Competition Winners 2016/7
Bowls normally gets the reputation of being a dull game for older people but this years Club Finals took a huge step towards debunking that particular myth.
Kim Tubb and Bev Bale faced each other in the Ladies Singles, Tubb hit the ground running opening up a 7-0 lead in four ends. Bale then fought back, reaching parity on 8-8 and then 11-11. Tubb hit a treble and double to lead 16-11 only to see Bale reel off four doubles and a single to be on the cusp of victory, 20-16. In another twist Tubb then added a treble, the game now poised on 20-19 but it was Bev Bale that took the title in a thrilling 21-19 win.
Thornfield’s Under 25s section has enjoyed a lot of success this season so it was perhaps fitting that two of the Juniors would contest the Gents Singles, 17 year old Oliver Fowler playing 16 year old Tom Wheeler. While Fowler won the encounter 21-5 the scoreline didn’t represent how close the game was with Oliver just having that little bit extra.
Not content to let the Ladies and the youngsters produce all the thrillers Doug Pitcher and Roy Scott produced an amazing game themselves in the Over 60s Singles final. Scott started well, opening up an 11-3 lead, Pitcher dug in and eventually fought back to lead 15-14 only for Scott to move to within one shot of victory. Not to be undone Pitcher scored a double and treble to leave a thrilling game balanced 20-20. It is a shame there could be only one winner, Doug Pitcher took the shot he needed to take the Over 60s Singles crown.
The Mixed Pairs final saw Matt Lever joined by Jean Sands who was standing in for her daughter Bev Bale take on Molly and Oliver Fowler who last year were runners up in a very tight game. It looked like the Fowlers would be going one step further, taking a 14-3 lead after nine ends. Sands and Lever scored a seven to slash the deficit down to four, Fowler reclaimed five of those shots over the next three ends but again Lever fought back. A double on the twentieth end saw the scores level on 20 all, determined not to be runners up two years on the trot Molly and Oliver won the end to win the title 21-20.
Mary Duckett, Jane Redfern and Pat Bax took an early lead and maintained that lead to reach 10-6 in the tenth end in their Ladies Triples encounter with Becky Lever, Abbie Ward and Maureen Edwards. Edwards and co reached parity with two ends left but Bax's trio took the penultimate end with a single to hold the advantage. The game was poised very delicately, Edwards one up about to bowl the final wood, her bowl just crept in completing an amazing comeback 18-17 for Becky Lever, Abbie Ward and Maureen Edwards.
Dave Furness, Roy Scott, Brian and Matt Lever faced to youthful set-up of Oliver Fowler, Tom Wheeler, Liam Pearcey and Jordan Ward in the Gents Fours. With the game level on 7-7 after nine ends Lever’s rink scored a five on their way to a 17-10 lead with fifteen ends gone. Ward and go cleared the deficit before the sides swapped singles to head into the final end on 18-18, as with the Ladies Triples the encounter came down to the final wood but Lever couldn’t beat the shot wood meaning the Fours went to Oliver Fowler, Tom Wheeler, Liam Pearcey and Jordan Ward.
Rose and John Furness faced Jean and John Barnett in the Mr & Mrs final. The Barnett’s started well, 6-0 up after three ends, at the midway stage Their advantage was four. The Furness’ nearly reached parity after fourteen ends before reaching 15 all on eighteen ends. Furness moved ahead with a double on the nineteenth end but the Barnett’s cut that lead to one heading into the final end. Jean and John Barnett took the final end with a two put an end to the Furness’ fightback, final score 18-17.
The Ladder League has proved itself to be a popular alternative way to the more structured leagues. This seasons final was between Nigel Malka and Carol Ryan. Ryan raced away to lead 6-1 and see off a fightback from Malka to lead 14-9. Malka moved ahead, leading 19-15 before Ryan scored a treble, another final going down to the wire. Malka held one and a measure for two, so the tense crowd waited as the marker checked and double-checked before indicating that Nigel Malka did have two, winning 21-18.
