Griffin trophy double notched by Gant

CRAIG Gant enjoyed success at the double at the Griffin.

Gant won the John Doughty Memorial competition and followed that up with success in the Bernard Sigsworth Memorial finals.

In the John Doughty it was a long haul for Gant, who featured in the opening round of matches, but won through to beat Jack Dyson 21-14 in the final.

In the Bernard Sigsworth event Gant faced Bob Hitchen in the final and won through 31-27.

A Cairns 12 J Brown 21, M Sweeney 21 L Fallas 13, G Price 17 R Mudd 21, C Gant walkover v M Higgins. J Ollerenshaw 15 K O’Prey 21, T Brook 12 J Dyson 21, G Siswick 21 G Fellows 7, D Rae 12 D Radcliffe 21, R Whitwam 21 B Tinker 3, D Tattersley 21 R Sutton 12, J Brown 12 M Sweeney 21, R Mudd 9 C Gant 21 O’Prey 11 Dyson 21, Siswick 21 Radcliffe 12, Whitwam 21 Tattersley 14, Sweeney 15 Gant 21 Dyson 21 Siswick 19, Whitwam 7 Gant 21 Dyson 14 Gant 21 P Higgins 26 M Allman 31, R Whitwam 22 B Hitchen 31, L Fallas 30 B Smyth 31, C Gant 31 T Brook 9 Allman 14 Hitchen 31, Smyth 10 Gant 31 Allman 27 Gant 31 staged at the Griffin (start 11am) is: H Jones v J Baillie, G Fellows v B Dyson, F Greenwood v G Metcalf, M Sweeney v G Hirst, G Price v B Tinker, L Fauls v D Radcliffe, T Brook v D Tattersley, M Higgins v R Sutton

On Saturday the Griffin play an exhibition match as they take on the Panel team.

A ‘Select Eight’ from the Griffin face the famous “Panel” of Westhoughton, Lancashire.

The ‘Panel,’ also known as The British Professional Bowling Association, was founded in 1908, originally played on a number of greens around the Westhoughton area of the North West, until they were able to purchase their current home of the Red Lion Bowling Green in the 1990s.

All year round, two 31-up games are played each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons in front of large crowds.

Each year, two major competitions are run, the Christmas Handicap and the Billy Joe Edwards memorial, where other top bowlers from around the country are invited to take on the Panel’s elite.

Coming across the Pennines, The Panel are bringing an eight boasting five current Lancashire and two current Warwick and Worcester County players.

The Griffins’ eight has been selected on this season’s top prize money earners so far and, also includes a host of current County players, including four members of Yorkshire’s 2016 Crossfield Cup winning side.

They include All England winner Ashley Daykin, who this last year surpassed the 100 caps mark for Yorkshire and a Waterloo Handicap and multiple open competition winner in Andrew Cairns.

The draw (Griffin names first) is: Robert Hitchen v John Crossley, Craig Gant v Stuart Mort, Ray Whitwam v Noal Burrows, Josh Brown v Martin Bacon, Ashley Daykin – Steve Freer, Liam Fallas v John Palmer, Andrew Cairns v Billy Speed, Jack Dyson v George Chadwick

Entry is free, with play commencing at 12.30pm.