Local bowls clubs held their championship matches over the weekend, with many close matches being played.

THE finals of Ashcombe’s club competitions were held last weekend with many close games being contested.

The last match was the Presidents Trophy and proved to be the most exciting game, played between Jill Wilkinson and John Whitlow. At 20 shots each on the 20th end, the winner had to be decided on the last end and John eventually clinched it.

The trophies were presented by ladies’ president Sylvia Ford and men’s president Graham Wilkinson.

The refreshments during the weekend were prepared by Martin and Lesley Paterson and the weekend concluded with an American supper.

Results-men’s championship: G Wilkinson; ladies’: N Counsell. Presidents Trophy: J Whitlow; mixed pairs: A Goacher, J Whitlow; men’s pairs: A Cracknell, M West; ladies’ handicap: J McInally; men’s triples: S Andrews, D Bleasdale, L Day; men’s handicap: M West; novices: G Fews; Vi Drew: A Goacher; four-wood pairs: L Paterson, J McInally; veterans: T Williams; ladies’ triples: F McCarthy, M Tasker, S Weaden; ladies’ two-wood: J Sansam; Crib: J Matthews; men’s two-wood: M West; Doris Payne: A Goacher.

The club congratulates three ladies and county junior Fraser Ham on their successes in the Weston Ladies Open Tournament. Joan McInally won the ladies’ singles and Mavis Main, Jill Wilkinson and Joan McInally won the triples.

Fraser, with Imogan Cracknell (St Andrews), won the Australian mixed pairs.

Ashcombe Ladies 79 (10), Winscombe 36 (0) (Wessex League): M Main, M Williams, M Tucker, J Wilkinson 35-9; J Matthews, S Ford, N Counsell, A Goacher 19-15; L Paterson, B MacGregor, M Tasker, S Weaden 25-12.

Ashcombe Ladies 41, St Andrews 61 (friendly): S Appleton, S Noyes, C Hedges 7-26; P Wynne, A Bass, A Cox, J Hughes 22-12; J Matthews, Shufflebotham, J Field, M Williams 12-23.

The Crusaders played at home in their Over-60s match against St Andrews. Although they took only two of the six rinks played, they lost by just eight shots.

Ashcombe Crusaders 93, Andrews 101: G Kinsey, S Hedges, B Webber 17-14; D Carr, M Southwood, J Creasey 15-16; A Wilmot, J Hornett, R Powell 12-15; M Bass, A Little, J Taylor 13-21; D Cooper, T Cottrell, J Whitlow 18-20; L Day, B Benstead, G Wilkinson 18-15.

The Crusaders played again in the Over-60s league, this time away to Portishead. Winning on four of the six rinks played, they took the game by 16 shots

Ashcombe Crusaders 119, Portishead 103: G Tottle, D Carr, B Webber 11-21; D Cooper, T Cottrell, J Whitlow 19-8; G Sansam, S Hedges, R Powell 26-12; L Day, B Benstead, G Wilkinson 28-8; M Bass, A Little, J Taylor 7-43; G Kinsey, J Main, M Southwood 28-11.

VICTORIA Saxons played their last game in the Weston & District Over-60s League against Clarence Blues, who are in contention for the title with Winscombe.

In a close game, the Saxons triumphed by two shots, winning four rinks and earning 16 points, with Clarence only securing four points, leaving them in a final game shoot-out against Winscombe to decide the league title.

The Saxons won four rinks, but the excellent winning margin of nine shots by the rink of Roger Rockett, Tony Barnes and Ken Harvey ensured victory for the Saxons.

Victoria Saxons 103 (16), Clarence Blues 101 (4): T Gatehouse, R Fenwick, D Williams 19-15; B Pocock, D Hurst, M Stocker 21-17; J Mingo-West, M Manning, K Holland 12-21; R Rockett, A Barnes, K Harvey 22-13; H Whyte, D Sealey, A Bray 11-20; P Lunn, J Newman, M Campbell 18-15.

Victoria entertained Datchworth tourists from Hertfordshire in a five-rink mixed friendly. In a high-scoring game, Victoria won on four rinks comfortably, but the defeat did not spoil the enjoyment of the afternoon for the tourists.

