News 2017
Five of the eight club knock-out competitions were completed on the first day of finals weekend as we tried to beat the less-than-exciting weather forecast.
In the Richards Cup (ladies' singles) defending champion Ruth Lowe took a 7-0 lead over Sheila Simcoe, but in a tight game with excellent bowling from both competitors Sheila eventually overcame Ruth's resistance to win 21-17.
The Warburton Cup (men's singles) saw a repeat of last year's final with champion Rod Payne taking on Quentin Smith. Quentin started briskly and was 8-0 up after three ends. Rod responded to get within a couple of shots, but Quentin hung on to win 21-16.
The QRS Cup (qualifying singles) pitted Rick Wright against Liz Caird. Liz led for the early part of the match, but Rick fought back and eventually ran out winner 21-17.
The Mike Caird Cup (open singles played in sets) saw Mike himself playing our President, Frank Hill. Frank played well to take a comfortable lead in both sets, giving a 2 sets to love victory, 9-3, 10-5.
In the afternoon, Mike and Quentin were in action again, defending their pairs title against Don Cartwright and Gordon England. The first half of the game was tight, with rarely more than a couple of shots between the teams. However a second-half spurt by Mike and Quentin, taking 14 unanswered shots, gave them a comfortable lead which they defended to win 27-14.
On the Sunday two matches were completed in unpleasant, often heavy, rain. In the Nuway Cup (Open singles) defending champion Rod Payne saw off the challenge from Chris Squires 21-12. The Davies Cup (veterans singles) was not played.
Fittingly it was the last match to finish which gave the closest result. The Tarmac Cup (handicapped singles) pitted new ladies champion Sheila Simcoe against new men's champion Quentin Smith - both playing off scratch. Sheila took an early lead, but there was never more than about 4 shots between the players. At 16-15 up Quentin held two shots and was contemplating a nice 18-15 lead. However Sheila had other ideas and trailed the jack to her ditched toucher to take three shots for an 18-16 lead.
A further single took Sheila to 19-16. The next end, played at full length found Quentin on the mat, holding one and with only four bowls on the green. He played out Sheila's last bowl to leave his three, but just failed to hold on the ditch edge to take a four - 19-all.
Sheila took a single to lead 20-19 and was holding two as Quentin came play his last bowl. Sheila's two bowls proved too tempting a target and Quentin's weighted shot contacted both bowls, one springing the jack sideways to one of his bowls. His own bowl ricocheted through towards the jack to give two shots and the match by the narrowest of margins.
We believe this win means Quentin is only the second player in the club's history (after Frances Hill) to have won all the current club knockout and one-day competitions for which they are eligible. He will be able to go for the veterans' cup in a few years time, but says he has no plans to become eligible for the ladies singles!
President Frank Hill made the presentations and thanked Committee member Ruth Lowe for organising the competitions through the season and the finals weekend.
Post-script: in the held-over match, Mike Caird defeated Frank Hill in the Davies Cup (veterans) final.