Welcome to The Delivery! This is our daily feature that brings you a round-up of the action from the Aviva National Finals 2023 at Victoria Park, plus a preview for the following day.
Day Nine Round Up – Friday 18th August
It was a wet Day Nine at the Aviva National Finals but there was nothing miserable about the bowls, with some brilliant matches played today. In the Men’s Triples and Mixed Fours we saw the competition whittle down to two with the Finalists confirmed. It was the conclusion for the Women’s Pairs with the Final played out on our live stream in the afternoon. The Men’s and Women’s Senior Pairs qualifiers both began in both the morning and afternoon sessions.
Women’s Pairs
Women’s Pairs came to a close on Day Nine at the Aviva National Finals. Starting with the Semi-Finals, with some high-quality bowling on offer. Carol Gaskins, Donna Grant (Oxford City & Cty, Oxfordshire) and Julie Howell, Alison Cartwright (Pershore BC, Worcestershire) battled it out for a place in the Women’s Pairs Final. It was the Women from Oxfordshire who produced a stellar performance with a 23-9 victory to be in with a chance to win the Women’s Pairs. Julie Howell and Alison Cartwright (Pershore BC, Worcestershire) had a fantastic tournament but just ran out of steam in the penultimate game. In the other Semi-Final it was Gill Grantham, Alison Spreadborough (Plymouth Sir Francis Drake, Devon) and Katie Sturtridge, Michelle Moore (Stenalees BC, Cornwall) playing for a place in the Final. A worthy Semi-Final and it was Gill Grantham, Alison Spreadborough (Plymouth Sir Francis Drake, Devon) who put themselves into the Final and on our live stream.
Into the Final and after brilliant performances throughout the competition the pair from Oxfordshire Carol Gaskins, Donna Grant (Oxford City & Cty) and Devon duo Gill Grantham, Alison Spreadborough had a chance to put themselves into Aviva National Finals history books with a victory in front of a packed out A green. It was a valiant effort from Gill Grantham, Alison Spreadborough (Plymouth Sir Francis Drake, Devon) but unfortunately just fell at the last hurdle. It was one pairs despair but another’s ecstasy with Carol Gaskins, Donna Grant (Oxford City & Cty, Oxfordshire) triumphant on A green and securing the Women’s Pairs title for Oxfordshire with 19-10 victory.
For all results, please click here.
Men’s Triples
The Men’s Triples saw competitors fighting for their place in Saturday’s Final. Last year’s runners-up Derbyshire represented by Josh Grant, Dan Thornhill, Philip Broughton (Stute BC) faced Chris Weekes, Ben Paulley, Perry Martin (Boscombe Cliff BC, Hampshire) on our first streamed game of the day. The game was close to call and throughout was difficult to split to two teams. However, it was the class and experience of Josh Grant, Dan Thornhill, Philip Broughton (Stute BC, Derbyshire) which saw them through to the Semi-Final with a 20-18 win. Michael Gomme, Matthew Hyde, Andrew Briden (Gerrards Cross BC, Buckinghamshire) faced Danny Seabourne, Mathew Carter, David Smith (Freethorpe BC, Norfolk) for a place in the Semi-Final up for grabs. It was the men from Buckinghamshire who took the victory 18-9 to ensure they kept their dreams alive of winning the Men’s Triples. Elsewhere saw the strong quartet of Simon Kittle, Steve Gunnell, Edward Morris (Essex County BC, Essex) win 19-14 against an impressive Ed Elmore, Matt Saunders, Lewis Baker (Brampton BC, Huntingdonshire).
Into the Semi-Final’s and it was a dominant display from Simon Kittle, Steve Gunnell, Edward Morris (Essex County BC, Essex) who booked themselves in for another day at the Aviva National Finals with a 21-11 victory over Hayden Moorbey, Jamie Barker, Scott Walton (St Neots BC, Cambridgeshire). It was a game full of emotion between Josh Grant, Dan Thornhill, Philip Broughton (Stute BC, Derbyshire) and Michael Gomme, Matthew Hyde, Andrew Briden (Gerrards Cross BC, Buckinghamshire) with both sets of players falling to their knees with joy and agony after an entertaining match was enjoyed by many here in Leamington. It came down to an extra end to split the two and it was Michael Gomme, Matthew Hyde, Andrew Briden (Gerrards Cross BC, Buckinghamshire) who were victorious with a 18-16 win.
For all results, please click here.
Men’s Senior Pairs
The start of the Men’s Senior Pairs saw some fantastic match-ups contests going down to the wire. Attilio Ciampini and David Pitt (Middlesex) was up against Simon Varty and Tony Hill (Buckinghamshire) in a tightly contested match. It was neck and neck throughout coming down to the last bowl which saw David Pitt play a brilliant shot winning the game for Middlesex. Another tight game which was decided by a single point was played out between Colin Allen, Kevin Butler (Cornwall) and Chris Moore, Tony Keaton (Wiltshire) with the Cornwall duo coming out on top with a 19 – 18.
Elsewhere saw recently crowned Champion of Champions winner Graham Ashby and partner Steve Smith (Warwickshire) go up against Kenny Bolton, Lee Dickson (Sussex) and take it to an extra end to decide the winner. It was the local pair Graham and Steve who narrowly won 14 – 13. Michael Jelfs, Phillip Gladden of Oxfordshire saw themselves into the next round with another tight affair against Mark Denslow, Neil Rowe (Somerset) with a 16 – 15 win.
