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 Seven Round Up – Wednesday 16th August
We said Winners’ Wednesday would produce some incredible bowls action, and it delivered. Victoria Park was host to four finals as the Women’s Triples, Men’s and Women’s Champion of Champions and Men’s Junior Pairs all came to a conclusion. We also found out who will be battling it out in the business end of the Men’s Triples title, with the final eight now confirmed.
Women’s Triples
Day Seven started with a bang! The Women’s Triples Final was played out as our first game on the live stream, and spectators and viewers were treated to high-quality bowls. It was Sophie Tolchard, Nicole Rogers, Harriett Stevens (Kings, Devon) going up against Rachel Gingell, Kelly Jenkins, Pam Garden (Egham BC, Surrey) with both sets of players earning their place in the Final with some outstanding performances in earlier Rounds.
It was the Devon trio who were triumphant with a strong performance, producing some excellent ends. Kings, Devon won 20-8 and secured the Women’s Triples trophy.
For all results, please click here.
Men’s Junior Pairs
The Men’s Junior Pairs was all wrapped up on a sunny Wednesday in Leamington with the Semi-Finals kicking off on A Green this morning. The Somerset pair, Oli Collins and Liam White, faced Cambridgeshire’s Mack May and Adam Barker for a place in the Final. Kent and Cumbria, represented by Joseph Vandepeer, Isaac Jenner and Ryan Brannan, Callum Hodgson respectively, locked horns in the Men’s Junior Pairs. It was Oli Collins and Liam White (Somerset) who came out on top in our first Semi-Final, with a winning score line of 14-11 knocking Mack May and Adam Barker (Cambridgeshire) out. In the other Semi-Final, it was a brilliant game of bowls with Ryan Brannan and Callum Hodgson (Cumbria) narrowly defeating Joseph Vandepeer and Isaac Jenner (Kent) with a 15-14 victory, and going one step further in being crowned Men’s Junior Pairs.
Somerset versus Cumbria, on the live stream rink, in the sun – it was always going to be a competitive battle. It was an unbelievable performance from Oli Collins and Liam White (Somerset) who scored a brilliant six and seven on the first two ends to take a commanding lead. That lead continued throughout the match eventually finishing 29-7, crowning Oli and Liam as Men’s Junior Pairs Champions. It wasn’t to be for Ryan Brannan and Callum Hodgson (Cumbria) but they did themselves, and Cumbria, proud.
For all results, please click here.
Women’s Junior Pairs
Much like the Men’s Junior Pairs, the Women’s Junior Pairs produced fantastic performances and great ends. Lily-Mae Adams and Emily Kernick (Warwickshire) put in a stellar performance to book their spot in the Final, beating Jemma Tuohy and Yasmina Hasan (Surrey) 20-11. The Surrey pair, fresh from their Women’s Fours win, couldn’t quite make it to two Finals in the first week of the Aviva National Finals, but put in strong performances on their way to the Semi-Finals. Molly Feetham and Ruby Hill (Lincolnshire) and Georgina Fuszard and Zoe Pratley (Oxfordshire) put on a show for those attending. After a nail biter, it was the pair from Lincolnshire who just had the edge and put themselves into the Women’s Junior Pairs Final.
The Final will now be played tomorrow afternoon (17th August). The Final will see Lily-Mae Adams and Emily Kernick (Warwickshire) battle it out with Molly Feetham and Ruby Hill (Lincolnshire) to win the Women’s Junior Pairs.
For all results, please click here.
Men’s Champion of Champions
It was the conclusion of the Men’s Champion of Champions on Day Seven of the Aviva National Finals. It was time for the Semi-Final and Final. It was Phil Harvey (St Georges Dragons, Northumberland) up against Stuart Lowe (The Springhouse, Essex) with a place in the Men’s Champion of Champions Final up for grabs. It was Phil Harvey who had the upper hand throughout the contest and sailed through to the Final with a 21-14 victory over Stuart Lowe (The Springhouse, Essex).
Fraser Ham (Clevedon, Somerset) and Graham Ashby (Nuneaton, Warwickshire) put on a show for spectators on B Green. Graham Ashby (Nuneaton, Warwickshire) stormed into a comprehensive lead and continued that dominance with a 21-9 victory. Fraser Ham put up a good performance but it wasn’t enough to stop Graham from progressing.
Now at the business end, the stakes were high for both Phil Harvey (St Georges Dragons, Northumberland) and Graham Ashby (Nuneaton, Warwickshire) who were vying to become Men’s Champion of Champions. Both players had performed well to get up to this stage, but there could only be one who walked away with the trophy. A hard fought battle in the blazing sun, was met with a great atmosphere and support for both competitors in the stands of A Green. It was the local man, Graham Ashby who put his name in the history books winning the Champion of Champions for Warwickshire for the first time since 1989 with a 21-13 victory. It was a game worthy of a Final and both players set the bar high throughout the competition.
For all results, please click here.
