BY SUZI COOPER – Players from as far as Tenerife & Laura Golf on the Costa del Sol travelled to the Southern Costa Blanca to participate in the 2015 Spanish National Championships.
Matches were held at both the San Luis and Quesada Clubs. Following on from the Pre Nationals Open Pairs event the National proper got underway ten days ago during which time there was some amazing bowling; some anticipated results and some that were totally unexpected.
The Ladies rinks was marred by 2 teams having to withdraw in the quarter finals due to ill health on the fateful Thursday when temperatures reached low 40s in the shade.
In the semis Peta Rhodes, Marianne Holtham, Jacqui Johnston & Lisa Bonsor (Quesada) defeated Sue Johnson, Jan Pocock, Lyn Greenland & Lin Miller (Greenlands) and then Norma Lamberton, Eve Blythe, Carol Broomfield & Diane Riley made it an all Quesada final by defeating Debbie Colquhoun, Gill Atkinson, Jan Dando & Jenny Thompson (Indalo). The final started off as a close affair but the experienced team, skipped by Lisa Bonsor, were the eventual winners by 9 shots.
In the Mens rinks both teams comfortably progressed to the final. Cliff Plaisted, Noel Davis, Fred Willshire & Chris Collier (San Miguel) finally losing out to William Holtham, John Muldoon, Bill Pain & Pete Bonsor (Quesada).
The Ladies triples final was played between Peta Rhodes, Jacqui Johnston & Lisa Bonsor (Quesada) and Debbie Colquhoun, Gill Atkinson & Jenny Thompson (Indalo). The Quesada ladies took control of this match from the beginning, finally winning by 7 shots.
In the Men’s triples, last year’s champions John Muldoon, Bill Pain & Pete Bonsor (Quesada) progressed steadily to the final while Dennis Birkett, Brian Patton & Peter Whitehall (Country Bowls) stormed their way through, winning all tof heir matches by at least 10 shots. The final was a nip & tuck game played at the end of the day.
It sounded as though every member of Country Bowls was their cheering their team on. One end changed the course of the game when the Quesada trio were holding 5 and with his final bowl Peter Whitehall trickled off a wing bowl to reduce the score to 1. On the final end the shot changed almost with every bowl but it was the Country Bowls trio who took the title.
In the Ladies Pairs the semi-finals were both Quesada v Indalo. In the first of these Peta Rhodes & Lisa Bonsor (Quesada) defeated fellow squad members Debbie Colquhoun & Jan Dando (Indalo). The recent CBBA Champion of Champions finalists Mel Highland & Jacqui Johnston (Quesada) took the honours over Gill Atkinson & Jenny Thompson (Indalo).
The final of this game was extremely tight, going down to the wire with the scores at 16 apiece going into the final end. Mel & Jacqui eventually took the silverware by just a single shot.
In the Mens pairs there were some upsets. The favoured pairings of Colin Jackson & Mal Hughes (San Luis) went out in the first round, as did the father & son combination Graham & Robert Cathcart (Tenerife) while the winners of the pre-tournament pairs Jason Prokopowycz & Derek Sale progressed to the final.
In the other side of the draw 2 Costa del Sol teams came through to the semi Terry Morgan & Jeff Pitt (Belplaya) eventually lost to Mac Roberts & Tom Rogers (Lauro Golf). However, in the final, Jason & Derek took the honours.
In the Ladies singles last year’s Champion withdrew during her first match due to illness. Her opponent Pauline Robinson (Tenerife) made it to the semi-final before being defeated by 2013 champion Jan Dando (Indalo). In the opposite end of the draw Pat McEwan (San Miguel) took some notable scalps on her way to the semi-final where she lost to Nina McKenzie (Mazarron). The experience of Jan took her through to win the Ladies Singles for the 2nd time in 3 years.
Last year’s Mens Singles runner up Mal Hughes (San Luis) went out to Brian Robertson (Mazarron) who was defeated in the next match by Terry Morgan from Bel Playa (Costa del Sol). Terry progressed all the way to the semi-final where he fell to Jason Prokopowycz (Quesada). In the other half of the draw reigning champion Pete Bonsor played steadily throughout to the final. In the final Pete played exhibition standard bowls to win the title for the second year.
This year in place of the Player of the Tournament there was a Personality of the Tournament prize. Kevin Reardon of The Leader newspaper presented the award to Mac Roberts (Lauro) who with his doddering, cantankerous style won the hearts of many of the players, officials & spectators.
In closing the competition National Director paid tribute the organisers, the players and the spectators for what had been a truly wonderful National Tournament.
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/47396/
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