Bowls round-up: Title upset as Winstanley takes trophy from reigning champion Peachey

Paul Winstanley

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Desborough’s finals weekend produced one new champion, and a slight upset in the men’s championship, with Paul Winstanley taking the title off reigning champion Mark Peachey (21-14). Gina Braddock’s steady display was also enough to defeat Rose Turner 21-17 to claim the ladies’ title.

Rose was able to make amends in the over 60s final, defeating Gill O’Neill 21-14 despite flashes of brilliance from her rival. However, Gill also got her hands on a trophy, winning the pairs event as she and Mary Martin beat Maureen O’Reilly and Nicola Jones 22-20.

Nicola Jones might have lost the ladies drawn triples final, with Rhona Pike, Helen Copeland and Doreen Lovering taking that honour, but she did manage three title successes. Firstly she won the handicap singles with Gina Braddock after a tight battle.

The nominated mixed titles was also hers alongside Bruce Adams after a heart-stopping game. She also won the two-wood competition with Val Wyatt.

There were two titles for Ray Weaver, who won the novices singles against Paul Patel and the mixed open handicap singles against Ken Hazell.

Mark Peachey made up for his championship disappointment by winning the handicap singles against Weaver 21-20. But he slipped to a 15-13 defeat against Graeme Mason in the

2-wood singles, his speciality. Graeme completed the double alongside John Brampton in the drawn handicap pairs, defeating Richard Earl and Peter Braddock.

Peter had the consolation of dethroning Geoff Lofthouse in the over 70s singles title, although the latter – with Carole Tupling – beat Rose Turner and Dave Wagner to win the mixed drawn handicap pairs.

Desborough also travelled to Suttons where they fell to an unfortunate 50-37 defeat. The only ray of sunshine was the rink of Peter Colton, Helen Copeland and loanee Wyn Ambrose, who won 14-12.

Desborough then rounded off their friendly season with a 95-90 loss to Hurst in which five of the six rinks were narrowly lost.