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Elsie, Marge and Andrew lead the way in finals ‘weekend’ as bowlers feel the heat (and the cold)

By Neville Dalton Haywards Heath & Beech Hurst Bowls Club

Friday, 27 September 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Haywards Heath & Beech Hurst Bowls Club Contributor

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Haywards Heath and Beech Hurst bowlers enjoyed an eventful – and extended - finals weekend of contrasting fortunes in conditions ranging from near-Arctic to almost tropical.

Two of the competitions – the Men’s Championship and Terry Gasson Trophy – had to be postponed after reigning singles champion Andrew Croft (who was in both) suffered illness just days earlier.

And Elsie Wilding, who was defending her Veterans title and bidding to win back the Ladies’ Championship, chose to defy popular advice and go ahead with both her Sunday finals, played in hot and humid conditions, despite suffering a bad fall on her way to help Andrew following his illness.

Elsie defied the cuts, bruises and non-expert medical opinion from friends to win both finals in spectacular style, defeating Marge Breading in the Vets before barely allowing reigning singles champion Nicola Coles a look-in in the Ladies’ Championship.

And to add to her joy at the end of a momentous week, Elsie’s son, Peter, and daughter-in-law, Sarah-Jane, flew back from Spain in time to witness her triumphant finale.

Andrew won both of his finals, too, partnering Ken Starnes to victory in the Terry Gasson Trophy and defeating yours truly in the Men’s Championship, which had been postponed twice – firstly because of Andrew’s illness and then because of incessant rain.

But the most successful bowler of the “weekend” was Marge, who won the Sam Farmer Trophy and Mixed Pairs competition, with partner Tony Jarvis, on Shivering Saturday before adding the Handicap title on Sunny Sunday, when she also suffered her only finals defeat, in the Veterans.

The John Martin Shield was won by finals-day debutant Mike McQuillin, who defeated friend and neighbour Peter Huntley, while in the Drawn Pairs, Basil Larkins and Mark Howell (another playing his first club final) staged an impressive comeback to beat Nicola Coles and Stephen Banks – both of whom reached two finals.

Results:

Men’s Championship

Andrew Croft beat Neville Dalton 21-14

Ladies’ Championship

Elsie Wilding beat Nicola Coles. 21-8

Handicap

Marge Breading beat Bill Mann. 24-17

Veterans

Elsie Wilding beat Marge Breading. 15-12

Sam Farmer Trophy

Marge Breading beat Adie White 22-10

John Martin Shield

Mike McQuillin beat Peter Huntley 21-16

Drawn Pairs

Basil Larkins/Mark Howell beat Nicola Coles/Stephen Banks 17-13

Mixed Pairs

Marge Breading/Tony Jarvis beat Anne Bosman/Tony Ashby 24-21

Terry Gasson Trophy

Andrew Croft/Ken Starnes beat John Milsom/Stephen Banks 16-6

Brief match reports appear in separate article

Contact Information

John Milsom

  • 01444 882223
  • 07785 782372

Find Haywards Heath & Beech Hurst Bowls Club

The David Johns Pavilion, Beech Hurst Gardens, Butlers Green Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 4BB

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