Jane Redfern and Maureen Edwards faced each other in the Ladies Two Woods finals. Edwards held advantage throughout, 7-3 up after seven ends became 12-9 after fourteen ends. The pair swapped singles before Edwards reeled off three singles to put the game out of the reach of Redfern, final score 16-10. The Gents Two Woods saw Howard Wilkins open up a 6-2 lead after eight ends before Roy Scott went on a run lead 11-6 with thirteen ends played. After seventeen ends the pair were level on 17-17, Wilkins took the title with a couple of doubles followed by a single, 17-12 the final score.
Elaine Taylor and Maureen Edwards found themselves 14-6 down after ten ends in their Ladies Pairs game against Rose Furness and Jane Redfern. Edwards and co cut the deficit to five shots but Furness and Redfern finished strong to secure a 24-12 victory. A good start gave Darren Ward and Calvin Wells a ninth end 13-6 lead over David Murley and Pete Storer in the Gents Pairs. That lead was opened to thirteen shots before Storer and co scored four singles to reduce it to nine but a four on the seventeenth end stopped any resistance as the teams shook hands, Ward and Wells winning 23-10.
Mandy Dahlgren, Julia Scott, Abbie Ward and Pat Dahlgren racked up an 8-2 lead after six ends but Jan Mitchell, Carol Ryan, Leslie Hartopp and Janet Arkell pulled the Ladies Fours back to 8-8 at the halfway point. Arkell and co were the stronger side in the second half, winning the title 20-11. Two threes gave Keith Mason, Steve Merrett and Darren Ward a second end 6-0 lead against Ron Davies, Colin Knapp and Nigel Hewitson in the Mens Triples but Hewitson went on a spree consisting of a double and six singles to take the lead. With fifteen ends gone Hewitson still led by two and sealed the final with a brace of two and a double, final score 16-10.
While Howard Wilkins was struggling a back problem nothing can take away from the display of bowls produced by Jordan Ward on his way to a 21-11 victory in the Open Singles. Ward had to produce a comeback in the Under 25s Singles as he trailed Oliver Fowler 9-1, bringing final back to 10-10. A brace of doubles, a single and a four saw Jordan Ward gain a 19-10 lead, Fowler conceded the game giving Ward the win.
Dave and John Furness were 9-1 up in the Open Pairs final against Liam Pearcey and Craig Carter. Carter cut the deficit to five shots but the Furness’ double their advantage to win 22-12. The U25s Novices pitted one of the newer members of the Under 25s Section, Adam Steele, with one of the more experienced, Jordan Ward. Steele trailed by a shot in the first set before Ward hit a four and double to help him win the first set 10-4. Steele again kept close to Ward in the second set before another four gave Ward the advantage, Jordan Ward winning 11-6 to win the title 2-0 in sets. Molly Fowler and Abbie Ward faced Cormac Sheehan and Alfie Knight in the Under 25s Pairs. Knight led 5-2 with two ends left in the first set and took a double to leave Fowler and Ward needing five to win the first set, they could only manage a single so Sheehan and Knight won the first set 7-4. Six ends into the second set the teams were level on 4-4, the Ladies took a treble, Knight replying with a double to trail by one with one end left. Ward had the final wood but it just ran out, the final set was drawn 7-7, Sheehan and Knight winning 1.5 sets to 0.5 sets.
Sandy Boulton and Brian Smith opened up an 8-0 early lead in the defence of their Over 60s Pairs title against Janet Arkell and Nigel Hewitson. After ten ends Smith led by ten but two ends later that lead had been halved. Boulton and Smith slowly increased their advantage to win back to back titles 22-14. The family pairs saw Ewan and Keith Mason play Brian and Matt Lever, the Levers reached eleven ends leading 12-4. With three ends to play the Levers still led 19-12, the Masons finished with a single and double to cut the deficit but it was Brian and Matt Lever with the 19-15 victory.
