FINISHING in second place doesn’t normally bring much satisfaction to Hereford bowls star Rob Weale.

But Weale admits it was an honour to be recognised alongside Wales and Tottenham Hotspur footballer Gareth Bale.

“Coming second in last month’s BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year competition was unbelievable,” said Weale.

“Gareth Bale is a high profile sportsman who has played for Tottenham and Wales on the world stage.”

Bale, 21, is a rising star of British football. He scored his first senior hat-trick in October against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

“To come second to someone like Gareth - in a competition that the general public votes for -means so much,” said Weale.

“I was very pleased to come above hurdler Dai Green which surprised me.”

Weale thoroughly deserved his spot alongside starlet Bale after an outstanding 2010.

He won a men's singles gold medal at October’s Commonwealth Games in India and became the Games' most successful bowler.

The Presteigne bowler was chosen to carry the Welsh flag at the Games’ closing ceremony.

“2010 was a very good year and a few things happened,” said Weale. “There was the national fours, the Welsh mixed pairs and the gold in Delhi.”

He also received the first-ever chairman’s Gold Kite Award from Powys County Council.

But it’s back to the rink for Weale tomorrow (Friday) when he steps on to the World Indoor Bowls Championships’ trail in Norfolk.

The Hereford-based player is teaming up with Jason Greenslade for a first-round pairs’ match against Scottish duo Michael Stepney and Andrew Barker.

Weale begins his attempt for a second indoor World singles title against South Africa’s Craig Rimmington at Potters next Monday.

Should he overcome Rimmington, Weale, the indoor singles winner in 2000, will then have a second-round tie against joint-fifth-ranked Simon Skelton or Phillip Last.

“Craig Rimmington is a regular qualifier,” said Weale, the runner- up in the 2009 men’s singles.

“I will have to be on my guard against him. My ambition is to have an improved World Indoor Championship display,” said Weale, who is ranked 12th. “I went out in the second round in 2010 on a dreaded tie-break.”

Weale was also invited to the BBC’s main Sports Personality of the Year awards in Birmingham.

“I had my photograph taken with a few of the stars,” he said.

“I am a big Wolves fans and I had my photograph taken with the manager, Mick McCarthy.”

Weale also had his picture taken with darts legend Phil Taylor and Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs.