On Saturday 19th September Chatham BC was pleased to host the 2009 finals of the Medway Bowling Association competitions. It was nice to see that of the eleven finals being played, Chatham was represented in five of them, including an all Chatham final in the Men’s Singles.

On a gloriously sunny and warm day, there was some very good bowling in a variety of matches throughout the day. There were well over 100 spectators during the course of the day with enthusiastic support from many of the clubs across Medway and beyond.

Overseeing the finals and making sure everything went smoothly, were Medway Bowling Association officers, Al Robinson (Hon Sec), Jim Masters (Vice President and Match Secretary), Eddy Negus (President) and Maurice Adcock (Hon Treasurer).
Al Robinson (Hon Sec), Jim Masters (Vice President and Match Secretary), Eddy Negus (President) and Maurice Adcock (Hon Treasurer).

Starting at 9:30am was the final of the Men’s Gower Cup, played on two rinks between Wingets BC and Civil Service BC. The clubs were each triumphant on one rink but the winners on overall shots were Wingets BC.

  
Action from the Gower Cup Final - Champions Wingets BC

Also starting at 9:30am was the final of the Ladies’ Pairs, played between Veronica Pink and Eileen Simpson of Borstal BC and Pat Carr and Sheila Pamplin of Chatham BC. This was a closely fought final over the first few ends but then the Chatham pair took several ends in succession and built a good lead. They never looked back and Pat and Sheila became Chatham’s first victors of the day.

Starting slightly later at 10:00am was the final of the Men’s Pairs, which was also between a Chatham and a Borstal team. John Yalden and Trevor Skinner gave Chatham their second win of the day, beating George Fursey and Jim Simpson of Borstal BC.

Also starting at 10:00am was the final of a new competition for this year – an Open Singles competition with a new trophy presented by Jim Masters. Fifteen year old Andrew Rodger from Cliffe BC showed no nerves or lack of experience and in a masterful display of singles bowling comfortably beat beating Al Robinson from Rochester BC. Graciously Al commented, ‘I was beaten by the better player on the day. The way Andrew was bowling, even if I had bowled at my very best I wouldn’t have won.’
 
Ladies Pairs Champion - Sheila Pamplin and Pat Carr
Mens Pairs Champions - Trevor Skinner and John Yalden
 
Open Singles Champion - Andrew Rodger (Cliffe BC)

The first of the afternoon games was the Ladies Singles between Eileen Simpson of Borstal BC, playing her second game of the day, and Eileen Newnham of Cliffe BC. The winner was Eileen Simpson.

Chatham were represented once again in the final of the Men’s Civic Cup. John Yalden, Frank Collins, Graham Lock and Roger Howell after a slow start comfortably beat a team from GEC Avionics BC skipped by Brian Trill.
Ladies Singles Champion - Eileen Simpson ( Borstal BC)
Action from the Mens Civic Cup Final - Champions Chatham BC

The Mens’ Singles final was an all Chatham affair, with Keith Hysted playing against Trevor Skinner. Trevor initially went into the lead, but Keith fought his way back into the game and then pulled a few shots ahead. Over the last few ends the result could have gone either way but Keith Hysted eventually emerged as the Medway Singles Champion for 2009, winning the game 21 shots to 17.

  
 
Keith Hysted and Trevor Skinner battle out the final of the Mens' Singles
Mens Singles Champion - Keith Hysted

In the final of the Ladies’ Civic Cup, another closely fought match, the ladies from Cliffe BC beat the Riverside BC rink by 21 shots to 18.

The Men’s Champion of Champions final was played between Terry Marsh of Civil Service BC and Andrew Bootes of Kemsley BC. Both played some superb bowls and end after end the head changed as each regularly drew shot, trailed the jack or removed the opponent’s woods. Both players were well supported by members from their clubs. However, it was Andrew Bootes from Kemsley who took control of the game and ran out the eventual winner 21 shots to 15.

The Ladies’ Champion of Champions was Ann Thorpe of Borstal BC, who on the day played an exhibition match against Rosie Flood, also of Borstal BC.

 

 
Ladies Civic Cup Champions - Cliffe BC
 
Mens Champion of Champions - Andrew Bootes (Kemsley)
Ladies Champion of Champions - Ann Thorpe (Borstal BC)

The last game of the day was the final of another new competition for this year – the Mixed Pairs Competition with a trophy presented by Maurice Adcock. Mother and son pairing David and Brenda Turner were against the husband and wife pairing of Eileen and Jim Simpson. This was Eileen’s third final of the day and Jim’s second.

Although David and Brenda led from the second end, the Simpsons were never out of the game and the match, now the only one on the green, built to an exciting finale. On the 20th end, with live woods in the ditch from Eileen, David and Jim, but with the jack and the shot to Jim Simpson on the green and two feet from the ditch, the umpire was called on to determine second wood. The Simpson’s two woods in the ditch both counted and Eileen and Jim took a score of three. This took them two shots into the lead. On the 21st end David drew shot. Jim with his last wood ran through a gap between shot and jack. David Turner with the final wood of the end drew right on to the jack to achieve a score of two and force the extra end.

After another very exciting end to a full length jack, David was again standing on the mat with the last wood and facing defeat. He was three shots down, with the majority of the woods short of the jack. Nevertheless, David again bowled the perfect wood through a gap, removed the shot and settled in its place to win the game. An exciting game for the spectators and a very worthy game on which to finish a day of excellent bowling.

    
Club Captain, David Turner, and mother Brenda bowling their way to victory in the Mixed Pairs
 
Mixed Pairs Champions - Brenda and David Turner

Chatham BC members won all five finals in which they were represented. A fantastic achievement for the club.

As President of the MBA, Eddie Negus presented the trophies to the winners and runners up of the Ladies’ and Men’s inter-club triples leagues (namely Cobham BC and Riverside BC for the Ladies and St Georges BC and Kemsley BC for the men) as well as to the winners and runners up of all the finals played at Chatham BC.

In his concluding speech Eddie thanked umpire, Fran Hammell, who was kept busy on several occasions during the course of the day, and Chatham BC for hosting the event so well. He especially thanked Sylvia Pidduck and her team of helpers for keeping everyone fed and watered during the day and everyone else who helped behind the scenes to make the MBA Finals’ Day such a successful event.

 

Additional Material

 

 
Officials posing
Officials in action

The record crowd were well behaved ane were kept fully entertaimed by skilled bowlers performing at their highest level