Kim Tubb and Bev Bale faced each other in the Ladies Singles, Tubb hit the ground running opening up a 7-0 lead in four ends. Bale then fought back, reaching parity on 8-8 and then 11-11. Tubb hit a treble and double to lead 16-11 only to see Bale reel off four doubles and a single to be on the cusp of victory, 20-16. In another twist Tubb then added a treble, the game now poised on 20-19 but it was Bev Bale that took the title in a thrilling 21-19 win.
Thornfield’s Under 25s section has enjoyed a lot of success this season so it was perhaps fitting that two of the Juniors would contest the Gents Singles, 17 year old Oliver Fowler playing 16 year old Tom Wheeler. While Fowler won the encounter 21-5 the scoreline didn’t represent how close the game was with Oliver just having that little bit extra.
Not content to let the Ladies and the youngsters produce all the thrillers Doug Pitcher and Roy Scott produced an amazing game themselves in the Over 60s Singles final. Scott started well, opening up an 11-3 lead, Pitcher dug in and eventually fought back to lead 15-14 only for Scott to move to within one shot of victory. Not to be undone Pitcher scored a double and treble to leave a thrilling game balanced 20-20. It is a shame there could be only one winner, Doug Pitcher took the shot he needed to take the Over 60s Singles crown.
The Mixed Pairs final saw Matt Lever joined by Jean Sands who was standing in for her daughter Bev Bale take on Molly and Oliver Fowler who last year were runners up in a very tight game. It looked like the Fowlers would be going one step further, taking a 14-3 lead after nine ends. Sands and Lever scored a seven to slash the deficit down to four, Fowler reclaimed five of those shots over the next three ends but again Lever fought back. A double on the twentieth end saw the scores level on 20 all, determined not to be runners up two years on the trot Molly and Oliver won the end to win the title 21-20.
Mary Duckett, Jane Redfern and Pat Bax took an early lead and maintained that lead to reach 10-6 in the tenth end in their Ladies Triples encounter with Becky Lever, Abbie Ward and Maureen Edwards. Edwards and co reached parity with two ends left but Bax's trio took the penultimate end with a single to hold the advantage. The game was poised very delicately, Edwards one up about to bowl the final wood, her bowl just crept in completing an amazing comeback 18-17 for Becky Lever, Abbie Ward and Maureen Edwards.
Dave Furness, Roy Scott, Brian and Matt Lever faced to youthful set-up of Oliver Fowler, Tom Wheeler, Liam Pearcey and Jordan Ward in the Gents Fours. With the game level on 7-7 after nine ends Lever’s rink scored a five on their way to a 17-10 lead with fifteen ends gone. Ward and go cleared the deficit before the sides swapped singles to head into the final end on 18-18, as with the Ladies Triples the encounter came down to the final wood but Lever couldn’t beat the shot wood meaning the Fours went to Oliver Fowler, Tom Wheeler, Liam Pearcey and Jordan Ward.
Rose and John Furness faced Jean and John Barnett in the Mr & Mrs final. The Barnett’s started well, 6-0 up after three ends, at the midway stage Their advantage was four. The Furness’ nearly reached parity after fourteen ends before reaching 15 all on eighteen ends. Furness moved ahead with a double on the nineteenth end but the Barnett’s cut that lead to one heading into the final end. Jean and John Barnett took the final end with a two put an end to the Furness’ fightback, final score 18-17.
The Ladder League has proved itself to be a popular alternative way to the more structured leagues. This seasons final was between Nigel Malka and Carol Ryan. Ryan raced away to lead 6-1 and see off a fightback from Malka to lead 14-9. Malka moved ahead, leading 19-15 before Ryan scored a treble, another final going down to the wire. Malka held one and a measure for two, so the tense crowd waited as the marker checked and double-checked before indicating that Nigel Malka did have two, winning 21-18.
