25 Aug 2007 - Finals Day

Warlingham Park Bowls Club Finals Day turned into Kevin’s Day as Kevin McNamee won 4 events.

In the Men’s Championship Singles he was involved in a fight to the finish with Ralph Bailey. There was never more than 3 shots between the players for the whole match ending with Kevin getting home 21–20. He had an easier, although lengthy match against John Dench in the Handicap Singles before winning 22–14. Kevin completed his hat trick of singles victories in another close game, defeating Peter Edwards 15–12 in the Two Woods. Kevin completed his Finals clean up by skipping the winning team in the Men’s Triples with his compatriots Colin Firth and John Killick overcoming Don Gullett, Graham Aldam and John Dench 17–10.

The Ladies Singles events also staged some memorable matches. Cathy Aldam becoming the Champion with a 21–20 victory over Mary Kennedy in a game which lasted 29 ends. The result was repeated in the Ladies 2 Woods when the same players fought yet another close encounter going to an extra end, with Cathy again coming out on top this time 14–13. The Ladies 100 Up also produced a high quality match. Chris Edwards played against one of her Borough Unbadged Triples winning partners Chris Attwell, in an epic encounter which again was very close throughout. Chris Edwards came out victorious, scoring 24 shots on the last 3 ends to win 108 – 92.

The Also Rans Singles produced 2 tremendous fightbacks. In the Men’s event Bob Brams came back from 13-5 down after 12 ends to almost catch Sean Dempsey, Sean just hanging on to clinch a 15–14 victory. In the Ladies event Sheila Houliston staged a great revival, from 15-0 after 6

ends before being defeated by Barbara Verlander 24–15.

The Mixed Triples was won comfortably 24– 6 by Peter Edwards, Carol Searle, and Colin Firth against Joan Winer, Don Gullett, and Barbara Verlander. The 2 Pairs events both produced excellent matches. In the Ladies event Chris Attwell and Mary Kennedy were always behind, and were defeated by Nora Stammers and Dianne Clark 20 -15. The Men’s match was closer throughout and almost had a dramatic final end. Andrew Aldam, who was 5 shots down in the match, trailed the jack for a possible count of 6 only for Ralph Bailey to spoil the party by drawing the shot with his final bowl. Ralph and Graham Aldam finally won 26–20 against Andrew Aldam and Colin Firth.

The Committee wish to thank all those who contributed to the day, those who organised the matches, and particularly those who produced the excellent barbeque at lunch time. All in all this turned into one of our best Finals Days, with probably the most competitive bowling ever seen for this key club event.

John Dench

President