Commonwealth Para bowls star makes time for club admin

A para-bowler preparing for his Commonwealth Games event in Glasgow has still managed to keep on top of his administrative duties back at his busy home club.

Kieran Rollings, 26, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, will take his turn at the mat in Glasgow from 19:15 BST on Tuesday, four years after winning a bronze medal.

His club paid tribute to his commitment and "overall competitiveness" and said he had not forgotten his dedication to Kettering Lodge Bowling Club.

Alan Simms, from the club - where Rollings started his career and was still a member - said the para-bowler had kept in touch and "put a team sheet out for a triples game on Friday".

"His greatest attribute is his commitment, his dedication and his overall competitiveness," Simms added.

"He just wants to win but he can take defeat."

Linda Simms, the club's secretary, has known Rollings since he took up the sport at the age of 11 and said he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather who was also a bowler at the same Northants club.

"It's been really good watching him grow up," she said.

"Kieran was always very keen - he progressed and you could always see that he was going to crack this.

"We're very proud he's now doing his third Commonwealth Games.

"To watch a youngster grow and progress is amazing," she added.

His mother, Heather Rollings, is in Glasgow getting ready to watch her son later, pairing up with Joe Peplow.

She said he first competed in the Commonwealth Games in 2018 when it was held in the Gold Coast, Australia, which was his first trip away from home and his first flight.

He did not take home a medal, as he came fourth, but he did win a bronze in the 2022 Birmingham games, when he partnered Craig Bowler.

She said the whole family played the sport, including his brother Connor, but Rollings was "better than me".

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