Moving into Round Two and it was the end of the road for Attilio Ciampini, David Pitt (Middlesex) who were defeated by an impressive Gary Myerscough, Steve Pallas (Northumberland) who played some fantastic ends. It was close start to the game between Colin Allen, Kevin Butler (Cornwall) and Alan Ashby, Anthony O’Leary (Northamptonshire) but Cornwall pair showed their class and got themselves through with a 17 – 13 victory. Both sets of players played their part in a match which saw some fantastic bowls. Norfolk pair Andrew Siely, John Colcombe put themselves into the Quarter-Finals with a 17-13 victory over Carl Blinco, Martin Law (Sussex).
After two excellent rounds of bowls already played out in the day, spectators were treated to the Men’s Senior Pairs Quarter-Finals to close out the day. It was a narrow 15-14 win for Colin Allen, Kevin Butler (Cornwall) against Gary Myerscough, Steve Pallas (Northumberland), putting the men from Cornwall into the Semi-Finals. It was an agonising defeat for Graham Ashby, Steve Smith (Warwickshire) after falling short against Michael Jelfs, Phillip Gladden (Oxfordshire) 17-16. Joe Festa, Philip Russell (Hertfordshire) proved too strong for Essex duo Robbie Willis and Paul Hubert running out 23-9 winners and putting themselves into the mix to win the Men’s Senior Pairs. A close encounter between Andrew Siely, John Colcombe (Norfolk) and Peter Webster, Rick Clarke(Yorkshire) which saw the Norfolk duo progress with a 17-15 win.
For all results, please click here.
Women’s Senior Pairs
It was the start of the Women’s Senior Pairs and Round One saw previous winners Somerset knocked out with Anne Patten, Janet Eames (Nottinghamshire) winning 21 – 12 against Pat Groves, Marilyn Gozna (Somerset). It was Aviva National Finals Women’s Fours finalists Lynn Orlando, Helen Moore (Berkshire) who marched into the next round with a win against Carol Gaskins, Margeret Morris (Oxfordshire). Kate Kyle, Diane Hurst (Leicestershire) were too much for Karen Ryan, Sue Butcher (Middlesex) with a 21-4 win for the Leicestershire pair. Rosemary Corke, Glenda Hibberd (Wiltshire) booked their spot into Round Two with a 17-6 win against Jacqui Donnelly, Maggie Peart (Northumberland).
Into the last 16 and Carol Watson, Sue Willmott (Sussex) will see themselves return to Victoria Park with a 19 – 16 win against Christine Axelson, Teresa Newman (Buckinghamshire). Linda Churchman, Cheryl Salisbury (Cambridgeshire) put in a strong performance winning 15-11 against Kate Kyle, Diane Hurst (Leicestershire). It was a nail biter in the clash between Sue Woollams, Sue Allen (Yorkshire) and Anne Bernard, Eileen Hampshire (Isle of Wight) with the Yorkshire duo advancing into the next round with a 13-12 win.
For all results, please click here.
Mixed Fours
The Mixed Fours entered the business end of the competition with the Quarter-Finals beginning in the morning. Chris Yeomans, Kayleigh Proctor, Rachel Cartwright, Simon Richardson (Northumberland) put themselves into the Semi-Finals with a 23-7 win over Joyce Wood, Kevin Clarke, Maggie Randall, Martin Wood (Surrey). After winning the Mixed Pairs the night before, Rebecca and Wayne Willgress were back and joined by Jackie Devitt and Ian Catchpole (Norfolk) who faced Alison Hall, Rhianna Russell, Jerry Rumball, Glenn Williams (Hertfordshire) for a place in the Semi-Final. It was the Hertfordshire quartet who advanced with a 23-13 win and playing in the Semi-Final. Chloe Brett, Rebecca Moorbey, Glyn Milbourne, Nick Brett (Huntingdonshire) continued their push for the title with a 19-14 Andrew Hibbitt, Chris Dolmore, Ella Crouch, Natalie Heath (Devon).
A battle for a place in the Final was on offer on A green in the Mixed Fours. Chris Yeomans, Kayleigh Proctor, Rachel Cartwright, Simon Richardson (Northumberland) put in a dominant display, playing brilliantly and winning 20 – 7 against last year’s winners Faye Ludlow, Hayley Halford, Paul Jenkins, Dennis Hennessy (Surrey). Alison Hall, Rhianna Russell, Jerry Rumball, Glenn Williams (Hertfordshire) and Chloe Brett, Rebecca Moorbey, Glyn Milbourne, Nick Brett (Huntingdonshire) played out a fantastic Semi-Final with excellent ends played throughout the match. It was Chloe Brett, Rebecca Moorbey, Glyn Milbourne, Nick Brett (Huntingdonshire) who secured their place in Saturday’s Final with a 17-12 win.
For all results, please click here
Day Nine Preview – Friday 18th August
Super Saturday part two brings up six scintillating Finals in a jam-packed day of bowls in Royal Leamington Spa! 2022 John’s Trophy champions Lincolnshire will be vying to lift the title once again as we’ll have the semi-finals and final. We’ll also have the Men’s Triples final as well as the Disability Bowls England (DBE) Singles final. Champions will also be decided in the Men’s and Women’s Senior Pairs plus Mixed Fours. The Men’s Fours begins in earnest, culminating on Tuesday. It’s certainly a day not to be missed with so many mouth watering matches on offer for spectators at Victoria Park.
Social media coverage is available on Bowls England’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites.
Tickets to the National Finals start at just £4 for adults and £1 for Under 18s offer a full day of top-class sporting action. Event passes are available and all tickets are cheaper in advance.
Please note: Under 3s enter free of charge.