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16 October 2014

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Bowls

Richard Corsie

Richard Corsie

© SCRAN

Indoors he was Scottish junior champion in 1985 and 1989 but, surprisingly, never won the senior national title. However, he added the British Isles junior crown in 1989 and was capped continuously from 1989 to 1998.

Without doubt it was at the indoor code that he gained greatest fame with the millions who watch bowls on television. In 1989 at the Preston Guildhall he captured the first of three world singles title defeating his mentor and fellow Scot Willie Wood in the final.

Two years later he was back, seeing off the challenge of Australia's Ian Schuback before adding a record-equalling third title in 1993 when he enjoyed victory over Blantyre's Jim McCann. In 1994 and 1995 he finished runner-up, both times to Scots-born Londoner Andy Thomson and when the event switched from Lancashire to its present venue in Norfolk was runner-up twice again in 2001 and 2002 to Troon's Paul Foster and old adversary Tony Allcock.

The last two appearances in the final were remarkable in that Corsie competed at a time when he was hardly playing any bowls at all, such were the pressures of his business commitments.

Corsie was always an enigmatic character, someone of enormous talent and ability who did not hide the fact he would rather have possessed such skills on the golf course than the bowling green! He could appear distant and detached from his peers yet socially could be good company, possessing an instinctive understanding of how the media worked and what their needs were.

Veteran bowls writer and BBC TV commentator David Rhys Jones followed Corsie's progress throughout his career and considers him the "most naturally gifted player I have seen."

Richard Corsie

© EMPICS

Rhys Jones adds: "His record speaks for itself but it could have been even more impressive had he possessed the dedication and powers of application of such as David Bryant and Ian Schuback. The truth is he found bowls too easy and would often start like a well-oiled machine before seeming to lose interest. However when in the mood and firing on all cylinders he was a joy to behold and I count myself priviledged to have watched and commentated on most of his principal triumphs."

Awarded an MBE, Corsie "retired" from the sport in 2003, at the age of 37, to concentrate on his extensive business interests in the leisure industry leaving thousands of Scots bowlers saddened by his decision but much the richer for having enjoyed such a marvellous talent at its peak.

Written by: Ron Wyllie

Page: 12

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