Dave Card Memorial Mixed Pairs 2023 Report

Round One

Sally & Jamie King 21-15 Emma Duncan & Nathan Lacey

Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson 21-20 Sue Coneeley & Dave James

Dawn & Mark Gray 21-13 Isla & Lee Walmsley

Shavorne Osborne & Darren Lord 21-13 Georgia Rawlings & Richard Scane

Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson 21-17 Charlotte Butler & Craig Breeze

Natalia Connor & Scott Moseley 21-16 Janet Powell & Richard Lockett

Louise & Josh Cotton 21-12 Helen Clee & John Clarke

Lisa Pessall & Peter Millington 21- 05 Rachel Hassison & Billy Walmsley

Quarter -finals

Sally & Jamie King 21-14 Dawn & Mark Gray

Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson 21-05 Shavorne Osborne & Darren Lord

Louise & Josh Cotton 21-15 Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson

Natalia Connor & Scott Moseley 21-17 Lisa Pessall & Peter Millington

Semi-finals

Sally & Jamie King 21-20 Louise & Josh Cotton

Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson 21-12 Natalia Connor & Scott Moseley

Final

Sally & Jamie King 21-06 Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson

The players of the entered 16 pairs gathered around the good condition, well prepared green at Bridgnorth BC on a damp early Spring morning to contest the 2023 Dave Card Memorial Mixed Pairs Competition where the high spirits of the players could not be dampened, despite being subjected to many brief, light rain showers throughout the day.

Highlights from the score cards of the day’s games

Round One

Due to being drawn out of the hat last, defending Champions Sally & Jamie King had to wait over 2 hours before taking to the green to face Emma Duncan & Nathan Lacey, who led 7-3 and 15-11 before the King’s showed their intent of not giving in lightly by taking 6 ends on the bounce to win 21-15.

Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson shared the longest game of the day of well over 2hrs with Sue Coneeley & Dave James as neither pair could count more than 2 chalks at an end as they went 8-8, 11-11 and 13-13 until Sarah & Dave found a run that took them to 19-14, however they were pegged back and actually trailed 19-20 before winning the 32nd end to finish the marathon of a game 21-20.

Dawn & Mark Gray recovered from a slow start against Isla & Billy Walmsley by turning a 5-10 deficit into a 19-11 lead that proved decisive enough for them to go on and win 21-13.

Shavorne Osborne & Darren Lord were evenly matched with Geogia Rawlings & Richard Scane as scores went from 7-7 and 11-11, then Shavorne & Darren took control and moved ahead to lead 17-11 and finished it off with a double and a full house to progress with a 21-13 scoreline.

Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson shared the first 16 ends to tie with Charlotte Butler & Craig Breeze. But Lucy & Tony held the jack for half a dozen ends and moved on to 20-12, however they were pegged back before finally finishing 21-17.

Natalia Connor & Scott Moseley saw a 10-5 lead over Janet Powell & Richard Lockett quickly change to a 11-14 deficit in 3 ends until they regained the lead and went onto 20-15 then ended the game 21-16.

Louise & Josh Cotton were quick off the mark against fellow club mates, Helen Clee & John Clark that saw them move from 10-3 and 18-5 before Helen & John began a late fightback to make double figures before the Cotton’s finished them off 21-12.

After losing the first 2 ends, Lisa Pessall & Peter Millington turned a 0-2 deficit to Rachel Harrison & Billy Walmsley, into a dominating 14-4 lead and were quick to end the game 21-5.

Highlights of the quarter finals score cards

Following Sally & Jamie King’s 7-7 level start with Dawn & Mark Gray, they took control of the game by winning 7 of the next 9 ends and go in to a 19-9 lead and was eventually finished 21-14.

From enduring the longest game of the day, Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson’s opponents, Shavorne Osborne & Darren Lord must have wondered what had hit them as they were put to the sword going from 1-5 down and losing the next four ends that included two full house 4s and two triple score ends that saw the scores move to 19-1 which was quickly finished as Sarah & Dave secured the shortest winning game of the day in 13 ends, 21-5.

Louise & Josh Cotton had to fight their way back from 1-7 to 8-8 and 9-14 to 14-14 against Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson before forcing themselves in to lead of their own, 17-14 and seeing it through to a 21-15 win.

Natalia Connor & Scott Moseley saw a 11-1 lead over Lisa Pessall & Peter Millington, dissolve to 12-11 before re-establishing a lead of 19-15 that proved to be enough for them to hold on and win through, 21-17.

Highlights of the semi finals score cards.

Sally & Jamie King started strongly against Louise & Josh Cotton to race into a 10-0, 14-6 and 17-11 lead, before their fellow club mates clawed their way back to level at 17-17. The 22nd end of the game saw the King’s laying on with 3 counting bowls and what appeared to be an open chance for Jamie to secure the win if he could deliver his second bowl to match his first, within a metre and half of the jack. However, as it went over 2 metres past the end and not count, I could not help but think, they may rue the missed opportunity to finish it which almost became a reality as the Cotton’s levelled the game 20-20 and were looking good after Louise’s lead bowl at the 25th end lay with 6 inches to the side of the jack only for it to be rested out by Sally’s second bowl that survived in place for them to earn a 21-20 win in to the final.

Meanwhile.

From 5-5 with Natalia Connor & Scott Moseley, their opponents, Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson pushed themselves into a comfortable 14-8 lead that included them scoring a full house 4, and although this was cut to 15-12, they secured their win by running out in 3 ends with the help of another full house, they won 21-12.

Highlights of the Final

After their semi-final scare, Sally & Jamie King burst out of the blocks in the final and helped by two full house 4s and a triple score forged a 14-3 lead, after just 7 ends. And they relentlessly piled the pressure on by restricting Sarah Weaver & Dave Hanson to only 3 single chalk winning ends of the last 8 and with another triple scoring end of their own, Sally & Jamie completed the successful defence of their title, winning 21-6 (15 ends).

Shropshire County Competition Secretary, Mike Potter thanked Roger Cotton for assisting the competitors by measuring their ends throughout the day.

Host club and its members, Bridgnorth BC were also thanked for the supplying of quality green along with the much-appreciated hospitality and refreshments.

There then followed the presentation of cash prizes to competitors that featured from the semi-finals. onward.

Then, finally presented the Dave Card Rose Bowl to the defending and worthy champions, Sally & Jamie King.

Well Done & Congratulations to all on a most successful day.

Mike Potter