Bowls tournament is huge success

Around 350 players took part, most competing in more than one event, and other than a few minor hold-ups the weather stayed fine until the finals day on Friday, last week.

The wet and windy conditions caused competition secretaries Tricia Fry and Simon Moore, in consultation with tournament officers and committee members, to consider extending the tournament to the extra day but, taking into account the improving forecast it was decided to stick to the programme.

First to face the unpleasant elements were the semi-finalists in the men's and ladies' pairs. Steve Jeapes (White Rock) and "Tosh" Springate (Prince Arthur, Gillingham) played father and son team John and Billie Bremner (both Dingwall).

To take part in the tournament John and family had travelled from Dingwall, near Inverness, to meet up with son Billie who flew in from Germany where he works. Jeapes and Springate proved too strong for the Scottish pair who conceded 20-3 after 10 ends. In the other semi, John Dixon (White Rock) and Ron Packham (Northiam) won 18-7 after 11 ends against Harold Hobden and "Dinky" Doo (both Horam).

The lady bowlers took the opportunity to prove they have more staying power than their male counterparts. It took 13 ends before Elaine Connor (Fisherman's, Eastbourne) and Joan Albon (Gildredge Park, Eastbourne) conceded to Pett pair Elsie Wilding and Frances Stanley-McKay with the score at 15-6.

Pam Garnar and Sheila Brook (both White Rock) were struggling at 15-7 after 12 ends against Lorraine Milburn (White Rock) and Maxine Clarkson (unattached) when their fortunes changed with a run of 5, 7, 2 and 1 on the next four ends to open up a remarkable 22-15 lead. This match, a credit to the players in such conditions, went all the way to 21 ends with the final score of 27-24 to Garnar and Brook.

Weather conditions had improved slightly for the men's four final, sponsored by Hastings Printing Co Ltd, which saw Dixon, Packham, Springate and Jeapes, this time as a four, lining up against Brian Priestley (Morpeth, Northumberland), Keith Cheetham (White Rock), Gwyn Nicholls (South London) and Trevor Logan (Morpeth).

This proved to be an evenly-matched contest with the scores 8-all at eight ends, 15-all at 15 and 17-all at 17 with tight heads throughout the game. Advantages changed continually with constant banter from players well known to each other so it was no surprise to see the losers smiling just as broadly as the winners when Logan and co managed a narrow 21-18 victory.

The pairs finals, ladies' sponsored by Rigby Taylor Ltd and men's by Onyx UK, were the last events of the day and by then conditions were more tolerable.

Garnar and Brook carried on the great form shown in their semi-final at the beginning of the day, and Wilding and Stanley-McKay, although playing well, found shots hard to come by. They were trailing 25-8 at the 17th end but their never-say-die attitude led to a late comeback to take two on each of the next two ends and a five on the last to lose by a respectable 25-17.

Making their third appearance of the day were the two pairs competing in the men's final - Dixon and Packham versus Jeapes and Springate. After being level at 4-all at the sixth end the Dixon and Packham pairing managed only six more shots to be 15-10 down at the 19th when their opponents picked up a four. The game ended at the 20th end with the score 19-10 to Jeapes and Springate.