# Gillian Gowers

Gillian Carol Gowers (born 9 April 1964, in Horfield) is an English retired badminton player.

## Badminton career
### World Championships

She won the bronze medal at the 1985 IBF World Championships in mixed doubles with Nigel Tier.

### Olympic Games

Gowers participated in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics for Great Britain.

### Commonwealth Games

She represented England and won double gold medal in the team event and the women's doubles with Gillian Clark, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. She also participated in the singles and mixed doubles.
Four years later she represented England again and won another gold medal in the team event but had to settle for a silver medal in the women's doubles with Clark, at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.

## Achievements
### World Championships

Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1985 | Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, Canada | Nigel Tier | Park Joo-bong Yoo Sang-hee | 4–15, 8–15 | Bronze |

### World Cup

Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1992 | Guangdong Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China | Sara Sankey | Lin Yanfen Yao Fen | 0–15, 3–15 | Silver |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1987 | Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Jan Paulsen | Wang Pengren Shi Fangjing | 10–15, 7–15 | Bronze |
| 1988 | National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Andy Goode | Wang Pengren Shi Fangjing | 6–15, 12–15 | Bronze |
| 1990 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Jan Paulsen | Rudy Gunawan Rosiana Tendean | 15–11, 9–15, 3–15 | Silver |
| 1992 | Guangzhou Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China | Jan Paulsen | Rudy Gunawan Rosiana Tendean | 15–17, 9–15 | Silver |
| 1993 | Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi, India | Peter Axelsson | Aryono Miranat Eliza Nathanael | 10–15, 15–7, 15–5 | Gold |

### Commonwealth Games

Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1986 | Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland | Gillian Clark | Denyse Julien Johanne Falardeau | 15–6, 15–7 | Gold |
| 1990 | Auckland Badminton Hall, Auckland, New Zealand | Gillian Clark | Fiona Smith Sara Sankey | 14–18, 15–2, 9–15 | Silver |

### European Championships

Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1986 | Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden | Gillian Clark | Dorte Kjær Nettie Nielsen | 15–11, 15–12 | Gold |
| 1990 | Luzhniki, Moscow, Soviet Union | Gillian Clark | Eline Coene Erica van Dijck | 10–15, 15–11, 15–17 | Bronze |
| 1992 | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland | Sara Sankey | Lim Xiaoqing Christine Magnusson | 5–15, 15–17 | Bronze |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1986 | Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden | Nigel Tier | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 6–15, 8–15 | Silver |
| 1990 | Luzhniki, Moscow, Soviet Union | Jan Paulsen | Jon Holst-Christensen Grete Mogensen | 15–8, 14–18, 9–15 | Bronze |

### European Junior Championships

Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1981 | Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland | Chris Dobson | Mark Christiansen Dorte Kjær | 15–11, 15–17, 3–15 | Bronze |

