MARINA

THE weather was exceptional for a bank holiday weekend and it wasn’t just any bank holiday weekend, with plenty of finals taking place at Dawlish Marina Bowls Club.

Saturday morning started with the ladies’ 2-wood, which was won by Tina Rowe, and the men’s pairs, won by David Nown and Lee Wooldridge.

In the afternoon, the men’s championship was won by Marc Baker (pictured) for the second year running, the mixed pairs by Fred Baker and Deborah Kettley and the ladies’ pairs by Tina Rowe and June Jasper.

Tina clinched the win with her last shot of the match and alongside her, June was especially thrilled to win as this was her first time in the finals.

Sunday morning was the ladies’ handicap which was won by Cherry Chapman, the men’s 2-wood by David Nown and a very exciting ladies championship match went on for 33 ends with Sue Owen (pictured) just pipping Barbara Ferrity to the post, 21-20, in a match that could have gone either way.

Marc Baker and Andrew Moore played their part in helping to win the Coronation Cup for section Five at Torbay Country Club, beating Section Seven in the final.

Finally, the ladies’ version of the Coronation cup is the Jubilee cup. Marina fielded a team as part of Section Five at Crediton on August 20. Marina won on their rink but didn’t win overall and so failed to reach the semi-final unfortunately.

NEWTON ABBOT

Congratulations go to Eileen Coombes and Joy Medley on reaching the women's Minor Over 70s Pairs final, the final will take place at Topsham on Saturday, September 6.

At the end of August, Isobel Burley and Julia Barnes were on the Devon women’s Johns team at Leamington Spa and they claimed the trophy, Devon men winning the Middleton Cup too.

In the South Devon over 55s men's Triples League, short of a massive turnaround in their last game, Newton Abbot are clear at the top and Starcross would need a huge shot difference and maximum points to deny them, but to make absolutely sure, one point for Newton Abbot would be enough.

Isobel Burley is Newton Abbot’s ladies club champion and Phil Underhill the men’s champ- both have the option next season of representing the Club in the Champion of Champions.

The outdoor season is rapidly coming to an end now but Newton Abbot do have several tourist games this month to see the season out.

ABBROOK PARK

Abbrook Park BC held its annual club bowls competitions over three days, starting on Friday, August 29. The matches were arranged by Lin Sharland and Dave Woods.

Mike Russell, Jeff Sharland and skip Dave Woods won the men’s triples 14-13, after an extra end. The ladies’ pairs was won by Carolyn Wilkinson and skip Sandra Wheeler 22-21 after an extra end, both games being very exciting to watch.

The mixed triples was then won by Jim Preston, Jean Stanley and skip Phil Lannon 17-13. And the men's rinks of Jim Yeoman, Jeff Sharland, John Berry and skip Tom Archer 29-10.

On a very wet Saturday, the ladies triples won by Jocelyn Krummen, Julia Hearne and skip Jean Stanley 14-11 on a reduced game of 12 ends due to the rain. And then the men’s pairs won by Geoff Walling and skip Jim Preston.

Sandra Wheeler won the ladies’ 4-wood 21-9 after 15 ends and in yet another close contest, Kevin Taylor won the men’s 4-wood 21-19. Jeff Sharland won the men’s 2-wood by 21 to three.

Thanks go to the musical duo The Wayward Pynes, those controlling the bbq, the ladies in the kitchen and Joanne and Liz in the bar too. Without everyone involved, the day would not have been possible.

Play concluded on Sunday and after the morning action was postponed, Lin Sharland won the ladies’ 2-wood 2107 and the mixed rinks were won by Janet Barr, Jean Stanley, Jim Preston and skip Dave Woods, 22-16 after 18 ends.

BOVEY TRACEY

Following last week's report, it was confirmed that Bovey ladies had secured promotion to the second division of South Devon Ladies Bowling League for next season. Congratulations to all the ladies who represented Bovey in their matches and best wishes for further success next year.

With the men’s Mid Devon League finished, attention turned to the final two weeks' matches in the over-55s competition. The Y team visited Bitton Park on a rain-affected morning and fortunately managed to complete their games, coming away with two impressive wins to take the match by eight points to nil.

D Cosway, A Cromwell, A Franklin 26-11; A Chew, P Cridge, R Bailey 25-11.

The X team's match at Dawlish Marina was badly affected by the weather and was abandoned early on with the teams declaring a draw, four points each.

A mixed rinks home friendly against Chudleigh was won comprehensively by Bovey on all four rinks by 81 shots to 53 and a mixed triples home friendly against Kingsteignton was a split decision with Bovey winning on the overall score by 66 shots to 58, but Kingsteignton winning three rinks to Bovey's one.

As the season draws to a close in September, our thoughts turn to the finals weekend next Saturday 6 and Sunday 7. The finalists in most of the competitions have been decided with the rest of the outstanding games to be played during this week.

Some results from last week were as follows:

Phil Joy reached the final of the men's championship, beating Chris Shorland 23-15. Alastair Franklin reached the semi-final of the men's handicap, beating Keith Lockett 21-10 and now plays Chris Shorland.

The other match in this competition saw Roger Bailey narrowly beat Les Hignett 21-19. Heidi Call was ruthless in the ladies' handicap, beating her mum, Sue Johnson, 22-1 to reach the final.

In the ladies' 2-wood, Sue Johnson beat Deborah Bailey 17-7, in the men's drawn pairs Kenny Breame and Chris Shorland beat Phil Joy and Arthur Chew 20-19 and in the mixed drawn pairs Julie Chew and Alastair Franklin beat Annette Isaaks and Chris Shorland 15-8.

It's fingers crossed now, hoping for better weather this weekend!