Louth indoor bowlers complete county title hat-trick

The 110-94 aggregate shots victory at Horncastle gave them the title by just two points from Lincoln A, and came hot on the heels of county league success for their men’s A and men’s over 60s teams.

It was the final fixture to be played in their section and Louth began the match in fourth place needing at least 11 points to pinch top spot.

Things didn’t look good after 10 ends with the home team 22 shots ahead, but with Louth winning on two rinks. After 15 ends those two rinks still held their advantage and the overall deficit was just four shots.

Three ends later the three losing rinks had clawed back several shots and Louth had the aggregate lead by eight shots. A major factor was the 38-12 victory by the rink of Allan Dent, Simon Reeson, Sylvia Stainton and Carol Smith.

The vital second rink victory, by five shots, came from Colin Smith, Horace Cope, Tina Reeson and Brenda True. By the end Louth almost had four winning rinks with those skipped by John Welsh and Russ Dent losing by one shot each but providing an important contribution towards the overall aggregate success.

* At club level there was a photo finish to the Tuesday Mixed Pairs where four pairs ended the season on the same points tally.

The title went to Brian and Val Sherry whose 21-4 win over Roy Tear and Sylvia Stainton saw them nick top spot by a shots difference of just two.

Dave Roper and Jackie Brothwell had to settle for the runners-up place as they didn’t manage enough shots in their 17-11 win against Alan Watson and Alice Ashwood.

Third-placed John Welsh and Pat Willoughby just missed out despite a 14-12 win against Tony Willoughby and Pam Clapp, while previous leaders Tony and Lu Woods slipped to fourth having already completed their fixtures.

In the club knockout competitions, there was a grandstand finish in one of the Ladies’ Pairs semi-finals when Carol Smith an Liz Draper scored a two and three over the last two ends to nick an 18-17 win against Sylvia Stainton and Wendy Blyth.

There was an excellent game in the men’s two-bowl singles quarter-final which lasted 29 ends before Allan Dent completed a 21-20 win against Mark Freemantle.