Jamie-Lea Winch enjoyed the greatest success of her career on the Commonwealth stage.

And having completed a full haul of gold, silver and bronze medals at Birmingham 2022, Glasgow 2014 and Delhi 2012, the Leicestershire star is desperate for the Games to continue for the sake of bowls.

Winch, who plays at Kingscroft Bowls Club, won women’s triples gold alongside Natalie Chestney and Sian Honnor at the venue in Leamington Spa two years ago.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games were due to take place in Victoria, Australia, only for the state to pull out.

An alternative is currently being sought out, and Winch highlighted just why it is so important for bowls.

The 33-year-old said: “Fingers crossed something gets resolved. I’ve been so lucky to play in it. Playing in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was the highlight of my career. I look back on it and smile, the atmosphere was amazing playing in front of a home crowd. I hope the athletes get the chance to experience that as well.

“It’s such an amazing event to be a part of. I hope the Commonwealth Games continue. For us, it’s such a big event because we are included with other mainstream sports. It’s an opportunity for us and when we held the Games in Birmingham, we had loads of people turn up to watch the bowls who hadn’t necessarily seen it before.

“We were able to get the message out there and showcase the sport and top level play. So I hope it continues.”

Elsewhere, Nick Brett has become famous the world over and was dubbed the Brad Pitt of bowls.

But a Commonwealth Games medal on home soil is up there with anything he has achieved in the sport.

The 50-year-old won men’s triples gold and fours bronze at Birmingham 2022 – and corroborated Winch’s feelings on the future of bowls.

He added: “It’s very disappointing to not have it nailed one way or another. Bowls in the Commonwealth Games is an absolute must for us. If that doesn’t happen, that would be a big loss for our sport. So fingers crossed the Commonwealth Games can happen again and bowls can be there. It’s definitely one of my biggest, if not the biggest highlight outdoors, winning a home Commonwealth Games gold medal. It would be a massive disappointment for that not to happen again.

“Leamington looked like a massive sports venue, we were all treated like professional athletes, scanning in and out. Looking down from the top of the stands in Leamington was something that I’ll never forget.”

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