Pauline Proud won the ladies' singles. Picture by Peter Boam.
PICTURE GALLERY
INDOOR BOWLSFOR the second year running, the younger members of the IW Indoor Bowls Club were the stars of the club finals last weekend.
This year saw a new name claim the men’s singles title, as Adam Clark, 16, followed up his recent run of success by claiming his first singles' crown.
Having recently qualified for the final stages of the national triples with fellow club mates Paul Dickinson and Mark Griffith, Adam was in confident mood as he led from the start to beat Keith Beckett 21 -15 in a high quality final.
Adam enhanced his growing reputation with an accomplished performance in the final of the fours, teaming up with Sam Lines, Robbi Hayes and Jack Berry.
With an average age of just 17, the young four stormed into a 17-1 lead against current holders Dickinson, Travis Meller, Darren Griffith and Mark Griffith.
Although seemingly out of the game, the more experienced four fought back to square the game 20-20 with two ends to play. In one of many nail-biting finishes over finals weekend, the younger four held their nerve to win both remaining ends and claim victory.
The final of the pairs was an equally tense affair. Jack Berry and John Pearce took an early 11-3 lead against Sam Lines and Darren Griffith.
Although Darren and Sam threatened a comeback, John played a succession of good running bowls, taking an eight shot advantage into the dying ends of the match. But Darren was in determined mood and pulled out a string of key bowls taking the last 12 shots of the game without reply to win 19-15.
Darren then joined forces with Dickinson and Mark Griffith in the triples, taking on Ben Mackett, Mike Bradford and Beckett.
Beckett’s triple opened with two singles to make a solid start to the game. Darren’s triple replied with the perfect end, drawing eight bowls within 18 inches of the jack to take a six-shot lead.
From there on, the favourites were in control going on to win by seven.
Pauline Proud was again the star of the ladies singles taking the title with a 21-13 win over Val Newton. Despite Val having an early stronghold in the game, Pauline drew on her considerable experience to power to victory.
Pauline joined forces with Roy Jemson to take the over-60s mixed pairs’ title in convincing style against Joanne Gallop and Barry Simpson.
Roy’s success didn’t end there. Substituting for Ian Morrill, he teamed up with Tony Partridge and John Picking to take the over-50 triples in a tight game against Margaret Carrett, Val Newton and John Pearce, 22-14. Richard Lovell beat John Berry, 21-12, to win the over-60’s singles title while Ann Day beat Ian Wallace 21-11 to take the novice singles.
Thanks go to the umpire for the weekend, Jeff Edkins, the spectators, whose presence certainly added to the atmosphere of the occasion, the bar staff, and all club officials without whom the weekend would not have been possible. Special praise went to the club competition secretary Paul Dickinson for all his hard work throughout the season.
• Pictures from our online gallery www.iwcpgallery.co.uk below.
Click on the image for a larger version.