Jane Redfern and Maureen Edwards faced each other in the Ladies Two Woods finals. Edwards held advantage throughout, 7-3 up after seven ends became 12-9 after fourteen ends. The pair swapped singles before Edwards reeled off three singles to put the game out of the reach of Redfern, final score 16-10. The Gents Two Woods saw Howard Wilkins open up a 6-2 lead after eight ends before Roy Scott went on a run lead 11-6 with thirteen ends played. After seventeen ends the pair were level on 17-17, Wilkins took the title with a couple of doubles followed by a single, 17-12 the final score.
Elaine Taylor and Maureen Edwards found themselves 14-6 down after ten ends in their Ladies Pairs game against Rose Furness and Jane Redfern. Edwards and co cut the deficit to five shots but Furness and Redfern finished strong to secure a 24-12 victory. A good start gave Darren Ward and Calvin Wells a ninth end 13-6 lead over David Murley and Pete Storer in the Gents Pairs. That lead was opened to thirteen shots before Storer and co scored four singles to reduce it to nine but a four on the seventeenth end stopped any resistance as the teams shook hands, Ward and Wells winning 23-10.
Mandy Dahlgren, Julia Scott, Abbie Ward and Pat Dahlgren racked up an 8-2 lead after six ends but Jan Mitchell, Carol Ryan, Leslie Hartopp and Janet Arkell pulled the Ladies Fours back to 8-8 at the halfway point. Arkell and co were the stronger side in the second half, winning the title 20-11. Two threes gave Keith Mason, Steve Merrett and Darren Ward a second end 6-0 lead against Ron Davies, Colin Knapp and Nigel Hewitson in the Mens Triples but Hewitson went on a spree consisting of a double and six singles to take the lead. With fifteen ends gone Hewitson still led by two and sealed the final with a brace of two and a double, final score 16-10.
While Howard Wilkins was struggling a back problem nothing can take away from the display of bowls produced by Jordan Ward on his way to a 21-11 victory in the Open Singles. Ward had to produce a comeback in the Under 25s Singles as he trailed Oliver Fowler 9-1, bringing final back to 10-10. A brace of doubles, a single and a four saw Jordan Ward gain a 19-10 lead, Fowler conceded the game giving Ward the win.
Dave and John Furness were 9-1 up in the Open Pairs final against Liam Pearcey and Craig Carter. Carter cut the deficit to five shots but the Furness’ double their advantage to win 22-12. The U25s Novices pitted one of the newer members of the Under 25s Section, Adam Steele, with one of the more experienced, Jordan Ward. Steele trailed by a shot in the first set before Ward hit a four and double to help him win the first set 10-4. Steele again kept close to Ward in the second set before another four gave Ward the advantage, Jordan Ward winning 11-6 to win the title 2-0 in sets. Molly Fowler and Abbie Ward faced Cormac Sheehan and Alfie Knight in the Under 25s Pairs. Knight led 5-2 with two ends left in the first set and took a double to leave Fowler and Ward needing five to win the first set, they could only manage a single so Sheehan and Knight won the first set 7-4. Six ends into the second set the teams were level on 4-4, the Ladies took a treble, Knight replying with a double to trail by one with one end left. Ward had the final wood but it just ran out, the final set was drawn 7-7, Sheehan and Knight winning 1.5 sets to 0.5 sets.
Sandy Boulton and Brian Smith opened up an 8-0 early lead in the defence of their Over 60s Pairs title against Janet Arkell and Nigel Hewitson. After ten ends Smith led by ten but two ends later that lead had been halved. Boulton and Smith slowly increased their advantage to win back to back titles 22-14. The family pairs saw Ewan and Keith Mason play Brian and Matt Lever, the Levers reached eleven ends leading 12-4. With three ends to play the Levers still led 19-12, the Masons finished with a single and double to cut the deficit but it was Brian and Matt Lever with the 19-15 victory.