### IBF World Grand Prix (37 titles, 56 runners-up)

The World Badminton Grand Prix was sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983-2006.
Women's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1984 | Scottish Open | Sally Podger | 7–11, 5–11 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Malaysia Open | Helen Troke | walkover | Winner |
| 1985 | English Masters | Kirsten Larsen | 5–11, 0–11 | Runner-up |
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1984 | Thailand Open | Helen Troke | Gillian Gilks Karen Beckman | 16–18, 18–17, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Canada Open | Karen Chapman | Chen Hong Luo Yun | 15–5, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1985 | Dutch Open | Gillian Clark | Eline Coene Erica van Dijck | 15–4, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1985 | Malaysia Open | Gillian Clark | Verawaty Fadjrin Dwi Elmyati | 15–10, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1985 | India Open | Gillian Clark | Hwang Sun-ae Kang Haeng-suk | 7–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | English Masters | Gillian Clark | Karen Beckman Sara Sankey | 11–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Dutch Open | Helen Troke | Eline Coene Erica van Dijck | 18–15, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1986 | Carlton-Intersport-Cup | Gillian Clark | Dorte Kjær Nettie Nielsen | 15–9, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1986 | Denmark Open | Gillian Clark | Zheng Yuli Gu Jiaming | 9–15, 18–15, 17–16 | Winner |
| 1986 | English Masters | Gillian Clark | Maria Bengtsson Christine Magnusson | 5–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Poona Open | Gillian Clark | Sarwendah Kusumawardhani Erma Sulistianingsih | 15–3, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1987 | German Open | Gillian Clark | Lin Ying Guan Weizhen | 6–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | English Masters | Gillian Clark | Dorte Kjær Nettie Nielsen | 8–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Denmark Open | Gillian Clark | Atsuko Tokuda Yoshiko Yonekura | 7–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Scottish Open | Helen Troke | Fiona Elliott Sara Halsall | 11–15, 15–3, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1988 | Chinese Taipei Open | Gillian Clark | Maria Bengtsson Christine Magnusson | 15–6, 6–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1988 | Japan Open | Gillian Clark | Chung Myung-hee Chung So-young | 2–15, 15–7, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1988 | German Open | Gillian Clark | Lao Yujing Zheng Yuli | 8–15, 15–3, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1989 | German Open | Gillian Clark | Erma Sulistianingsih Rosiana Tendean | 15–10, 2–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1989 | Dutch Open | Gillian Clark | Pernille Dupont Grete Mogensen | 11–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1989 | Denmark Open | Gillian Clark | Lin Ying Guan Weizhen | 1–15, 3–15 | Runner-up |
| 1989 | Scottish Open | Gillian Clark | Karen Chapman Sara Sankey | 15–10, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1990 | Chinese Taipei Open | Gillian Clark | Chun Sung-suk Shim Eun-jung | 15–3, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1990 | Finnish Open | Gillian Clark | Maria Bengtsson Christine Magnusson | 12–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1990 | All England Open | Gillian Clark | Chung Myung-hee Hwang Hye-young | 15–6, 4–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1990 | Singapore Open | Gillian Clark | Maria Bengtsson Christine Magnusson | 15–12, 15–13 | Winner |
| 1990 | Denmark Open | Gillian Clark | Dorte Kjær Lotte Olsen | 13–15, 15–9, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1990 | Scottish Open | Gillian Clark | Catrine Bengtsson Maria Bengtsson | 16–18, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1991 | Japan Open | Gillian Clark | Guan Weizhen Nong Qunhua | 6–15, 18–15, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1991 | Canada Open | Sara Sankey | Kang Bok-seung Shim Eun-jung | 12–15, 15–12, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1991 | Dutch Open | Sara Sankey | Catrine Bengtsson Maria Bengtsson | 15–9, 18–16 | Winner |
| 1991 | Denmark Open | Nettie Nielsen | Finarsih Lili Tampi | 15–7, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1992 | Indonesia Open | Gillian Clark | Erma Sulistianingsih Rosiana Tendean | 12–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1992 | Singapore Open | Gillian Clark | Chen Ying Sheng Wenqing | 16–18, 15–4, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1992 | World Grand Prix Finals | Gillian Clark | Lin Yanfen Yao Fen | 7–15, 16–17 | Runner-up |
| 1995 | Chinese Taipei Open | Lisbet Stuer-Lauridsen | Helene Kirkegaard Rikke Olsen | 5–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1996 | Scottish Open | Joanne Goode | Liu Lu Qian Hong | 15–8, 3–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1984 | Scottish Open | Billy Gilliland | Duncan Bridge Sara Leeves | 15–8, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1984 | Dutch Open | Billy Gilliland | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 14–17, 15–13, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Swedish Open | Dipak Tailor | Thomas Kihlström Maria Bengtsson | 6–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | All England Open | Nigel Tier | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 8–15, 3–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Malaysia Open | Nigel Tier | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 6–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | English Masters | Billy Gilliland | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 15–18, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Scandinavian Cup | Dipak Tailor | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 14–17, 3–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Canada Open | Nigel Tier | Billy Gilliland Karen Chapman | 15–3, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1985 | Hong Kong Open | Billy Gilliland | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 10–15, 16–18 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Chinese Taipei Open | Billy Gilliland | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 8–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Japan Open | Billy Gilliland | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 15–10, 18–15 | Winner |
