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 Eight Round Up – Thursday 17th August
The first full week of the Aviva National Finals is over and what a week it has been. The Mixed Pairs was wrapped up on A green where spectators were treated to a brilliant Final. The Women’s Pairs progressed as we saw the Quarter-Finalists lock horns for a place in the final four. The Men’s Triples continued as competitors made their push to be crowned champions. It was the start of the Mixed Fours here at Leamington which saw bowlers across the country playing for their chance to return on Friday to book their place in the final. We were also treated to an all-timer in the Women’s Junior Pairs.
Women’s Pairs
The Women’s Pairs moved into the last 16 on Day Eight. Katherine Hawes-Watts and Lorraine Kuhler (Oxford City & Cty, Oxfordshire) earned their place in the next round by beating Emily Ferguson and Paige Dennis (Appleyard, Kent) 21-3. It was a tight game between Kacee Sultman, Jess Weir (Forest Hall BC, Northumberland) and Ruby Hill, Chelsea Spencer (Burton House BC, Lincolnshire) with an extra end needed to separate the two. It was just edged by the Lincolnshire pair who progress to the next round by a winning margin of 20-18. In another tense game it was Julie Howell, Alison Cartwright (Pershore BC, Worcestershire) and Mattea Ross, Sheila Storey (Gosforth BC, Northumberland) who tussled for their place in the Quarter-Final. It was a close fought contest but Julie Howell, Alison Cartwright (Pershore BC, Worcestershire) came out on top with a 19-16 win.
The Quarter-Final’s bought us some brilliant match-ups, starting with our live streamed rink with Carol Gaskins, Donna Grant (Oxford City & Cty, Oxfordshire) and Val Newton, Gay Allen (Bembridge BC, Isle of Wight) vying for a place in the Semi-Final. There was some quality bowls on show in the Quarter-Final clash but it was Carol Gaskins, Donna Grant (Oxford City & Cty, Oxfordshire) who came out on top booking their place in the Semi-Final with a winning score of 16 – 11. Elsewhere saw Julie Howell, Alison Cartwright (Pershore BC, Worcestershire) and Katie Sturtridge, Michelle Moore (Stenalees BC, Cornwall) put themselves into the Semi-Finals with wins over Elaine Putnam, Kerry Payne (Ashford BC, Middlesex) 16-14 and Katherine Hawes-Watts, Lorraine Kuhler (Oxford City & Cty, Oxfordshire) 19-13 respectively.
For all results, please click here.
Men’s Triples
It was the continuation of the Men’s Triples with the last 32 beginning on Day Eight. A mouth watering tie was on offer on B Green with Isaac Jenner, Lewis King and Harry Goodwin (Appleyard BC, Kent) facing up against Kyle Anderson, Dave Godwin, Steve Snell (Royal Wootton Bassett BC, Wiltshire). In a game which was littered with fantastic shots, it was Wiltshire’s trio who continued their journey in the Men’s Triples with a 17-12 victory. It was a tense game between Leicestershire and Northamptonshire with the scores level 16-16 after 15 ends. However, it was Northamptonshire who had the upper hand and managed to secure a 21-18 victory taking them into the next round. It took an extra end for Joshua Cowan, Geoff Kite, Michael Gale (Greenhill BC, Dorset) to beat Martin Hilson, Allan Griffiths, Harvey Griffiths (St Dunstans BC, Worcestershire) 15-14 in tightly contested game.
Round Three began in the afternoon and there were some terrific performances and matches witnessed at Victoria Park. Ed Elmore, Lewis Baker, Nick Brett (Brampton BC, Huntingdonshire) and Kyle Anderson, Dave Godwin, Steve Snell (Royal Wootton Bassett BC, Wiltshire) played a classic on C Green. After 18 excellent ends it was Ed Elmore, Lewis Baker, Nick Brett (Brampton BC, Huntingdonshire) who narrowly won 15-14 and progressing to the next round.
Another nail biter which saw high-quality performances was the match between Essex trio Simon Kittle, Steve Gunnell, Edward Morris (Essex County BC) and Northamptonshire’s trio Tony O’Leary, Iain Walker, John Freeman (Abington BC). With a winning margin of just one, Simon Kittle, Steve Gunnell, Edward Morris (Essex County BC, Essex) continued their journey in the Men’s Triples. It was a convincing win for Hayden Moorbey, Jamie Barker, Scott Walton (St Neots BC, Cambridgeshire) with a brilliant 21-3 victory over Keith Cooper, Geoff Lawrence, Nick Edwards (Bounds Green BC, Middlesex).
For all results, please click here.
