STUNNING COMEBACK FROM CANTERBURY’S FOURS KEEPS NATIONAL TOP CLUB COMPETITION HOPES ALIVE

BOWLS ROUND-UP: Canterbury

Canterbury came back from the edge of defeat at Chatham to progress in the National Top Club Competition.

Played on the best- of- five games, Canterbury won the Two Wood through Mick Fisher but Alan Cornfoot lost the singles and Malcolm Price, Tony Dobson and Jeff Vane were also beaten in the triples.

Peter Foster and Steve Wells, won the pairs, so, with the game at two points each and Canterbury 20- 9 down with three ends to play in the fours, all looked lost.

However, the team of David Rickard, Roger Blissett, Colin Strouts and Malcolm Nicholson then picked up a five, followed by a four to go into the last end two shots behind.

Holding two shots, Nicholson put his last wood up to make three shots to claim the game and give Canterbury an overall victory.

Canterbury won by five shots in their National Tony Allcock Over 60 Trophy tie against Lenham with Barbara Grundy,Carole Nelson, Dave Swann and Ian Burton winning 20-16, while Sue Close, Sally and Roger Blissett and Malcolm Nicholson won 17-16.

Several Canterbury players are through to this week’s Division 4 county semi-finals are Jeff Vane and Mick Fisher in the singles, Fisher and Chris Dawson in the doubles and Fisher, Alan Cornfoot and Steve Wells in the triples.

Yvonne Gambrill is through to the divisional finals of the Maud Wood Singles and Liz Long, Sandra Swann, Barbara White are in the Benevolent Triples.

Canterbury saw an exceptional turnout for their Joy Porter Ladies Open Fours.

The cup and prize money went to a team from Peninsula Bowls Club comprising Yvonne Vidgeon, Kath Harkness, Beverlie Wakfield and Pam Lister.

Second were Minster with Victoria Park third, ahead of the Canterbury team of Barbara White, Angie Hudson, Ros Cheeseman and Karin Walker.

Canterbury gained the full eight points from their Forest of Blean League game against Ashford Town, winning 134-51.

Biggest winners were Malcolm Price, Damien Hone and David Holmes (34-5). Canterbury 134 Ashford Town 51 Malcolm Price, Damien Hone, David Holmes won 34-5; Tom Nelson, Ian Smith, Steve Wells won 23-7; Bryan Nicholson, Colin Strouts, Dave Todd won 24-21; Michael Hutchinson, Dave Charlton, Ian Burton won 35-7; David Rickard, Roger Blissett, Alan Cornfoot. 18-11.

Canterbury won on four of the six rinks to provide another victory over Deal. Canterbury 101 Deal 91 Keith Havers, Brian White, Bryan Nicholson won 21-16; Tom Nelson, Michael Lloyd, Ian Burton won 18-13; Derek Widows, Brian Wheeler, Chris Dawson lost 16-14; Melvyn Gulvin, Ian Mitchell, Bernard Woodhams lost 16-15; Peter Needham, Roger Cradduck, Keith Brooks won 16-14; R Keen, J Fuller, Dave Charlton won 17-16.

Canterbury gained another four points in the Ladies Dover League after beating Deal by a single shot. Canterbury 32 Deal 31 Heather Goldsack, Madelaine McConomy, Sally Blissett won 23-9; Jill Jenkins, Barbara White, Karin Walker lost 22-9.

There was another victory for Canterbury Ladies in their friendly against Lyminge, where they won all three rinks. Canterbury 58 Lyminge 30 Win Brooks, Barbara Grundy, Sue Close won 20-14; Maureen Aitkin, Bim Bishop, Sanda King won 14-12; Angela Hudson, June Baker, Carole Nelson won 24-4.

Chislet travelled to Minster for a friendly on Saturday but were defeated on four of the six rinks to lose 115-86 overall. Minster 115 Chislet 86 Bob Eslea, Marion Rigden, Charles Trevette lost 22-17; Jim Harlow, Tony Kirkbank, Val Philpott lost 27-9; Michael Holmes, Jonathan Goddard, Wilf Laughton lost 26-8; Charlie Prentice, Phil Millar, Diane Kirkbank lost 18-15; Alan Spokes, Jean Trussell, Brian Lucus won 20-13; Derek Trussell, Bob Hill, Charles Clackson won 17-9. Wear Bay 95 Chislet 87 Michael Holmes, Marion Rigden, Wilf Laughton won 14-11; Ben Bentley, Bob Eslea, Derek Trussell lost 17-16; Pat Rogers, Bob Hill, Charles Trevette lost 16-13; Den Thayre, John Williams, June Bentley won 19-15; Alan Spokes, Dave Cowley, Sue Clarke lost 20-11; Colin Rogers, Tony Bailey, Jean Trussell lost 16-14. Chislet Ladies 54 Herne Bay Ladies 42 Val Philpott, Diane Kirkbank, June Bentley lost 20-18; Marion Rigden, Molly Gowing, Alice Haller lost 17-16; Pat Rogers, Sue Clarke, Jean Trussell won 20-5. Chislet 77 Birchington 129 Don Rouse, Dave Gowing, June Bentley lost 26-16; Ben Bentley, Colin Rogers, Sue Clarke lost 25-12; Alan Spokes, Pat Rogers, Tony Kirkbank lost 17-13; Jack Cramp, Jim Harlow, Val Philpott lost 18-10; Tony Bailey, Marion Rigden, Jim Bellingham lost 20-13; Michael Holmes, Molly Gowing, Wilf Laughton lost 23-13. Saturday. Faversham 98 Ashford Town 69 D Mitchell, Jude Prosser, K Neame won 32-12; Kay Camp, R Cordell, G Ashhurst won 19-9; Barbara Franklin, M Butt, D Evenden lost 16-12; G Da Costa, J Winslow, Janet Wimble won 21-11; Janice Stretch, N Gore, J Fullagar lost 21-14.

Denise Guy, Sid Hall, Bob Day won 22-14.

In a recent tournament at Chislet Bowls Club, youngest member Edward Wiffen (age 11) competed against oldest member Charles Trevette (age 91)