As per previous post the 2 Wood Singles events were started and concluded today – and if successful that meant 6 games in total. Some of the players started at 9:30am and the finals were concluded just after 8pm (barely light!).
Our representatives – for the Women’s it was Wooler’s Victoria Symons and Vic was first on and played Chloe Smith from Lancashire, and got of to a tremendous start winning 18 – 2 in the prelim. Next up for Vic was last weeks’ 4 Wood Singles national runner up Chris Mitchell from Wiltshire. The game looked to be going Vic’s way, as she held a slender lead approaching half way and this was extended to 11 – 6, but unfortunately this was the last time Vic would score, and Vic lost 15 – 11.
Our male representative was Gary Myerscough, and like Victoria, Gary was in the prelim and got off to a winning start, defeating Warwickshire’s Thomas Wheeler 17 – 8. The next game Gary took on Ross Murphy from Hertfordshire, and unfortunately Gary lost on a heavy and very tricky rink 16 – 9.
Gary in first round action – against Ross Murphy from Hertfordshire
The Champion of Champions (Women’s) was scheduled for 2pm, but Victoria was due to take on Somerset’s Stef Branfield. The problem was Branfield was still in the 2 Bowl Singles – so Vic had a wait (and wait) until Stef would lose, but if Stef reached the final – then Vic would play on Wednesday morning. The same situation applied to Phil Harvey, who was due to take on Warwickshire’s Graham Ashby at 4:30pm, and like Stef Branfield, Ashby was in still in the 2 Bowl Singles. At about 5pm – BE advised both games would take place the next morning at 9am. At this stage Ashby was on the green in the 2 bowl singles quarter final, and was edging a very close contest. However Ashby lost 2 shots on his last end to lose 14 – 13 against Kent’s David Mason. Ashby thought he was then going on to play in the C of C against Phil – as this was only delayed by about 10 minutes (to the second revised time of 5:15), plus the other C of C games hadn’t started either, and even a marker was on the rink waiting! The position was checked with BE and as before it was advised both Champion of Champion games involving Northumberland were off and will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9am.
Somerset’s Stef Branfield went on to the final and did the double, winning the 2 bowl, as well as the 4 Wood Singles last week – a fantastic achievement. The same applied for the Men with Devon’s Same Tolchard getting the better of Essex’s Ed Morris, in a high quality game. Tolchard looked to be very much in control winning 13 – 5, Morris scored, changed the mat length to short with the mat up, and got back to 14 – 13 with 2 ends to go. But this was the last of the comeback as Tolchard scored on these last 2 ends to lift another national title, and like Branfield did the double!
Ed Morris (Essex) in final action!
Tomorrow will also see our Senior Singles players in action – with Hexham Elvaston’s Shelagh Carter in round 1 action against Surrey’s Carol McGrail at 12 midday. At 2pm will see our Men’s representative in action, where Gosforth’s Mick McGreevy plays Huntingdonshire’s Mick Robertson in round 1 also.
As always we wish all of our players the very best of luck tomorrow. I will try and keep you updated – but probably later on in the day.