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 Four Round Up – Sunday 13th August
After a drizzly start to proceedings on Day Four, the sun broke through the clouds to shine on some dazzling performances in the early stages of the Men’s Pairs and Women’s Triples.
Men’s Pairs
Three of the 30 matches this morning in the Preliminary Round of the Men’s Pairs came to a captivating conclusion with an extra end.
Warwickshire B’s Dan Box and Andy Walters (Welford-on-Avon BC) had the better of their match to begin with, against Lancashire’s Lloyd Milligan and Lewis Rimmer (Heaton Hall BC). The Warwickshire pair sprung to a 10-2 lead after nine ends.
Milligan and Rimmer fought hard to get themselves back into the match and managed to level the match to 12 shots all after the 18th end, taking it to an extra end.
After exchanging excellent shots, it was Andy Walters who delivered the winner. He struck the jack back to get the shot, giving himself and Box the win.
Extra end wins also came from Aaron Johnson and Ian Catchpole (Norfolk BC, Norfolk B) against Simon Allen and Andrew Broad (St. Stephen in Brannel BC, Cornwall B) plus Finley Williamson, Lee Williamson (Cheltenham BC, Gloucestershire A) against Richard Moule and Gareth Burbridge (Vines Park BC, Worcestershire B).
Northumberland A’s Josh Minto and Chris Yeomans (Gosforth BC) stormed to a 21-4 victory against Jack Tobin and Neil Corbyn (Wellingborough BC, Northamptonshire A). In another big win, Stephen Harris and Trevor Smith (Blackstones, Lincolnshire A) beat Richard Tingley and Ray Heaney (Wallington BC, Surrey B) 24-2.
It was a high-scoring game between Elliot Guthrie and Jack Emmerson (Newark Northern BC, Nottinghamshire) and Alan Stewart and Stephen Harvey (St Georges Dragon BC, Northumberland B). The Nottinghamshire duo came out on top, 25-14.
Later in the day, Round One matches took place with pairings hopeful of securing a place in tomorrow’s Round Two matches.
2022 Family Pairs winners Dan and Tom Holmes (Ross-on-Wye BC, Herefordshire) sealed the win against Bob Bennett and Eddie Swann (Luton Town BC, Bedfordshire B) with a 21-8 victory.
Hampshire B’s Ben Paulley and Perry Martin (Boscombe Cliff BC) overcame Tom and John McGuinness (Gerrards Cross BC, Buckinghamshire A) by 18 shots to 11.
It was a narrow victory for Phil Hackett and Jamie Walker (Kings BC, Devon B). They beat Marcus Fuller and Stuart Gaught (Newmarket Avenue BC, Cambridgeshire) 14-13.
Phil Wilkinson and Paul Smyth (Larsen BC, Essex B) edged past Durham A’s Colin Boston and Barry Hopkins (Darlington Railway Athletic BC), winning 18-14.
For all results in the Men’s Pairs today, please click here.
Women’s Triples
Play in the Women’s Triples also got underway today with qualifiers intent on getting through Round One.
Suffolk B’s Pat Hilson, Moira Self and Julie Spice from Felixstowe & Suffolk BC started their Aviva National Finals campaign in great spirits. They came through unscathed against Joyce Ryder, Moria Ellis and Barbara Knowles (Bolton BC, Lancashire), winning 24-4.
Donna Grant, Katherine Hawes-Watts and Lorraine Kuhler (Oxford City & County BC, Oxfordshire B) charged to a convincing 20-2 win against 2018 Women’s Champions Sharmishta Patel, Maureen Vandrau and Margaret Smith (Sutton BC, Surrey B).
Significant success also occurred for Leen Hampshire, Sandra Aldridge and Anne Bernard (Ryde Marina BC, Isle of Wight A) against Kerry Jacobs, Judy Banes and Amy Banes (Sheerness St Georges BC, Kent A), triumphing 24-9.
In a less comfortable match, Carole Galletly, Caroline Campion and Helen Young (Banbury Central, Oxfordshire A) pipped Carol Ottley, Rebecca Watson and Vickie Pancott (Cavaliers BC, Nottinghamshire) via an extra end, winning 21-20.
Norfolk A’s Rebecca Willgress, Christine Rednall and Katherine Rednall (Norfolk BC) took a 12-7 lead at the halfway stage against Marie Whittle, Petula Leyland-Brown and Eva Dayes (South Cave BC, Yorkshire A).
The Norfolk trio then extended their lead to 19-11 at 16 ends to put themselves in a strong position.
Despite their best efforts, the Yorkshire triple could only manage to get four shots back in the last two ends. The final result 19-15 in Norfolk A’s favour.
For all results in the Women’s Triples today, please click here.
Day Five Preview – Monday 14th August
Monday arrives and another packed day of action begins! Women’s Triples continues with Round Two and Three – matches taking place from 9.30 am.
In the Men’s Pairs, the remaining 16 will battle for a place in Tuesday’s Semi-Finals. Round Two play starts at 9.30 am. Who will follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners Lewis Baker and Nick Brett (Huntingdonshire)?
Elsewhere the Men’s & Women’s Junior Pairs begins where we will see some of the future stars of the sport competing for a National title.
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.