RESULTS of the Final Competitions played Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6.

In a much depleted programme again this year only two matches were played on Friday, September 5.

Ladies Pairs Winners were G Hughes and E Carryer 21 shots to 9. Runners up were P Goode and C Jenkins. Both pairs made a slow start to reach 5 shots all at the seventh end. From that end on, Gill and Eileen steadily increased their lead, picking up five shots on the 19th end to win the game conclusively 21 shots to 9. The last end was not played.

Men’s Pairs Semi Final Winners were C Salvidge and B Frampton 28 shots to 8. Runners up T Phillips and T Rice. Clive and Bill took an early lead and were never really threatened, increasing their lead substantially as the game went on.

Saturday’s games began with

Mixed Pairs Winners M Warman and M Clake, 32 shots to 8. Runners up G Hughes and B Frampton. Maurice and Marilyn took a commanding lead by the seventh end of 19 shots to 0, and never lost it.

Men’s Pairs Winners R Huntley and R Mauchline 19 shots to 18. Runners up C Salvidge and B Frampton. Clive and Bill having had an easy entry into the final found this match became the marathon match of the finals, with the two Rogers taking an early lead. A dogged fight back brought the pairs level with 12 all on the 13th end, which then went to 15 all on the 17th end. The next three ends went to the two Rogers by 1 shot only on each end, until Clive and Bill picked up 3 on the last end to draw the score. Everyone watching was on tenderhooks as the umpire was called to measure a possible fourth wood as the jack had been moved some distance back. This would have given the match to Clive and Bill had it been in, it wasn’t and with the score drawn, another end had to be played. Again every wood was keenly contested and after a valiant performance from all players throughout the game, Clive and Bill lost by one close shot. The whole 22 end had taken three hours to play, with amazing shots from all players. Congratulations to the two Rogers, but it was truly a match to remember with both pairs deserving to win.

Ladies Singles Winner M Clake 21 shots to 18. Runner up S Mauchline. As the score suggests these two were equally matched in skill and determination, with the lead changing hands frequently. Both players showed great variety in their strategies and tactics used to break the drawn scores at 10 all and 12 all. Marilyn pulled ahead for the next few ends and established a two shot lead. It took until the 25 end for Marilyn to gain the one shot needed to give her victory, as Sheila had fought back to bring her within striking distance – with a score of 18 shots to Marilyn’s 20. The men’s captain Phil Jenkins was called upon to measure frequently as all shots lay close, separated only by millimetres for many ends. A truly exciting match to watch, with nothing to choose between the contestants in skill, concentration and tactics, each employing jacks of varying length and the heads being tight.

Men’s Singles Winner D Poole 21 shots to 11. Runner up M Hughes. This match began with scores being low for the first ten ends when it reached seven shots all. David to take a narrow lead for the next four ends with Mark staging a sure and steady comeback until the 16th end when he dropped three shots, allowing David to take a six shot lead, which he managed to hold onto until he reached 21 shots he required for victory after 19 ends, with Mark only scoring one more shot before the final end. Again heads were tight with only small distances determining the shot wood from the opposition woods.

Ladies Triples Winners P Munter, S Blainey, C Tranter. This game was played as a Round Robin with the winners getting four points and 43 shots. The other teams were P Goode, P Ayres, M Clake and A Croom, S Mauchline, C Jenkins.

Esther Proctor Competition. This is a two wood mixed singles game which was played on Saturday, September 13, and is a knock out competition. The winner this year was Ian Robinson, runner up Tony Davies who played in this competition for the first time.

The warm weather suited players and spectators alike, although Saturday’s first two matches were played in the rain it soon cleared away allowing good accurate bowling to follow in all matches. A good standard of bowling prevailed throughout, even if the scores did not indicate this in all matches. Luck in the form of ‘wicks’ which all of us hope for at times played its part as usual altering the course or result of the match.

The President Mrs Judy Fudge thanked everyone for their hard work, the bowlers for their expertise and spirit in which all the games were played. Thanks to the officers Phil Jenkins, Men’s Captain for marking the Ladies Singles, Cynthia Tranter, Ladies Secretary for marking the Men’s singles, the scoreboard recorders, Ian Robinson and herself, together with the Competition Secretaries Sheila and Derek Blainey for their undoubted organisation in making the weekend so successful. Derek too was the much called upon referee.

Of course many thanks were given to the ladies for the refreshments provided and the men who manned the bar on this hot weekend, by players and spectators alike.

Jackie Rosser