Victoria 131, Datchworth 74: B Williams, S Sokol, B Pocock D Hurst 33-7; K Wilson, E Sage, C Sage, M Stocker 26-10; H Faye, L Kelly, E Newport, G Richards 25-18; T Gilbert, S Pocock, M Milliner D Jones 17-25; P Coumis, S Milliner, R Rockett, AB 30-14 .

ANDY McMillan is the new St Andrews club champion, defeating Steve Davies 22-15 in the final.

Davies won the men’s handicap competition, beating Malcolm Simpson 27-9, while Barrie Forse pulled off a double win, taking the men’s two-wood competition 17-7 against Tony Ware and defeating his wife Julie 21-10 in the open championship.

Ian Lamb beat Robin Potter 21-9 to win the non-winners singles. The men’s pairs was won by Malcolm Goddard and Brian Cracknell, who had a 25-19 win over Tony Yeeles and Danny Favis.

The triples competition was won by John Ling, Richard Venn and Danny Favis, with a 17-11 win over Ken Rodgers, Adrian Cooper and Tony Ware.

St Andrews finished their Over-60s league season with an away win against Ashcombe Crusaders by eight shots, taking 16 points to their opponents four.

St Andrews 101, Ashcombe Crusaders 93: A Cooper, J Ling, K Curtis 21-13; J Bolton, J Warren, R Gill 15-12; T Allen, A Ware, D Bailey 15-18; B Rogers, R McLeod, G Wride 14-17; R Brereton, K Uglow, B Forse 20-18; R Potter, M Goddard, D Favis 16-15.

St Andrews played a triple friendly match away to Winscombe, the rinks were shared at three each, with the Saints running out winners by six shots.

St Andrews 99, Winscombe 93: M Simpson, A Yeeles, B Reeves 22-17; R Brereton, N Sell, B Forse 19-7; R Potter, T Allen, D Bailey 21-14; P Smart, R Gill, J Warren 10-22; B Rogers, A Ware, D Favis 11-16; C Coffin, E Hooper, G Webber 16-18.

ROD Smith, who joined Clarence Bowling Club full-time only this year, was the surprise winner of the club championship during finals weekend.

The former St Andrews member beat Glaswegian Doug Grier in what, until the final stages, was a close tussle. The more consistent Smith always had his nose in front against Grier. A four on the penultimate end extended his lead and he made no mistake on the next to take the title.

Competitions committee member Mick Edlin won all three of the finals in which he played. Firstly, he and his wife Carol triumphed in the mixed pairs against another husband-and-wife team, Ken and Carol Marshall.

Next, Edlin proved a bit too good for 90-year-old Dick Jackman in the over-70s final. He completed his hat-trick by holding off a brave comeback from Paul Tubb to win the two-wood singles.

Tubb, a life member of Clarence, was in five finals over the three days of the event. But he was a winner in only one, when he gave an outstanding display at skip to take the four-wood pairs with fellow octogenarian Harry Sparks.

That was the first of two titles for Sparks, who inspired Alan Newland and Ken Marshall to victory in the triples, after they had been 3-9 down.

Adrian Gardiner, winner of the over-70s singles for the previous two years, added the handicap singles to his list of honours, beating Paul Tubb by one after the latter had been 8-18 behind.

Apart from that and the championship, the other singles were rather one-sided. Phil Lewis, a bowler for just a year, had done tremendously well to reach the first-time singles final, but club press officer Jim Keay proved too consistent for him.

Last year’s club champion Trevor Pritchard had been expecting a tough test from Don Towie in the under-70 singles. However, his opponent had an off-day and Pritchard won comfortably to retain his title.

Club captain David Stott and his regular partner Richard Crawford won the two-wood pairs again and also teamed up with Trevor Ward and Chris Tippett to take an excellent fours final by one shot.

The Clarence club championships were sponsored by the Beachlands Hotel.

Finals’ results - handicap singles: Adrian Gardiner 21-20. Four-Wood Pairs: Harry Sparks/Paul Tubb 19, Jim Keay/Brendan Duffy 16. Club Fours: Trevor Ward, Chris Tippett, Richard Crawford, David Stott 17, Barry Benn, Paul Tubb, Brendan Duffy, Chris Read 16.

First-Time Singles: Jim Keay 21, Phil Lewis 6. Under-70 Singles: Trevor Pritchard 21, Don Towie 5. Two-Wood Pairs: David Stott/Richard Crawford 19, Doug Grier/Paul Tubb 14. Mixed Pairs: Mick and Carol Edlin 21, Ken and Carol Marshall 14.

