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Coffee, yoga, and a good night's sleep at home all helped Guernsey's Jason Greenslade claim the men's singles title at the World Bowls Indoor Championship.
The global event was held in Guernsey last week at the Hougue du Pommier.
In front of a a few hundred people, and with potentially hundreds of thousands of people watching the live stream, Greenslade defeated Malaysia's Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple 6-5, 9-3 in the final.
Pictured: Just moments before his Men's Singles Final win was confirmed, Guernsey's Jason Greenslade was closely watching his Malaysian opponent's progress.
Immediately after the win was secured he introduced himself to Express as "the new World Indoor singles champion" which is a title he's justifiably proud to have won.
"It was a strange game because I was expected to win playing on home soil," acknowledged the winner. "I know the green inside out, but that can go two ways. That can go against you and you can put yourself under pressure. But I've been playing well. I'm nice and relaxed.
"I'm lucky that I'm not staying in a hotel. I'm staying at home, which is a massive help, so I've just been drinking lots of coffee, and doing lots of yoga. I've been lucky that work have allowed me to have a week off, so that's been really nice.
"It's just a really proud moment in my life. I didn't expect it at 54 because I've been around a long time. I've lost in a lot of World Finals. I did win the World Indoor pairs once, but I've lost in the World Singles Final, and World Champions Final so this is like the icing on the cake for me."
Pictured: Jason Greenslade competing in the Men's Singles final at the World Indoor Bowls Competition in Guernsey.
Hosting the World Indoor Bowls tournament in Guernsey put extra pressure on the home players said Greenslade.
"It's just been very hard work. Very stressful. But the ending is the perfect ending," he said.
At 54, Jason was neither the youngest nor the oldest taking part in the weeklong competition in Guernsey last week. He acknowledged the age gap between himself and his final opposition, Malaysia's Dzulkeple, but said this is proof of the sport's inclusivity.
"He is (young), there's a lot of very young competitors here. I would say gone are the days where bowls is an old man's game.
"I'm 54 but I keep myself fairly fit, so I don't consider myself to be 54, except when I look in the mirror! But no, so I think we are lucky. We're playing a great sport, that can be played at any age. It doesn't matter if you're good, you're good. You can be good at 10 or 50. I don't think it matters. And I think that's our big plus for our sport."
Watching the finals on Saturday afternoon were a number of young players including some who were selected to be involved with the presentation ceremonies. Greenslade hopes that will give them the impetus to continue training and playing.
Pictured: Malaysia's Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple was defeated by Jason Greenslade 6-5, 9-3 in the final.
"I'm hoping the Guernsey Indoor Balls and the Guernsey Outdoor Balls Club will see a lot more new members of all age groups now because it is a great social sport.
"Apart from winning stuff and and all the glittery things you can win, I think it's a very good, social sport. My daughter horse rides, she's never played bowls, but now she wants to go and have a go."
The Greenslade family moved to Guernsey a few years ago and, as he already knew the island's multiple competition winning Alison Merrien MBE he immediately joined the island's bowls clubs.
"I am lucky. From day one, Ali's made me welcome. I've known her for a long time so when I knew I was coming, I did let her know and if I'm honest, they've been very supportive and, like my daughter said to me, it's like a family, and that's what it is."
Pictured top (l-r): Alison Merrien MBE, Jason Greenslade, Nor Farah Ain Abdullah, Samatha Atkinson and Ray Pearse, and Hazel Wilson. Picture from worldbowls.com
World Bowls Indoor Championship: Finals
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