In my bio for Postcrossing, I don't put any preferences for cards with the exception of lawn bowling (bowls). I think of the nearly 4200 cards I've received at this point, this is only the second or third bowls card I have received. Bowls is huge in Australia. They have professional leagues and tournament and often claim world championships and Commonwealth Games gold. This is a first day cover of Mark Casey, the 2006 Commonwealth Games (Melbourne) gold medalist. Mark Casey's gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 was with a triples team. He also won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in 2010, again on a triples team. He has also won medals at the World Outdoor Championships - a gold in 2012 with the men's four team, and four silvers - 2 on the men's four team, and 2 with a triples team. He also has seven medals in the Asia Pacific Bowls Championships. Three golds (1 triples and 2 fours), three silvers (1 fours and 2 pairs), and a bronze...

It is rare for me to receive a bowls card and when I do its a big deal! Helen found me a bowls card from the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Manchester. Manchester is found 16 km from Bolton.  Bowls at the games were played at Heaton Park in Manchester. The greens were built in Heaton Park specifically for these games. Canadians Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong, Andrea Weigand, Melissa Ranger, and Anita Nivala took the silver medal in women's fours, losing out to a foursome from England.