John Snell has been in the forefront of Australian bowls for over a decade. Twice he has earned the distinction of being rated second in the world behind the undisputed champion, David Bryant of England, winning the singles silver medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada, and the 1980 World Championships at Frankston in Victoria.

With over a million bowlers throughout the world, that is no mean achievement.

On five occasions, John Snell has been Victorian Masters Singles champion, as well as Victorian Champion of Champions, and winner of the Ampol Masters in Sydney.

He has represented Victoria in interstate matches more than 160 times, and Australia in international matches sixty-three times.

Yet, if it hadn’t been for tennis, bowls may never have claimed one of its greatest exponents. It was while waiting for a game of tennis back in 1960 that John first tried his hand at the grand old game. This was in the small wheat town of Kaniva in Victoria’s Wimmera, where he had been posted by the Bank of New South Wales. Subsequent postings sent him to many different towns (and bowling clubs), but today John lives in Melbourne where he is a retirement consultant for the Bank. He is married with four children.

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