Stone lands bowls tournament double

The tournament, which last year celebrated its centenary, concluded in front of a large crowd after a superb week of high quality bowling especially, as expected, in the later rounds.

In the Croft Glass Ladies’ Singles, Maxine Clarkson (White Rock BC) edged out Sathiya Ball (Rosemount BC), while in the Quadron Services Men’s Singles, Michael Stone (Bexhill BC) won a very entertaining contest against Kevin Blaylock (St. George’s BC, Morpeth). The President’s Cup, which is awarded to the best local player, went to John Ruff (Rosemount BC).

Stone also triumphed in The Brickwall Hotel Men’s Pairs where he teamed up with Alec Martin (Horam BC).

The Gibbons, Mannington & Phipps Ladies’ Pairs went to Denise Hodd (Polegrove BC) and 15-year-old Emma Cooper (Battle BC). They overcame Ann Pryke and Carol Baxter in a very tense match.

Two of the winners of the Fibre Services Open Triples, Kevin Blaylock and Brian Priestley, had travelled down from Northumbria. Teaming up with Trevor Logan (White Rock BC), they had to go to an extra end before securing victory in a nail-biting finish.

Such is the popularity of the tournament that more than 120 bowlers came from more than 50 miles from Hastings and many compliments were paid to the town by the visitors with promises by many to return next year.

See Friday’s Hastings Observer for the full article.