Well today at the National Finals brought optimism with our Men’s Senior Fours and Junior Pairs starting their campaign for gold.
A bit like yesterday, or a deja vu as our Senior Fours from St. Georges Dragons – Steve Robson, Fred Short, Steve Harvey & Gary Myerscough and our lads faced a rink from Buckinghamshire (and a rink from Gerrards Cross). Our lads fought to the end, and were a couple of shots behind playing the last few ends and on end 18 – Gary moved the jack to secure two shots and force an extra end. Unfortunately we could not secure the shot and victory went to Buckinghamshire 16 – 15 (like yesterday’s mixed fours final).
Our Men’s Junior Pairs of Paul Shilton & Alex Scott from New Delaval Knights played the Somerset duo of Corey Rendell & Sam Stocker. Our lads were behind 11 – 4, and fought back to 12 – 8 but the last few ends the Somerset youngsters pulled away and won 18 – 9.
Yesterday our Women’s Senior Fours played their first round against a rink from Polegrove, Sussex. The rink of Margaret Birdsey, Carol Whalen, Ann Marsh, Val Errington, possibly on their first experience for some to the nationals and unfortunately our ladies lost 28 – 10.
Tomorrow will see the start of both Women’s and Men’s 2 Wood Championship – and it is all Benfield affair – with Rachel Cartwright (we only have one entry in the Women’s draw), and the 2 men’s representatives are Jonty King & Matty Bishop.
Rachel plays Shirley Pert (Ipswich Ladies, Suffolk) at 10:30am in the prelim;
Jonty plays Will Allen (Poplar, Middlesex) at 11:45am in the prelim;
Matty plays Ian Snowdon (Headington, Oxfordshire) at 2pm in the prelim;
If Rachel, Jonty & Matty are successful in these games, they will be in action later in the day with another round or two hopefully.
We of course wish them all the very best tomorrow.