Women’s Champion of Champions
The Women’s Champion of Champions came to a close at this year’s Aviva National Finals. It was the Semi-Finals which kicked off proceedings on B Green with Annalisa Dunham (Carters Park, Lincolnshire) and Anne Bernard (Ryde Marina, Isle of Wight) competing for their place in the Final. Annalisa Dunham representing Lincolnshire put in a performance to make sure she was in with a chance to win on Winners’ Wednesday. Annalisa finished 21-12, defeating Isle of Wight’s Anne Bernard. Donna Rock (Sherborne, Dorset) played a hotly contested Semi-Final against Wendy King (Appleyard, Kent). With a winning margin of seven, Donna ‘Rock’ed her way into the Final with a 21-14 win over Anne Bernard (Ryde Marina, Isle of Wight).
With finals galore on A Green, the Women’s Champion of Champions played it’s part in putting on a spectacular show for those in attendance today. Annalisa Dunham (Carters Park, Lincolnshire) and Donna Rock (Sherborne, Dorset) shared the Green for the final game in the Women’s Champion of Champions. It was a resounding 21 – 5 win for Annalisa who played a near perfect game. It was just a step too far for Donna Rock, but deserved all the plaudits for her terrific performances and efforts to make it to what every bowler dreams of, the Aviva National Finals Final.
For all results, please click here.
Women’s Pairs
The Women’s Pairs journey started today with all competitors fighting for their place in history and to be crowned Women’s Pairs champions. Round One was enjoyed by the match goers of Victoria Park with some fantastic performances on display and some fierce battles had on the greens. Suzanne King and Jackie Devitt (Norfolk BC, Norfolk) and Glenyce Toole and Clare Michie (Darlington South Park BC, Durham) shared a closely fought game which ended 15-13 to the Durham pair. Middlesex saw Sandra Wright and Pam Waller (Winchmore Hill BC) push into the next round with a close win 19 – 17 against Anne Patten and Terrie Wombell (Dukeries BC, Nottinghamshire). It was an outstanding win for Carrie Williamson and Elaine Amery (Williton BC, Somerset) producing a high-class performance against Barbara Whitehead and Rachel Hughes (Gloucester City BC, Gloucestershire) winning 27-8. Fresh from their Amy Rose win for a second year running, Emily Ferguson and Paige Dennis (Appleyard, Kent) played a blinder putting themselves into the next round with a 31 – 8 victory over Lesley Grogan and Jan Barnes (Horsham BC, Sussex).
Moving into the last 32 and after some standout performances, there was no disappointment with the quality on display with some fantastic matches. Mattea Ross and Sheila Storey (Gosforth BC, Northumberland) played Christine Atkinson and Sue Allen (Swinton BC, Yorkshire) in a match which was close to call but the Northumberland pair squeezed their way though with a 20 – 17 victory. There was plenty of ice-cream on show in the sun today and it was a sweet victory for Julie Howell and Alison Cartwright (Pershore BC, Worcestershire) with a scoreline of 20-17 over Suzanne King, Jackie Devitt (Norfolk BC, Norfolk). Kacee Sultman and Jess Weir (Forest Hall BC, Northumberland) booked their place into the Last 16 with a dominant 32 – 5 win over Carol Burton and June Bontoft (Shepshed Town BC, Leicestershire)
Tomorrow see’s the competition heating up, where we will find out the final four who will play for the Women’s Pairs title.
For all results, please click here.
Mixed Pairs
It was the start of the Mixed Pairs with duo’s across the country battling it out at the glorious Leamington Bowling Club for a place into Quarter-Finals. Leicestershire duo Jamie Lea Marshall and Joseph Dawson completed a 18-10 win over Joanna Watt and Stuart Holland (Sussex). It was the Willgress’s on top against Diane Pearce and Paul Bryant (Bedfordshire) with Rebecca Willgress and Wayne Willgress (Norfolk) securing a 18-11 win to enter into the next round. It was Chris Moore and Sue Cooke who got the better of Karen Ryan and Paul Wilsher (Middlesex) with a 20-17 win to progress to the Quarter-Finals.
For all results, please click here.
Men’s Triples
The Men’s Triples was the spectacle on offer on a lovely summer’s evening setting over Victoria Park. A day after their agonising Final loss, Ed Morris and Steve Gunnell returned with Simon Kittle and put last night’s unreal Final behind them with a strong 18-6 win against Daryl Craft, Paul Element and Martin Coles (Mill End BC, Hertfordshire). On our live streamed rink, we had Kevin Harrison, Mark Irwin and Stuart Irwin (Aspatria BC, Cumbria) battle it out against Steve Dilks, Mike Bruce and Paul Humphreys (York Railway Bowls & SC, Yorkshire). It was the end of the road for the Yorkshiremen who ended up losing 18 – 7 to the Cumbria stars. Other matches saw Men’s newly crowned Single’s Champion Lewis King, partner with Isaac Jenner and Harry Goodwin and see themselves in the draw for the next round with a 26-9 win against Dave Smith, Martin Pavey and Stevie Lambert-Culling (Dorchester BC, Dorset).
For all results, please click here.
Day Eight Preview – Thursday 17th August
It’s a mixed bag on Day Eight of the Aviva National Finals. The Mixed Pairs reaches its climax with spectators treated to the Quarter-Final, Semi-Final and Final all in one day! It’s also the start of the journey for the Mixed Fours as competitors begin their quest for glory!
Elsewhere at Victoria Park, the Women’s Pairs and Men’s Triples action hots up as we find out who will be battling for a place in the business end of each of the competitions.
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.