Over-70 Singles: Mick Edlin 21, Dick Jackman 5. Club Triples: Alan Newland, Harry Sparks, Ken Marshall 18, Doug Grier, Tony Mannion, Chris Read 13. Two-Wood Singles: Mick Edlin 21, Paul Tubb 14. Club Champioinship: Rod Smith 21, Doug Grier 13.

Although Clarence Blues outscored visitors Victoria Saxons by eight shots to two on the last end, it was not enough to avert a two-shot defeat in Division 1 of the Weston & District Over-60s League.

With only two Clarence rinks finishing up, the fact that they took just four points from the game was a blow to their hopes of winning the league, now dependent on winning their final match away to title rivals Winscombe.

The winning Blues’ skips were Paul Tubb and Richard Crawford, the latter helped by a six on end 12. Roger Burrough fought back well from an almost insurmountable deficit of 0-18 after seven ends to lose by only nine.

Clarence Blues 101 (4), Victoria Saxons 103 (16): T Ward, J Rogers, P Tubb 20-11; B Rossiter, D Grier, D Stott 15-18; A Gardiner, M Phillips, R Burrough 13-22; J Loveridge, D Towie, R Crawford 21-12; B Underwood, J Keay, G Barlow 17-21; B Benn, B Duffy, M Edlin 15-19.

THE annual match between the men and ladies for the Mike Roberts Commemorative Trophy was won by the Winscombe men’s team.

Club captain Paul Fredersdorff accepted the trophy from ladies’ captain Trixie Miles and reminded members what a great character and clubman ‘Pavman’ Mike was.

At Christmas, Mike always gave his rendition of Barry Island and in tribute to him the version by Max Boyce was played. A fish and chip supper and quiz rounded off the evening.

Winscombe Men 138, Winscombe Ladies 68 (ladies first): A Griffin, L Partfitt, M Adams, A Ainsworth 13, P Hopes, J Smith, W Ainsworth M Adams 22; J Wiles, L Coombe, C Bryant, W Weller 8, D Johnson, T Moody, G Coombe, R Birmingham 31; S Vincent, P Heal, M Sprouting, R Keane 9, N Hansford, R Knight, G Neville, P Fredersdorff 24; C Hopes, S Ovenden, S Lowman, S Caddy 15, J Sprouting, M Nash, A Dudley, A Watts 15; D Seaman, S Nash, L Whatling, L Fredersdorff 12, P Cast, B Prince, R Lowman, S Eastment 25; T Darkin, I Miles, J Rush, E Watts 11, B Paul, R Weller, S Easterby, K Whatling 11-21.

Winscombe played their penultimate game in Weston & District Over-60s League away to Burnham and came away with a win by 17 shots and 16 points to four, putting them on top of the league with the final game against Clarence left to decide the ultimate winners.

Winscombe 103, Burnham 86: G Lloyd, M Hunter, W Ainsworth 15-17; K Whatling, M Nash, P Fredersdorff 20-10; R Kibble, A Dudley, A Watts 17-10; J Sprouting, T Ellis, M Adams 16-15; G Neville, L Collier, R Lowman 6-23; B Paul, G Coombe, R Birmingham 29-11.

In the two friendly games, Winscombe won in a mixed match against a touring side from Datchworth, but lost in a men’s triple match to St Andrews by five shots.

Winscombe 114, Datchworth 62: C Hopes, D Johnson, P Fredersdorff, A Watts 28-12; D Brown, P Burns, E Watts, M Adams 27-10; L Coombe, K Headford, S Lowman, R Lowman 22-10; D Sapsford, B Paul, G Coombe, S Caddy 19-14; M Newing, L Fredersdorff, M Adams, R Lacy 18-16.

Winscombe 94, St Andrews 99: R Weller, M Nash, A Watts 14-21; P John, M Hunter, R Lacy 22-10, J Smith, G Coombe, T Ellis 18-16; D Brown, P Fredersdorff, M Adams 7-19; R Sapsford, L Collier, S Eastment 16-11; M Newing, D Johnson, G Neville 17-22.

The final matches of the group stages were played and saw Congresbury D, St Andrews A, Nailsea A and Banwell B progress to the knockout competition:

Results: Wedmore B 13, Congresbury D 21; Wells C 16, Winscombe C 17; Wrington C 6, St Andrews A 36; Wells A 18, St Andrews B 19; Winscombe K 16, Ashcombe A 19; Nailsea A 30, Winscombe J 14; Winscombe D 16, Banwell B 16.

