CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS DAY AT PDF

(Report by Alan Clarke, Competitions & League Director)

After a long hard series of matches throughout the current season, the Inter - Club Finals  took place at PDF on Saturday the 20^th March. The weather was uncertain when the first games started off and a sudden heavy shower did not help playing conditions to begin with, however this passed over, and the rest of the days' programme was completed without further interruption. The morning games saw Alan Clarke and Sheila Rapsey take on Janice Clarke and John Woodworth in the mixed pairs. This proved to be one of the most absorbing games of the day with plenty of excellent bowling, most of it coming from Janice and John. In the end the home pair ran out 20 - 11 deserved winners. The triples took place at the same time, between Jeff Perry, Jan McGlynn and Ted Vidler from the Valverde Club and John and Maggie Dance and Carla Kenney from Alvor. The Alvor triple went ahead early on, but Valverde responded well in the later stages, taking six ends on the trot. Alvor clung on however, to eventually win the triples title by 19-15.

The singles finals took place after a leisurely lunch. In the mens final, John Denn clashed with Jeff Perry, both from the Valverde Club. John had dashed back from the UK that day from yet another unsuccessful visit to Cheltenham races, to play the final and justified his sleepless night by claiming the prestigious title 21-13, despite a valiant effort by Jeff. The ladies final was an all - Alvor affair between Catherine Webb and Maggie Dance. Maggie continued her very good season with a 21 - 8 victory over Catherine, although the score did not reflect a very skilful and competitive match. The fours was also completed that afternoon, when Alan Clarke, John Jones, Jack Pendley and Mike Boon clashed with clubmates from Alvor Alan and Frances Reynolds and Graham and Joan Worrall in another excellent game of bowls. The Reynolds - Worrall four eventually winning 17-12.

The last two finals took place on the Sunday, when John and Maggie Dance, Brian Duffley and Anne Davey came up against John and Chrissie Laskey and Mike and Catherine Webb in the mixed fours in an all - Alvor final. A close and hard - fought match saw the Laskey - Webb combination win narrowly 13-11. Earlier, John and Maggie Dance played John and Sheila Currall in the pairs final and the Dances won yet another title 28 - 10.

Many congratulations to Maggie Dance who lifted three trophies and was runner -up in a fourth - a marvellous achievement. Well done also to John Dance who won the pairs and the triples and was runner - up in the mixed fours. Catherine Webb won one and lost one whilst commiserations to Alan Clarke and Jeff Perry, both reached two finals and managed to lose both! And so ends another year of league and knock out competitions - the season has flown by and we already look forward to next season which promises to be even bigger and better than this one. We have more bowlers, better bowlers and more clubs with more members - a tribute to the developping strength in depth of Bowls Algarve.