Elgin man becomes bowls world champion at World Indoor Bowls Championship 2025
An Elgin man has claimed the biggest title of his career after becoming a bowls world champion.
Michael Stepney won the open pairs title at the 2025 World Indoor Bowls Championship alongside Jason Banks, defeating Jason Greenslade and Robert Paxton in the final held in Great Yarmouth on Monday.
A tight encounter ended 10-9 6-8 2-0 after Michael and Jason had trailed 7-1 in both sets.
“We just clawed our way back,” Michael said.
“With a little bit of luck we may have even got a draw in the second set but we got over the line and that’s really all that matters.
“They probably played slightly better than us but I think I played the right bowls at the right time.”
Michael has come close on two occasions to winning the title.
He nearly won the title in 2011 when he was just a qualifier and then again in 2023. On both occasions he got to the pairs final but ultimately lost.
“I’ve been here twice before and I have been beaten twice,” Michael said.
“I really didn’t want to be beaten again so maybe that had something to do with it.
“Maybe I just found something inside myself to be able to play the big bowls at the right time to give us a chance.
“I think the difference this year is that myself and Jason both played really well together and you need that.”
Michael’s next goal is to better his best showing in the singles where he has previously reached the quarter finals.
He added: “To get the first one in the pairs is absolutely massive because to win any world title is huge.
“But you want to try and win the singles as well.
“It’s the one I’ve been trying to win for years but I’ve still not got it.
“It’s what we’re all there to do so I’ll give it my best.”