The teams which have won through the group stages and their opponents in the first round of the knockout stage are: Congresbury B v Victoria E ; Winscombe B v Wells B; The Tominators v Winscombe K; Winscombe A v Nailsea B; Congresbury D v St Andrews B; Winscombe C v Burnham; Banwell B v Winscombe J.

The first night of results were: Wells B 24, Winscombe B 7; Congresbury B 14, Victoria E 23; Winscombe A 16, Nailsea B 19; Winscombe K 15, The Tominators 10.

WEDMORE held a new competition for the first time - a pro-am triples aimed specifically at new bowlers.

Each triples team had a beginner in the team and the objective was to give them competition experience, while getting to know many of the experienced bowlers.

At the end of a good afternoon’s bowling, the winners were Vic Matthews, Julie Collins and Mike Batchelor. It is hoped that this will become an annual event.

Also, the men’s triples day was won by Roger Hughes, Steve Wilkinson and Alan Birch.

Wedmore men hosted Yatton for a Weston and District Over-60s triples match with Wedmore winning by 119-82. Roger Hughes, Clive Wheller and Ian Faulkner had the best win of the day 30-11.

The second round of the Mark Moor Cup was played at Mark Moor. Wedmore’s mixed team had won the first round by five shots, but lost this round by three, producing the closest result in many years with Wedmore winning by just two shots.

Ladies’ captain Gill Harvey and her team had the best result with a 21-12 victory.

The annual Friendship Cup match was held in Wells and the home team won by 117 to 100. Dave Collins and his team had the best result 18-9.

VICTORIA Ladies clinched the Mendip League in an exciting end of season game at Congresbury.

The ladies played their last game of the season at Congresbury, knowing that only a win would keep them in contention for the title. They won two of the three triples ensuring eight points and as a result became champions, two points ahead of Fosseway.

Lady captain Sue Newman was delighted that the success was achieved as a reward for the efforts of all the lady members of the club.

Victoria beat Congresbury by five shots with two high winning rinks skipped by Mildred Chudley and Annie Holland, enabling Victoria winning a tense game.

Victoria 55 (8), Congresbury 53 (2): K Wilson, S Sokol, M Chudley 23-8; H Frye, R Cleeves, A Holland 22-14; B Williams, C Sage, S Newman 10-31.

WESSEX Ladies’ Pat Taylor played in three finals, skipping the winning fours, but was runner-up in the four-wood pairs with her partner captain Elaine Stott and runner-up in the club championship.

Although Pat was in the lead 19-17, life member Joan Davis picked up a four to clinch the title.

Eileen Wade, a fairly new bowler, was also in three finals, winning the first-time singles by one shot and won the Jubilee two-wood pairs partnered by Ann Fewings. Eileen partnered Mary Davis to win the four-wood pairs.

Chris Peart was also in three finals, but had a walkover in the two-wood singles as Verlie Edwards, a finalist in two disciplines, was unable to play as unfortunately she had an accident and broke a bone in her foot.

Results – championship: J Davis 21, P Taylor 19. Two-wood singles: C Peart, V Edwards. First-time singles: E Wade 21, D Welfare 20. Handicap singles: P Turner 27, C Peart 18. Fours: I Hicks, B Hayes, M Davis, P Taylor 28, N Peters, D Welfare, B Jones, E Williams 8.

Four-wood pairs: E Wade, M Davis 27, E Stott, P Taylor 24. Two-wood pairs: N Peters, C Peart 19, I Hicks (sub), J Duffy 18. Triples: M Milford, P Dunn, A Powell 19, C Falconbridge, P Turner, A Fewings 16. Jubilee two-wood pairs: E Wade, A Fewings 12, I Hicks, J Duffy 9.

The annual flower day was held to play for the Norma Smart Trophy. Members wore a flower and played in teams after drawing out the name of a flower.

Winners - Fuchsias: N Peters, J Davis, M Davis , J Duffy 24-8; runners up: C Falconbridge, A Ward, B Jones, A Fewings 16-11.

Wessex Ladies 43, Yatton 41 (friendly): M Hawkins, C Falconbridge, E Stott, J Duffy 20-11; J Allard, T Langford, D Welfare, P Taylor 17-12; P Turner, L Hedderman. B Hayes, A Ward 6-18.

