BBC CYMRU WALES SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2010 Winner announcement: Monday evening, 6 December on BBC Wales radio, online and television, with review of the sporting year at later date.
2010 proved the crowning year of Robert Weale's distinguished career as he claimed gold for Wales in the men's singles lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.  | To celebrate becoming the most successful bowler in Games history, Weale was chosen to carry the Welsh flag at the closing ceremony in Delhi |
The 47-year-old from Presteigne beat Australia's Leif Selby in a thrilling three-set final to claim Wales' second and final gold of the Games. It was the sixth medal for Weale in his seventh Games as he broke the Commonwealth bowls record held by England's David Bryant, but it was his first singles title. The mid-Wales man claimed singles bronze in Manchester in 2002 then silver in Melbourne four years later, adding to his gold in the fours at Auckland in 1986 and pairs silvers from 1994 and 1998. To celebrate becoming the most successful bowler in Games history, Hereford-born Weale was chosen to carry the Welsh flag at the closing ceremony in Delhi. Weale first played bowls at the age of 11 at at Presteigne Bowls Club, introduced to the game by a friend of his father's, Eddie Gummer, who wanted new players to prevent the club from folding. At the age of 14 he won his first tournament, the Rhayader Open Singles - beating his father in the final. His international career began in 1982 at the age of 19, and he has represented his country with distinction since, becoming Wales' most-capped player in 2004. In 2000 Weale won both the world indoor singles title and the fours world outdoor title.
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