Welcome to The Delivery! This is our daily feature that brings you a round-up of the action from the Aviva National Finals 2023 at Victoria Park, plus a preview for the following day.
Day 15 Round Up – Thursday 24th August
The Junior competitions reached their climax with both the Men’s and Women’s Junior Singles Finals played out. The Men’s and Women’s Senior Fours also concluded on Day 15 as the Two Bowl Singles began seeing both the Men’s and Women’s competitions reaching Round Three.
Women’s Junior Singles
The Women’s Junior Singles came down to the business end with Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final all being played out on sunny day at Victoria Park. In the Quarter-Finals it was Junior Pairs Champion Emily Kernick (Sherwood Park BC, Warwickshire) up against Kat Bowman (Birstall BC, Leicestershire). It was a quality game with some fantastic ends played and it was Emily who came out victorious winning 21 – 13. On our live stream we saw Joanna Watt (Polegrove BC, Sussex) continue her journey with a 21 – 10 win over Katie Jones (Polly BC, Nottinghamshire). Elsewhere Olivia Starr (Clevedon BC, Somerset) defeated Ruby Hill (Burton House BC, Lincolnshire) 21-13 and Rebecca Moorbey (Brampton BC, Huntingdonshire) beat Chloe Brett (Brampton BC, Huntingdonshire) 17-16 after their time limit of two hours and 30 minutes was reached.
Into the Semi-Finals and we had our fantastic four battling it out for a place in the Final. After strong performances throughout the competition, Emily Kernick continued her fine performances with a 21-11 win over Joanna Watt whilst the other Semi-Final it was a replay of last year’s Final with Rebecca Moorbey beating Olivia Starr 21-12.
The Final was upon us and we had a mammoth match on our hands with two fantastic bowlers facing up against each other – reigning Champion Rebecca Moorbey looking to defend her title up against the newly-crowned Women’s Junior Pair Champion Emily Kernick, who was looking to win the Women’s Junior Final for Warwickshire for the first time since Kirsty Richards back in 2017. It was a thrilling match which saw Emily Kernick clinch the title in style with a powerful performance winning 21-9.
For all the results from today’s Women’s Junior Singles, click here.
Men’s Junior Singles
The Men’s Junior Singles started to hot up with the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final also played out on Day 15. Spectators were treated to some fantastic match-ups with Oli Collins (Ilminster BC, Somerset) and Callum Hodgson (Wigton BC, Cumbria) playing out a nail biter and treating spectators to a fantastic match. A close game but only one could win and it was Oli Collins who won 21-19. On our live stream fans in the crowd and at home watched a classic with two players who couldn’t be separated. But it was George Hopper (Newdigate BC, Surrey) who just edged the contest winning 21-20 against Lewis Rimmer (Heaton Hall BC, Lancashire). The other Quarter-Finals saw Mack May (St Neots BC, Cambridgeshire) progress with a 21 – 10 win over Kyle Leeks (Cornard BC, Suffolk) and England Junior Captain Tom Holmes (Ross-on-Wye BC, Herefordshire) beating Oli Shearing (North Greenwich BC, Middlesex).
Onto the semi-finals and 2023 Men’s Junior Pairs winner Oli Collins started fast and continued to show his class with brilliant bowls throughout the contest to defeat Mack May 21-7. The other Semi-Final saw George Hopper come up against Tom Holmes with Holmes (in control throughout to record a 21-11 victory.
As the afternoon ended and the sun set over Victoria Park the setting was set for the Men’s Junior Pairs. A mouth-watering game was on offer for those in attendance. Both players performing to a high standard throughout and worthy finalists but their could only be one who lifted the trophy. It was a great effort from Oli Collins (Ilminster BC, Somerset) who had a tough run to the final and left it all out on the green but it wasn’t to be as Tom Holmes showed his class and won 21-11 to be crowned Men’s Junior Singles at the Aviva National Finals.
For all Men’s Junior Singles results, click here.
Men’s Senior Fours
Onto the Men’s Senior Fours and it was Mike Stray, Roy Elkington, David Brammer, Kevin Lewis (Branston BC, Lincolnshire) playing Mike Cox, Ian Ball, John Crews, Martin Butchers (Plessey BC, Isle of Wight) for a place in the Final. The Lincolnshire quartet booked their place in the Final with an impressive 20-16 win against the Men from Isle of Wight. Meanwhile, it was a tougher game between Robbie Ferguson, Brian Whittingham, Kevin Carter, Neil Smith (Westlecot BC, Wiltshire) and Gary Clark, Martin Sampson, Simon Greenwood, David McCallum (Camberley BC, Surrey). A tight game with both teams playing some fantastic shots. It was Gary Clark, Martin Sampson, Simon Greenwood, David McCallum (Camberley BC, Surrey) who came out on top with a 15-14 win to face Mike Stray, Roy Elkington, David Brammer, Kevin Lewis (Branston BC, Lincolnshire).
The final saw a dominant display from the Surrey four with Gary Clark, Martin Sampson, Simon Greenwood and David McCallum dominant with a 33-5 win.
For all results in the Men’s Senior Fours, please click here.
