Rednall beats Merrien to win Commonwealth bowls gold

Katherine Rednall beat Guernsey's Alison Merrien 2-0 to win women's bowls singles gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Rednall became just the third English woman to win a Commonwealth Games title as Merrien claimed Guernsey's first and only medal at Glasgow 2026.

The victory means England have won three of the four bowls gold medals after Sam Tolchard won the men's singles and Amy Pharaoh and Sian Honnor won the women's pairs.

Seven-time World Indoor Bowls Championship singles champion Rednall made her intentions clear as she hit the jack with her very first bowl and took a 3-0 lead in the first end.

But Merrien responded with three shots in the next end in what became a close set.

The lead changed hands three times in the next four ends as Rednall led 7-6 going into the final end of the set before taking a shot in the final end after Merrien unsuccessfully drove with her final ball to win it 8-6.

Having gone a shot down in the first end Rednall responded and went 4-1 up after three ends.

Merrien pulled a shot back in each of the next two ends but Rednall remained confident and two shots in the penultimate end put her in a near unassailable 6-3 lead and the Guernsey player could not recover in the final end as Rednall won 8-3.

Merrien reached the final after beating Malaysia's Emma Firyana Saroji 2-0 in Saturday's semi-final while Rednall beat Norfolk island's Shae Wilson in a tie-break in her semi-final.

Wilson beat Saroji 2-0 in their play-off to win the bronze medal.

"It's amazing," Rednall told TNT Sports after winning the final.

"I knew that I would have to pull out the best game possible.

"Ali is such an amazing opposition, credit to her because she's been fantastic this week.

"I wasn't looking forward to playing her at all, but just knew that I had to pull out a game running at 90% or 100% and I managed it."

For Merrien it was the latest medal in an illustrious career that has put Guernsey bowls on the map.

"It's been a fantastic fortnight and I've got a medal, so I'm really chuffed," Merrien told BBC Guernsey.

"I'm disappointed I lost, but I gave it my all in the first set.

"The second set I was just trying to keep it tight and give myself a chance, even on the last end I had a chance of making a four, but it's a tricky rink to try and move the jack on that surface.

"I didn't play as well as I played yesterday, but Katherine's a good player, she was out there to win it as much as I was, she's a tough opponent."

The medal is the latest chapter in a career that has made Merrien one of Guernsey's most decorated sports people.

She won the three gold medals at the World Indoor Bowls Championship and this year took the World Bowls Indoor Championship title.

She was the 2007 Champion of Champions and has twice won the World Cup singles, as well as being awarded an MBE for her services to the sport in the 2012 New Year Honours.

Merrien has already competed in the women's pairs with Rose Ogier where they finished third in their group.

She carried Guernsey's flag at the opening ceremony with husband Ian, who played in the men's pairs with Jason Greenslade.

"I've certainly had a good career - as the girls reminded me on the podium I'm probably twice their age," the Guernsey medallist joked.

"But I've still go stuff in me yet, so just watch out. "

Merrien's medal is the ninth won by a Guernsey competitor at the Commonwealth Games.

It is the second bowls medal in the women's singles in as many games after Lucy Beere won silver in Birmingham four years ago.

Alastair Chalmers won 400m hurdles bronze in 2022 - Guernsey's first medals since Adrian Breton's record of three medals in as many games.

Having won 25m rapid-fire silver in 1986 he tookthe island's only gold in 1990 before winning pairs bronze in 1994 with Graham La Maitre.

It is Guernsey's third bowls medal after Jenny Nicolle and Marie Smith won women's pairs silver in 1986.

The island's first medals came in shooting in 1982 when Matthew Guille won 10m air rifle silver and Charles Trotter took bronze in fullbore.