Champion of Champions

Well before 9 o'clock on Staurday 16th April saw 11 players , 9 markers and 2 Umpires listening for the whistle for a prompt start in this year's Singles championship.  Due to the reduced number of entries, Group 'A' only had 5 competitors and it was very soon apparent that last year's Singles champion, Olive Allchorne, was in imperious form and won her group with 4 wins from 4 games with a shot difference of +36.  Group 'B' was nowhere near that 'cut and dried' with 2 players having 4 points and the 3rd player 5 points after 3 games.  When the last round was being played only 2 players were in contention, Tom Murphy of Tarring and Rob Ellis of East Preston.  They were due to play each other in the final game of the round robin.  Tom Murphy won comfortably 13-8 and finished with 8 points to Rob's 7.  The final on Sunday would be between Olive Allchorne of Durrington and Tom Murphy of Tarring.

Saturday afternoon saw the gathering of 12 teams of Pairs keen to get started.  After 3 games there were 3 teams in with a chance in Group 'A' - East Preston with 6 points and Sussex Saints and Goring with 4.  After the 4th game all three teams had 6 points.  In the final round Sussex Saints played Heene and with the Saints only losing one end won 7-3 and had 8 points.  Goring and East Preston were playing each other and after 3 ends East Preston were winning 5-1 but the next 3 ends saw Goring score 1-2-1 the result being a draw and 7 points each - this saw the Saints into the final.  Group 'B' was more 'cut and dried' with Tarring winning their first 4 games, the next best teams had only 2 wins which was just as well as Tarring lost their final game - the runners up in the Group were Arun with 6 points.  The final on Sunday would be between Sussex Saints and Tarring.

The Triples were played on Sunday morning and in Group 'A' two teams carried all before them with Rustington and Worthing winning all 4 games - Rustington having a shot difference of +26 and Worthing +20.  This meant in their last game against each other that Worthing needed to win, Rustington could settle for a draw.  After 5 ends Rustington were leading 4-3 and on the final end Worthing were holding one shot and had the final wood to play only for the wood to be 'scuffed' on the mat and failed to count.  The result was a draw and Rustington into the final.  Group 'B' wan't decided until the final wood on the last end had come to rest - there were 3 teams on 4 points and two teams, Goring and Heene on 5 points.  Goring played Tarring and lost - Goring 5 points and Tarring 6 points.  Heene played Woodside and the score was 5-5 going into the last end - Heene managed to hold onto one shot winning 6-5 for 7 points and into the final to play Rustington.

The finals on Sunday afternoon were played in two sessions - the Pairs and the Triples simultaneously and the Singles afterwards.  The Pairs and the Triples played 12 ends and the Singles was the first player to 18 shots.  In the Pairs, Jim Mills and Maggie Short for the Saints played Kate and Tom Murphy for Tarring.  After 8 ends the score was 7 shots each - Tarring then scored a 2 and a 4 so 13-7 to Tarring with only 2 ends to go.  The Saints were restricted to one shot on each of the last two ends so Tarring were the champions winning 13-9.  The Triple of Ray Farr, Barry Fillery and Norman Taylor for Rustington took a 6 shot lead after 3 ends angainst the Heene Triple of Pat Kingston, Reg Brooker and Dot Skinner who scored a 4 on the 4th end - but that was their only show of resistance winning three other ends with singles, the final score was 16-7 to Rustington who are this season's champions.

The Singles final between Tom and Olive saw Tom take a 6 shot lead after 3 ends - Olive was not in the same form as the Saturday.  Although provision had been made for her to have a roll up prior to the final it was not the same as being in a match and it showed.  However, Olive rallied by winning the next 4 ends so 6-5 to Tom.  After 12 ends the score was 9 shots each, Tom then won the next 3 ends 2-4-1 to go 16-9 ahead.  Olive replied with a 3 and a 1 to make it 16-13 but on the 18th end Tom was holding a pair, didn't need to play his last wood and was champion for the 1st time 18-13.

The quality of bowling throughout the weekend was really very good - especially when many of the competitors don't play on mats of that speed - so well done to all of you.  There is a long list of people to thank for their involvement in making the weekend run smoothly - namely, Cyril Morris and his helpers for setting out and putting away at West Park - Doreen - Rosemary - Betty - Helen and others for refreshments throughout the weekend and the volunteers for catering assistance.  To the Umpires, markers and especially to Margaret and Dave Skinner for keeping the scores and me in my place, to the competitors and spectators who all help to make the weekend successful and especially to High Salvington - namely Val and Denis Stevens - and Heene (Pat Kingston, Dot Farley, Keith and Brenda Bryder) who between them provided an outstanding raffle which realised a profit of £155.00 - thank you all very much - for anyone I've forgotten, my apologies and thanks.

Here's to next year.

Colin Isles - Organiser

Singles Winner - Tom Murphy (Tarring)

Pairs Winners - Tom and Kate Murphy (Tarring)

Triples Winners - Barry Fillery, Norman Taylor and Ray Farr (Rustington)