DJ WILSON

Full Name: Derick John Wilson

Nickname on bowling green: DJ

How did you get the nickname: 
Pretty simple really, my dad is also called Derick so was called DJ from an early age  

DOB/Age: 14th May 1972 {36yrs}

Occupation: Bank Manager, Ulster Bank

What format did you start playing: Shortmat in my local church hall, Willowfield Parish when I was 11

Which was your first club: 
Shortmat - Willowfield Parish
Outdoor - Ardenlee

Which formats have you played and which do you still play:

I have played stadium as well as shortmat and outdoor but it is too far to travel when I have a busy job, a young family and I bowl right through the summer, nearly non stop. Shortmat is easier worked around

Which format do you prefer to play: Outdoor

Reason: Less luck than shortmat, different conditions every day mean it is a more challenging game than either shortmat or indoor

Make, model, size, colour and weight of bowls:  
Hensellite classic deluxe, size 4, black, medium

Who introduced you to bowls:  
A guy in my church Billy Majury - doubt he is still playing bowls as haven't seen him in 20+ years

Who has been the biggest influence on your bowling career: 
Sammy Kerr was a great help when I first played senior bowls, in recent times I have learnt a lot from Stevie Adamson and Neil Booth

Who would you most like to meet: 
Steven Gerrard 

Interests outside bowls:  
Soccer, family and business

Childhood Sporting hero:  
Kenny Dalglish 

Most memorable moment [in bowls or in life]: Life - birth of first child Thea,
Bowls - probably my first PG singles title in 2000

If you could change one policy/rule what would it be:  
PG league would be split to top 8 and played home and away
or if there was enough money/interest the main thing I would like see changed in bowls is a premier league between the best teams in the country - has to help the national team 

What do you regard as your best or most satisfying achievement in bowls:  
My main ambition from I started bowls was to “play against the players I watched on tv”.
My first cap was very satisfying

What goal[s] do you have in bowls: 
To win a medal at commonwealth games or world bowls

At what age did you make your international debut in each format:
Outdoor - 32 [2004]
Junior International [1995]
Shortmat - 'A' Series 27 [1999]

How many national titles have you won, which format and discipline: 

Shortmat 
Irish pairs

Irish triples

What outdoor green is the best you have played on Worldwide:  
I Played recently in California where greens were very good and quicker than any uk greens

In the UK: 
Call me biased, but Dunbarton rink 2 is as good as any rink I have ever played on
In NI: Dunbarton

Most difficult opponent:  
I recently played Ali Forsythe and Richard Girvan (New Zealand) who were outstanding, however at home I have always found the Daly/Thompson combination as one of the hardest to beat

Which opponent [if any] do you regularly play that usually beats you: 
Having a pretty strong record in pairs recently, Daly and Thompson tend to prove troublesome

What frustrates you most when playing:  
Players who call for wicks is as annoying as it gets

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: Absolutely

Do you think respected past and current internationals should be invited to have an input with the u25s: 
Yes if they have the time

Other titles or near misses: 
Outdoor 
Pg singles x 2
Pg pairs
Pg fours

Shortmat
Champion of champion triples x 4

We threw away the champion of champions triples final when we were going for fifth in a row, no one had ever won three in a row.

Plenty of other near misses – 3 pg pairs finals, pg triples final, irish fours final, lost irish pairs final on tie end etc – I could go on