Joan Davis, Norma Peters, Mary Davis, Elaine Stott (captain) and Joan Duffy (president).

ST ANDREWS Ladies singles champion this year is Jackie Ware, who defeated Jenny McMillan in the final.

Sue Sinclair won the two-wood competition, beating Imogen Cracknell 14-12. The pairs was a close match with Rebecca McMillan and Meg Favis winning by one shot against Pat Uglow and Sue Sinclair.

Caroline Venn, Sue Sinclair and Margaret Pattenden won the triples competition 19-12 against Julie Forse, Sheila Glenville and Ann Campbell. The mixed pairs produced another close finish, with Rebecca McMillan and George Webber beating Julie Forse and Brian Reeves 22-21.

St Andrews played an away friendly at Ashcombe Park, winning by 20 shots.

St Andrews Ladies 61, Ashcombe 41: I Cracknell, H Chesters, M Pattenden, A Campbell 23-12, S Glenville, A Greenwood, M McMillan, M Bailey 12-22, L Owen, J Forse, M Favis 26-7.

MARY Davison withstood a brilliant comeback by Christine Hooper to win the Clarence Ladies’ club championship for the first time.

At 20-11, Davison needed just one shot for victory. However, Hooper would not give up and played some wonderful shots to tie the game at 20-20. On what turned out to be the final end, Hooper’s last wood connected with the jack, but sent it to one of Davison’s woods and it was all over.

It was a revenge victory for Davison, who, partnered by Marysia Angove, had lost the four-wood pairs to Hooper and Pam Barnbrook. On the last end, the latter duo, leading by two, were four down until Barnbrook played a real pressure shot to trail the jack and win the match.

Barnbrook also beat Angove in the handicap singles, having to get 27 before winning by nine shots.

Although Carol Edlin lost the triples final, to Ann Ballinger, Janet Anning and Davison, she had two victories. She and husband Mick won the Clarence men’s mixed pairs. Then Carol Edlin was unstoppable, as she and Ros Francombe, in only her second year as a bowler, romped away with the two-wood pairs.

In the two-wood singles, Edlin had to give best to club captain Jo Mannion, who beat her by five shots. Mannion was a member of the winning fours team, which also included Carol Marshall, Jean Colman and Margaret Noddings.

The Pratt Cup two-wood singles for players who have never won a singles title, was won by Christine Hooper, beating Ros Francombe.

Finals’ results - club triples: Ann Ballinger, Janet Anning, Mary Davison 19, Ros Francombe, Shirley Searle, Carol Edlin 13. Club fours: Carol Marshall, Jean Colman, Jo Mannion, Margaret Noddings 25, Christine Hooper, Shirley Scoins, Pam Fowler, Pam Hawkins 4.

Handicap singles: Pam Barnbrook (h’cap 6) 27, Marysia Angove (0) 18. Four-wood pairs: Christine Hooper/Pam Barnbrook 21, Marysia Angove/Mary Davison 18. Two-wood singles: Jo Mannion 16, Carol Edlin 11. Pratt Cup: Christine Hooper 21, Ros Francombe 8. Two-wood pairs: Ros Francombe/Carol Edlin 22, Pam Fowler/Pauline Burrough 4. Club championship: Mary Davison 21, Christine Hooper 20.

Clarence Ladies registered an impressive home victory over Clevedon in the North Somerset Triples League. They finished up on all three rinks to win by 19 shots.

Clarence Ladies 60, Clevedon Ladies 41: P Fowler, C Hooper, M Davison 21-16; M Angove, A Harris, V Collicott 21-13; J Colman, P Hawkins, M Noddings 18-12.

A 16-shot victory on Veronica Jones’s rink helped Clarence Ladies to win by eight shots at home to Congresbury in a friendly match.

Clarence Ladies 41, Congresbury 33: C Marshall, A Harris, V Jones 22-6; S Ellis, L Oldham, S Searle 5-18; A Ballinger, J Anning, C Edlin 14-9.

This Sunday morning (10am), Clarence Ladies will be attempting to reach the final of the county Southey Trophy when they meet Taunton Deane in the semi-final at City of Wells.

Clarence’s green-sharers Wessex Ladies will also be in action at Wells on Sunday (2.30pm), against Taunton Vivary in the semi-final of the county Fear Plate.