Entertaining finals day at Kingscroft Bowls Club

WITH uncertain weather forecast for the finals day of Kingscroft Bowls Club, Earl Shilton, the question was could champions the Delahays make hay while the sun shone?

Three members of the Barwell family reached the climax of the club competitions and all avoided the wet start to proceedings so the prospects were good when the sky turned blue and the temperature increased in the afternoon.

Son Darren Delahay was first up in a familiar encounter on such occasions against the man who has virtually monopolised the men’s championship for the last decade, Joe Dawson, and it was the England player who triumphed yet again, this time 21-4.

Darren’s dad Ken was up next in the final of the men’s maiden (previous non-winners) but went down 10-21 to Richard Hughes.

The third member of the family, Louise, will have to wait until the beginning of next season after having to isolate when her young daughter tested positive for Covid, meaning the final of the ladies’ two wood against Julie Wilkins had to be postponed.

Julie featured in two successful finals on the day, beating Pam Sutton in the ladies’ handicap in the morning and then partnering Tom Clancy to victory in the mixed pairs when the match against Cath Locking and Mick Haywood was ended after 18 ends as their opponents could not catch up in the remaining three ends.

Outgoing president Tom found himself up against his successor Neil Bedder in one of the best matches, the final of the men’s pairs. Neil and his partner Richard Harvey came back well from an early deficit to Tom and Jeff Wileman to be level going into the last end and then edged it 18-17 after a measure to decide the winning shot.

The club’s other England international Jamie Lee Winch took the ladies’ championship with a 21-5 win over Cath Locking.

Joe Dawson won the men’s two wood 17-10 against Warren Heath but his opponent enjoyed success in the open two wood when he and Mark Stevenson beat Ryan Lowe and Richard Harvey.

John York pipped great friend Brian Marston 21-20 in the senior singles while Simon Auckland took the men’s handicap title with victory over John Carsley.

A strong last two ends saw Trish Tams see off the challenge of Cath Law in the ladies’ maiden.