve their potential and proudly represent Britain in international events.
You have already started to feature some of our successful para athletes, is this a feature you would like to grow more?
I’m really passionate about growing these features and shining a light on a wide range of disabilities, experiences, and incredible bowling stories. Everyone’s journey is unique, and sharing them is a powerful way to inspire others, break down barriers, and show what’s truly possible within our sport. If you’re reading this and would like to get involved; whether you want to share your story, highlight a challenge, or help shape the future of inclusive bowling, please drop me a message! I’d love to hear from you.
In terms of raising BTBA membership and encouraging sanctioned competition, do you have any ideas how to achieve this?
Many people who bowl socially, may not fully understand what the BTBA do for our sport. I think these insights will be an important base for that knowledge and should be shared at a local level so people can see the amount of work behind the scenes that our volunteers do. I also think us being involved in different communities and charity organisations will help to increase our exposure and help to raise membership.
The new Community Membership that Basher (Daniel Bonfield) has created is a great baseline to educate people about our sport and will hopefully lead people to sign up as full members. It would be great to see more sanctioned leagues listed on the website, giving new bowlers more opportunities and seeing more inclusivity of everyone being allowed to bowl in these leagues.
Finally, Vicky, why should people try bowling?
As I’ve said before, bowling is truly a sport for everyone and being a year‑round activity that isn’t affected by the weather is definitely a bonus here in the UK!
Although it’s ultimately a solo sport, it’s also incredibly social. I’ve made so many new friends since I started bowling, and we love turning competitions into fun weekend getaways. When we compete in team events, we even have our own little group of cheerleaders who come along to support us 😊
Whatever your age or ability, I’d encourage anyone to head down to their local bowling centre and strike up a conversation with league bowlers or staff to find out how to begin their own bowling journey. You never know where it might lead…