Mixed Pairs
The Mixed Pairs moved into the business end with the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals played out at a sunny Victoria Park. The Willgress’s continue their march in the Mixed Pairs with a comprehensive victory over Janet Eames, Tony Lee (Nottinghamshire) who played well and fought hard but just fell short. The game ended 20-10 to Rebecca Willgress, Wayne Willgress (Norfolk). Elsewhere saw a narrow 15-14 victory for Pauline Tuckey, Peter Stinchcombe (Gloucestershire) over Chris Moore, Sue Cooke (Wiltshire) who couldn’t do no more in their bid for Mixed Pairs glory.
Moving onto the Semi-Finals and it was Alan Morton, Erika White (Kent) and Maddie Burgess, Grant Burgess (Worcestershire) who battled it out for a place in Thursday evenings Final. It was a near perfect performance from Worcestershire’s duo Maddie Burgess and Grant Burgess who ended up winning 24-8. In the other Semi-Final it was Pauline Tuckey, Peter Stinchcombe (Gloucestershire) and Rebecca Willgress, Wayne Willgress (Norfolk) who were playing in the penultimate game in the soaring heat. It wasn’t only the sun bringing the heat with Rebecca Willgress, Wayne Willgress (Norfolk) playing some fantastic bowls and winning 19-10 to set-up a Final with Maddie Burgess and Grant Burgess.
Now onto the Final and as the day turned to dusk and the sun set over glorious Victoria Park it was Maddie Burgess, Grant Burgess (Worcestershire) playing Rebecca Willgress, Wayne Willgress (Norfolk) for a chance to be crowned Mixed Pairs. The spectators were treated to some early evening bowls and for those who stayed weren’t disappointed. The game was a tight affair with both sides giving as good as they have got with the scores at 13-13 by end 15. Then Husband and Wife duo Wayne Willgress and Rebecca Willgress stepped up a gear and took the victory for Norfolk with a 18-13 result. Maddie and Grant definitely played their part in a terrific Final but just didn’t quite have enough but can hold their head high with great performances throughout the competition. Wayne Willgress and Rebecca Willgress (Norfolk) lifted the trophy as the sun set on Leamington.
For all results, please click here.
Mixed Fours
The battle in the Mixed Fours began on what was a fantastic day of bowls. It was a strong start for Chris Yeomans, Kayleigh Proctor, Rachel Cartwright, Simon Richardson (Northumberland) with a confident win 28-5 against Deb Shrimpton, Ian Christey, J Edmans, Richard Haley (Essex). Father and daughter duo Nick and Chloe Brett joined by Rebecca Moorbey and Lewis Baker also saw themselves into the next round with a brilliant 20-6 win against a strong Kent side who had Emily Ferguson, Josh Pounds, Lewis King and Wendy King.
It was delight for Faye Ludlow, Hayley Halford, Paul Jenkins, Dennis Hennessy (Surrey) with a great 16-13 win against Alan Dent Jnr, Amy Pharaoh, Caroline Cullum, David Cullum (Lincolnshire). Another close encounter saw James Park, Rachel Forster, Steven Cook, Victoria Forster (Cumbria) come out victorious with a 18 – 15 win over Lisa Smith, Moira Parsons, Mark Ireland, Adam Smith (Warwickshire).
For all results, please click here.
Women’s Junior Pairs
The Women’s Junior Pairs came to an end in Leamington and what a Final we were treated to. Molly Feetham and Ruby Hill (Lincolnshire) got off to a flyer with an 8-1 lead after 5 ends and looked on course to secure the Women’s Junior Pairs. Into the 14th end and the Women from Lincolnshire still had a comfortable 19-10 lead playing some incredible shots and keep Warwickshire duo Lily-Mae Adams, Emily Kernick at arms length. However, the tables started to turn and Warwickshire started to claw the deficit back with brilliant grit and determination. Coming to the last end, Warwickshire levelled the game 19-19 picking up five shots to take the game into the extra end, a real defining moment at this year’s Aviva National Finals. With momentum in their favour, it wasn’t only the ice-cream staying cool at Victoria Park with Lily-Mae Adams and Emily Kernick representing Warwickshire holding their nerve to secure the shot and clinch the title in remarkable style 20-19. A Final which will live long in the memory of those in attendance. It was heartbreak for Molly Feetham and Ruby Hill (Lincolnshire) who on another day may have won connivingly and played their part in a thrilling Final. The support for both sets of Women was outstanding and the crowd at Victoria certainly added to the occasion, it was a ‘had to be there’ game.
For all results, please click here
Day Nine Preview – Friday 18th August
It’s time to pair up! The Men’s and Women’s Senior Pairs qualifiers begin their bid for glory as competitors battle it out on the greens for a place in the business end of the competition. We will find out who the Women’s Pairs champion is with X and X battling it out to write their names in the history books. Elsewhere see’s the Men’s Triples and Mixed Fours finalists confirmed as the final four look to book their place in the final on our second Super Saturday.
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.