Women’s Senior Fours
The Women’s Senior Fours came to a conclusion with Semi-Final and Finals being played out. Helen Skinner, Sharon Mew, Jan Williams, Lynne Allen (Brimfield BC, Herefordshire) and Lesley Holmes, Di Wilson-Rogers, Barbara Heath, Lin Mountain (Dunholme St Giles BC, Lincolnshire) played for their places in the Final. It was a tight game with Lesley Holmes, Di Wilson-Rogers, Barbara Heath, Lin Mountain (Dunholme St Giles BC, Lincolnshire) leaping for joy with a 16-13 victory over Helen Skinner, Sharon Mew, Jan Williams, Lynne Allen (Brimfield BC, Herefordshire). In the other Semi-Final it was a nail bitter between Leen Hampshire, Carole Wolton, Sandra Aldridge, Anne Bernard (Ryde Marina BC, Isle of Wight) and Lesley Johnson, Alice Atwell, Hazel Marke, Margaret Holden (Alton Social BC, Hampshire). A close game to call went down to the wire with Leen Hampshire, Carole Wolton, Sandra Aldridge, Anne Bernard (Ryde Marina BC, Isle of Wight) narrowly winning 18-17 after an extra end.
Into the Final and Leen Hampshire, Carole Wolton, Sandra Aldridge, Anne Bernard who showed their quality and won convincingly 17-7 to take the title back to the Isle of Wight and write themselves into Aviva National Finals history books.
For a full list of Women’s Senior Fours results, click here.
Women’s Two Bowls Singles
It was the start of the Women’s Two Bowls Singles today which saw current holder Rhianna Russell (Welwyn & District BC, Hertfordshire) kick off her defence with a 18-13 win against Sophie Morton (Parkway BC, Huntingdonshire). It was a close match between Nicole Rogers (Kings, Devon) and Maddie Burgess (Chester Road BC, Worcestershire) with a narrow 16-15 win for Nicole Rogers. Other results saw Lynn Orlando (Didcot BC, Berkshire) defeat Pat Thornton (Dukeries BC, Nottinghamshire) and Rebecca Willgress (Norfolk BC, Norfolk) progress after beating Diane Timms (Flitwick BC, Bedfordshire) 14-13.
Going into Round Two and Sue Cooke (Box BC, Wiltshire) continued her journey in the competition with a 17-5 win against Judy Drewer (St Dunstans BC, Worcestershire). Sian Honnor (Appleyard BC, Kent) beat Sam Williams (Ryde Marina BC, Isle of Wight) 19-10 to progress to Round Three. Off the back of her Women’s Singles victory, Stef Branfield (Clevedon BC, Somerset) was in action and beat Pat Hilson (Felixstowe & Suffolk BC, Suffolk) 15-12 to book her place into Round Three.
Round Three results saw Laura Holden (Clevedon BC, Somerset) beat Morgan Merryweather (Island Bohemian BC, Berkshire) 15-11 to continued pushing through the rounds. Shannon Maughan (Bletchley Town BC, Buckinghamshire) played brilliant bowls against Stef Branfield (Clevedon BC, Somerset) with a 17-13 win. Susan Forster (Houghton Dairy Lane BC, Durham) put herself in the hat for the next round with a 15-8 win over Lisa Smith (Welford on Avon BC, Warwickshire).
For a full list of Women’s Two Bowls Singles results, click here.
Men’s Two Bowls Singles
It was also the beginning for the Men’s Two Bowls Singles. Harry Goodwin (Appleyard BC, Kent) began his journey in the competition with a 17-11 win against Steve Poyner (Vines Park BC, Worcestershire). Neil Corbyn (Wellingborough BC, Northamptonshire) saw himself through to Round Two after a 16-11 win against Mitchell Young (The Springhouse BC, Essex). It was a close fought match with Ian Henwood (Headington BC, Oxfordshire) clinching a 13-12 victory against Alex Dytham (Branksome Park BC, Dorset). Elsewhere saw Darren Griffith (Shanklin BC, Isle of Wight) sail through with a 17-4 win against Tom Renshaw (Kingscroft BC, Leicestershire) and Mark Ireland (Avenue BC (Coventry), Warwickshire) swept away (Westlecot BC, Wiltshire) 17-7.
Round Two results saw Kyle Anderson (Royal Wootton Bassett BC, Wiltshire) secure a 17-8 win against Dave Lambert (Ross-on-Wye BC, Herefordshire). Ashley Tanner (Ashford BC, Middlesex) put his name into the next round with a 16-7 victory over Ian Henwood (Headington BC, Oxfordshire). Matt Ives (Pulborough BC, Sussex) will see himself in Round Three with a 15-13 Frazer Ham (Clevedon BC, Somerset).
Harry Goodwin (Appleyard BC, Kent) continued his charge for the Men’s Two Bowl Singles title after booking his place in the Quarter-Final with a 15 – 12 win over Ashley Tanner (Ashford BC, Middlesex). Mark Bishopp (Egham BC, Surrey) won by the narrowest of margins with a 13-12 score line against Darren Griffith
(Shanklin BC, Isle of Wight). Peter Ward (Ringwood BC, Hampshire) also progressed into the Quarter-Finals with a 16-13 win over James Amery (Taunton Vivary BC, Somerset).
For a full list of Men’s Two Bowls Singles results, click here.
Day 16 Preview – Friday 25th August
Friday 25th August | Day 16 – Two Can Play That Game
Two can play that game as we move into Day 16. There will be no shortage of contenders who will have their eyes on the Men’s Two Bowls Singles title as the competition hots up. The Women’s Two Bowl Singles was famously won by Hertfordshire’s own rising star, Rhianna Russell, could we see her win again in 2023 or will someone else be crowed champions? Elsewhere at the Finals, qualifiers in the Men’s and Women’s Top Club step foot to start quests for the trophies.
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