JAMES TALBOT

Full Name: James Thomas Talbot

 
Nickname: None

 
DOB: 10th March 1972

 
Place of Birth: Dungannon

 
Occupation: Electrician

 
What format did you start playing: Shortmat

 
Which was your first club: 
Drummaul Parish (short mat),
Old Bleach B.C. (outdoor)

 

Which formats have you played and which do you still play: 
I’ve played them all at some point but just play outdoor now. 
This winter (2009) I’ll probably join the Baker Stadium again, haven’t played indoor for about 10 years

 
Which format do you prefer to play:
Outdoor, it’s such a great game for meeting loads of people and I love playing on different greens with different conditions

 
Make, Model, size, colour and weight of bowls:
Henselite, size 5 medium black bowls

 
Person who introduced you to bowls:
Cyril Scott from my old short mat club. At the end of that first season he asked me if I wanted to try outdoor

 
Who has been the biggest influence on your bowling career: 
Played along with Jim Baker on the PGL team for quite a number of years and hardly ever lost with him. He shows you how the game should be played

 
Who would you most like to meet:
Kelly Brook, forget sportstars!

 
Interests outside bowls:
Love going to watch Man Utd playing no matter where.
Playing Pool, having an odd beer or three

 
Childhood sporting hero: 
Alex ‘hurricane’ Higgins

Most memorable moment:
Winning the PGL singles back to back in 97 and 98 and reaching the final in 99. Only one other person has won back to back singles and that was back in 49 and 50.
I think it was 23 wins on the trot which I hope will not be beaten for a while

 
If you could change one policy/rule what would it be:
The rules are OK but I would like to see PGL division one and two split into either three or four divisions and everyone playing home and away. 
Everyone would benefit as you would be playing someone of a similar standard every week

 
What do you regard as your most satisfying achievement in bowls:
Playing for Ireland. The atmosphere that comes with playing for your country is something I could never tire of. Just look at the game against England this year at Belmont, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that.

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:
Most definitely

 
Do you think respected past and current internationals should be invited to have an input with the U25s:
Most definitely

 
How many caps at international level in each format:
3 indoor, 30 outdoor

 
Which clubs have you belonged to for each format:
Old Bleach B.C. and Jim baker Stadium

 
Who are the most promising prospects for each format:
Not sure about indoor, Gary Kelly, Steven Shields, Andy Duncan are all superb players

 
Did you know/points of interest:
Once met the entire Man Utd team in their team hotel in Rio, Brazil, 2000

 
How many major and national titles have you won, which format and discipline:
8 Pgl Titles 
2 singles, 1997 + 1998
2 pairs, 1993 + 1996 both with Michael Nutt
3 triples, 1997, 1998 + 2001
1 fours, 2001

2 Irish titles
triples, 2001
fours, 2001

1 British Isles title 
fours, 2001

 
Other titles or near misses:
Been beaten in 2 other Pgl singles finals, 1 triples final and 2 fours finals

Lost in the Irish singles and Irish triples finals 2 years in a row (1997 &98)

Lost in the British Isles fours final, indoor