BARRY BROWNE

Nickname on bowling green: Bomber

How did you get the nickname:  
It was given to me by Jim Baker shortly after getting on the indoor international team

DOB/Age: 12/05/76 age 32

Occupation: Procurement Manager

What format did you start playing: 
Shortmat

Which was your first club:  
Sinclair Seamans Presbyterian Church 

Which formats have you played and which do you still play:
I've played shortmat, outdoor and stadium but currently play just outdoor and stadium.

Which format do you prefer to play:  Outdoor

Reason why:  
I just like the whole team ethic on a Saturday, the banter in the changing rooms and on the green and no matter what the score you have something to play for unlike the indoor where you're playing one rink for a set amount of points and the game can be over in half an hour.

Make, model, size, colour and weight of bowls: 
Outdoor - Henselite Classic, Size 5 Medium Weight. Indoor - Henselite Classic 2, Size 4 Heavyweight

Person who introduced you to bowls:  My dad

Who has been the biggest influence on your bowling career: 
I'd have to say my dad again

Who would you most like to meet:  David Moyes

Interests outside bowls: 
I love watching football and playing the odd game of golf

Childhood Sporting hero:  Andy Gray

Most memorable moment [in bowls or in life]:  
The birth of my daughter Sophie, nothing comes close to that

If you could change one policy/rule what would it be: 
I'd bring something like a shot clock in to prevent slow play

What do you regard as your best or most satisfying achievement in bowls:   
I've actually got a few, winning the British pairs with Marty for one, completing the full set of NIBA titles this year by winning the singles and playing in the World Singles at Potters a few years ago was great but the most satisfying achievement was winning my dad his first NIBA medal last year in the 4's after he'd missed out on the triples with a heart attack a few years previously 

What goal[s] do you have in bowls: 
I'd love to play in a major games like the Commonwealth or World Bowls

At what age did you make your international debut:
I think I was 21 indoor and 23 outdoor

What year or how long ago:  
The indoor was in 1999 in Bournemouth leading for Jim Baker and the outdoor was in 2000 in Llandrindod Wells playing 2nd for Gary Scott

How many major and national titles have you won, which format and discipline? 
All outdoor - 1 British Isles Under 25 Singles and 1 British Isles Pairs. 3 Irish Pairs, 1 Irish Under 25 Singles

What outdoor green is the best you have played on: 
Ulster Transport is as good as I've played on

Most difficult opponent: Marty McHugh

Which opponent [if any] do you regularly play that usually beats you: 
Up until the singles this year I'd never beaten Marty in singles so it would have been him and I'd had a bit of trouble getting past Neil Mulholland in the past but I've beaten him the last couple of times

What frustrates you most when playing: 
Bad ettiquette, calling and clapping wicks also people moving about when you're trying to play

Would you be in favour of players forming their own think-tank and having a place on the management committee of each outdoor association including the IBA:
Anything that can help the game move forward should be encouraged

Do you think respected past and current internationals should be invited to have an input with the u25s:
Absolutely, I think the advice that someone like Jim Baker can give the juniors will be invaluable to them

Other titles and Near Misses: 
Winner: 8 NIBA titles [1 Singles, 4 Pairs, 1 Triples, 2 Fours]
2 NIBA Under 25 Singles 
runner up in the following: 
Irish Indoor Under 25's - once
Irish Indoor Triples - once
NIBA Fours - once
NIBA Triples - once
NIBA Pairs - once
Runner up in World Under 25 singles to Darren Burnett in 2000