PRESTEIGNE bowling legend Robert Weale faces a month of intense competition in the annual Potters World Indoor Bowls Championships, which started in Norfolk earlier this week.
A decade after lifting his first World Indoor Bowls title at the famous venue the 47-year-old is aiming to take home yet more silverware for his crowded trophy cabinet.
Weale has had sustained success at both major indoor and outdoor events having burst onto the scene almost 30 years ago, as the youngest ever bowler to participate in a Commonwealth Games for Wales.
Weale famously comes from a bowling family with his proudest accomplishment still the five Welsh outdoor fours titles won alongside brothers David, Brian and Stuart.
Currently Weale is in the record books as the only bowler in the history of the game to hold the indoor and outdoor Welsh titles simultaneously.
However Weale travels to Norfolk as an underdog, as No9 seed and faces a stern test against the cream of world indoor bowls with competitors from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, England, Scotland, South Africa, Ireland, Israel and Hong Kong descending on sleepy Norfolk.
The highest ranking Welshman in action will be No6 seed Jason Greenslade of Penarth, while the singles top seed remains Scottish ace Alex Marshall.
The competition began on Monday and will conclude with the prestigious singles final on January 24.
Weale was preparing for his first match as the County Times went to press, with the Presteigne-ace teaming up with Greenslade in the pairs against the English duo of Jamie Chestney and Graham Smith.
Victory would pit the Welsh pair against the Scottish entry of Alex Marshall and Mike Foster.
However the serious business begins on Saturday, January 16, for Weale when he kicks-off his world singles title bid against New Zealander Phil Bennett or fellow Welshman John Price having received a bye into the second round.
Weale is also pressing to ensure his ticket for the plane to Delhi in October, which would represent his seventh Commonwealth Games appearance.
Four years ago Weale took silver in the singles in the Melbourne games, having secured bronze four years earlier at the Manchester event.
Weale forms part of a strong Welsh representation in action in Norfolk and will be joined by compatriots Phil Rowlands, Richard Morgan, Jarrod Breen, John Price and Jason Greenslade in the the singles competition, while Kerry Packwood will fly the flag for the ladies.
Weale and Greenslade will team up in the pairs, with John Price and David Axon also in action in the same competition.
The month long bowls marathon is viewed as the World Cup of the indoor discipline with the best of the best from their respective countries participating.
For the past four years the event has been held at the Potters Leisure Resort - a five star holiday village - near Hopton-on-Sea.