| 1985 | German Open | Nigel Tier | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 15–12, 4–15, 13–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Indonesia Open | Nigel Tier | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 12–15, 0–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | India Open | Steve Baddeley | Kim Moon-soo Kang Haeng-suk | 11–15, 15–9, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1985 | English Masters | Billy Gilliland | Steen Fladberg Gitte Paulsen | 15–7, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1985 | Scandinavian Cup | Nigel Tier | Stefan Karlsson Maria Bengtsson | 8–15, 15–5, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1985 | Scottish Open | Billy Gilliland | Rob Ridder Erica van Dijck | 15–12, 10–15, 18–17 | Winner |
| 1986 | Japan Open | Nigel Tier | Billy Gilliland Nora Perry | 15–17, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Dutch Open | Anders Nielsen | Andy Goode Fiona Smith | 8–15, 15–10, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | China Open | Nigel Tier | Park Joo-bong Chung Myung-hee | 4–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Indonesia Open | Steve Baddeley | Steen Fladberg Gillian Clark | 5–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Carlton-Intersport-Cup | Nigel Tier | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 12–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | English Masters | Jan-Eric Antonsson | Billy Gilliland Nora Perry | 15–12, 15–17, 14–17 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | World Grand Prix Finals | Nigel Tier | Thomas Kihlström Christine Magnusson | 15–8, 18–15 | Winner |
| 1987 | Chinese Taipei Open | Billy Gilliland | Steen Fladberg Gillian Clark | 7–15, 18–14, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Japan Open | Billy Gilliland | Lee Deuk-choon Chung Myung-hee | 12–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Hong Kong Open | Billy Gilliland | Jiang Guoliang Nong Qunhua | 18–14, 13–15, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1987 | Malaysia Open | Billy Gilliland | Steen Fladberg Gillian Clark | 7–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Indonesia Open | Jan Paulsen | Zhou Jincan Lao Yujing | 14–18, 15–9, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1987 | Canada Open | Andy Goode | Lee Deuk-choon Chung So-young | 3–15, 15–11, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1987 | World Grand Prix Finals | Billy Gilliland | Stefan Karlsson Maria Bengtsson | 8–15, 15–18 | Runner-up |
| 1988 | Chinese Taipei Open | Andy Goode | Jan-Eric Antonsson Maria Bengtsson | 15–7, 15–13 | Winner |
| 1988 | World Grand Prix Finals | Andy Goode | Wang Pengren Shi Fangjing | 6–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1989 | Chinese Taipei Open | Jan Paulsen | Henrik Svarrer Dorte Kjaer | 8–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1989 | Poona Open | Jan Paulsen | Jan-Eric Antonsson Maria Bengtsson | 18–15, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1989 | German Open | Jan Paulsen | Rudy Gunawan Rosiana Tendean | 18–16, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1989 | Scottish Open | Jon Holst-Christensen | Michael Brown Jillian Wallwork | 15–6, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1990 | Malaysia Open | Jan Paulsen | Park Joo-bong Chung Myung-hee | 12–15, 1–15 | Runner-up |
| 1990 | Singapore Open | Jan Paulsen | Jan-Eric Antonsson Maria Bengtsson | 15–9, 10–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1990 | German Open | Jan Paulsen | Par-Gunnar Jonsson Maria Bengtsson | 7–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1991 | Canada Open | Nick Ponting | Par-Gunnar Jonsson Maria Bengtsson | 15–10, 15–17, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1991 | U.S. Open | Nick Ponting | Lee Sang-bok Shim Eun-jung | 14–18, 2–15 | Runner-up |
| 1991 | German Open | Jan Paulsen | Thomas Lund Pernille Dupont | 12–15, 14–17 | Runner-up |
| 1993 | Swedish Open | Peter Axelsson | Thomas Lund Catrine Bengtsson | 4–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1993 | Malaysia Open | Michael Søgaard | Paulus Firman S. Herawati | 18–13, 15–13 | Winner |
| 1993 | U.S. Open | Michael Søgaard | Thomas Lund Catrine Bengtsson | 7–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1993 | German Open | Michael Søgaard | Thomas Lund Erica van den Heuvel | 4–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1994 | Chinese Taipei Open | Michael Søgaard | Peter Axelsson Marlene Thomsen | 18–14, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1994 | Japan Open | Michael Søgaard | Jon Holst-Christensen Catrine Bengtsson | 7–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1994 | Korea Open | Michael Søgaard | Peter Axelsson Marlene Thomsen | 15–12, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1994 | Dutch Open | Chris Hunt | Flandy Limpele Dede Hasanah | 15–5, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1994 | China Open | Michael Søgaard | Thomas Lund Marlene Thomsen | 3–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1995 | Russian Open | Chris Hunt | Jens Eriksen Marlene Thomsen | 3–15, 16–18 | Runner-up |

### IBF International (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Women doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1991 | Wimbledon International | Sara Sankey | Julie Bradbury Gillian Clark | 15–5, 10–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1991 | Wimbledon International | Andy Goode | Andrey Antropov Irina Serova | 15–4, 15–0 | Winner |