2017 Posada Club Championships
LA POSADA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
MARCH 2017
Five different events comprised the La Posada annual Club Championships, which were held during the first week of March.
In the Ladies Singles, there was a major upset in the semi finals, where relative novice, Shelley Greenwood, beat Maureen Fewings, winner of the title for the previous 4 years in succession. Shelley got off to a great start, leading 9-0 at one point, but Maureen came back and actually took the lead at 19-18 but Shelley kept her composure and ran out the winner 21-19. Last year’s beaten finalist, Julie Banfield, came through the winner in a close encounter with Margaret Finch in her semi final. With the scores level at 16-16, Julie finally managed to pull away, winning 21-16.
In the final, Shelley gave a good account of herself against the more experienced Julie and was actually leading 10-9 after 12 ends. However, experience finally won through, with Julie edging ahead on the next end and never losing the lead after that, winning the match 21-14.
In the Men’s Singles, the final was contested between long time member, Allen Gateshill and newcomer this season, Barry Ellis, an experienced bowler from the UK. Both had relatively comfortable wins in the previous rounds but the final was a very close encounter. Scores were level at 5-5 after 7 ends and still level after 14 ends at 12-12. Barry then went ahead 14-12, but back came Allen, winning the next 4 ends to take a 19-14 lead. Barry wasn’t finished though, getting back to 19-18 down before playing a perfect last end, bowling all 4 bowls within about a foot of the jack. Allen fired with his last bowl, managing to take out one, but that left Barry with the 3 shots he needed to win the match 21-19.
Both Julie and Barry will go on to represent the Club at the Champion of Champions tournament this year at Lauro, where we wish them well.
In the other disciplines, the Novice Singles (open to entrants who have never won a singles competition previously), was won by Dave Way, who beat Nigel Snaith 21-10 in the final.
The Mixed Pairs competition was won for the second time by the partnership of Maureen Fewings and Georg Hamblin, who had a comfortable win in the final against Margaret Finch and Allen Gateshill by 22 shots to 8.
By contrast, the Men’s Pairs final was anything but comfortable for the eventual winners. The experienced pair of Nick Cummins and Allen Gateshill took on the relatively inexperienced pair of John Callaghan and Tom McLean. Much to the surprise of all those watching, John and Tom got off to a great start, leading 14-5 after 9 ends and playing really well. Back came Nick and Allen though, bringing the match back to all square at 14-14 after 12. John and Tom weren’t finished however. They hung on in there and, after 17 ends, they were just 2 shots down at 19-21, still anyone’s match. Experience finally won through in the final end, with Nick and Allen picking up 4 shots to win the match 25-19. A great performance by John and Tom and a fitting end to the Championships, particularly for Allen, having previously lost in the finals of both the Men’s Singles and the Mixed Pairs.
Report by: Jeff Rowe, Competition Secretary.
15th March 2017
