Bowling in Almeria

The entries for these competitions were not as good as expected, considering the numbers of members we now boast. However ten ladies and twelve men’s pairs took part on Monday 25th and Friday 29th in the very welcomed sunny weather after the huge storms the previous days.
One lady and three men’s pair’s games took place on Monday morning, allowing the eight quarter final games to be played in the afternoon. On Friday morning the semi -finals were played followed by the Final in the afternoon.
In the first ladies Semi, Viv Sykes and Pat Deacon  took the first shot on the first end, however, Thelma Gamble and Siobhan Herrity  were on fire and never gave them many opportunities to go ahead progressing to a good win .
The second semi between   Eileen Pheonix and Sue Mannall  was against arguably the pre-favourites, Catherine Patrick and Ann Mason.  Eileen and Sue were leading comfortably until the fifteenth end, when   Cath and Ann gained six shots, bringing the score to 13-12, one shot behind. This might have signalled a pressurised situation for Eileen and Sue, but  they stuck to the task, winning the last three ends, taking the game.
In the first of the men’s semis, Jim Pike and Terry Rodgers were expected to give  Colin Wright and Roy Tonkin a hard battle. Unfortunately Roy and Colin were in no mood to let up and won comfortably.
The second however was a much tighter affair with Norman Atkins and Vic Parsons against Wayne Roberts and Rod Digweed. Norman and yours truly started off well taking the lead up to the ninth end. Level scores on the tenth and fourteenth end. On the sixteenth Wayne and Rod took two shots, on the seventeenth followed by Norman and me returning with two shots. The score now 16-15 to the former pair and it looked like an extra end would be needed to resolve this game. However Wayne and Rod took another shot giving them a well deserved win.
Once again it was good to see packed terraces with members watching the two finals. In the Ladies Final it was assured we would have fresh names on the Jackson Cup. Thelma Gamble and Siobhan Herrity lost the first three ends, but steadied themselves and  continued to pile on the pressure. Unfortunately Eileen Pheonix and Sue Mannall had no answer, leaving Thelma and Siobhan to win easily.
The Men’s Final, Wayne Roberts and Rod Digweed who had played so well during the competition were expected to give Colin Wright and Roy Tonkin a good battle. Unfortunately for Wayne and Rod, Colin and Roy were in a destructive mood winning the game decisively. Colin was happy as it was the only club trophy he had not had his winning name on.
Well done to all those taking part and thanks to my wife Joan for presenting our   Parsons Trophy and in the absence of Shirley Jackson, the Jackson Cup to the winners.

Vic Parsons
ALBC Press Officer