Thank you to Mike Potter for the below report.
Full results are here.
The players of the entered 19 pairs gathered around the good condition, well prepared greens at Greenfields BC on a damp early Spring morning to contest the 2025 Dave Card Memorial Mixed Pairs Competition where after a sharp, very heavy shower greeted the pairs in their opening games, everyone were then treated to a warm days bowling, cooled slightly by sometimes strong winds that were strong enough to blow any dark clouds away.
Highlights from the score cards of the day’s games
Prelims
Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson from 5-5, opened up a gap on last years champions, Louise & Josh Cotton 10-5 that they were able to maintain as they went onto 16-10 before ending it 21-15.
Julie Jones & Jamie Brookes tied at 7-7 and 12-12 with Beth & Steve Reeves, but then Julie & Jamie pulled away to win the game 21-15.
Helen Clee & John Clarke, from 7-7 only allowed Megan & Harry Brookes to add a couple of chalks as they took 9 of 10 ends to take the game 21-09.
Round One
From 8-8, 12-12 and 13-13, Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson took control of their game against Julie Jones & Jamie Brookes to nearly run out when they finished them off, 21-14.
An evenly matched game saw Helen Clee & John Clarke and Clair Barker & Gary Neal match each other down the card until leading 17-16, Helen & John bagged a full house 4 to get in 21-16.
After dominating the game from 5-6, Chalotte Butler & Lee Walmsley held a strong 18-8 until Jenna & Rhys Marshall come back and tie the game 20-20, only for Charlotte edge it 21-20.
Emily Cunningham & Mark Parsons saw their 12-6 lead wiped out as Chelsea Walne & Chris Worthington took the lead 14-12 but stalled, allowing Emily & Mark to go on to the edge 20-14 and just made it to win 21-19.
Emma Duncan & Nathan Lacey went strongly from 8-6 up on the unlucky Emily Hotchkiss & Ellis Griffiths who just avoided their opponents running out as Emma & Nathan went to 20-6 then onto 21-7.
Wendy Jones & Tony Cunningham saw their 11-3 lead wiped out by Rhiannon Brookes & Michael Cooper to trail 10-11 before Wendy & Tony pushed back to lead 17-10 before ending it 21-14.
Ann & Chris Grocott powered they way from 7-7 on to 18-7 before Angela & Martin Gaut went on a run with the jack themselves but fell short as Ann & Chris finished off 21-15.
Tracey Wraight & Rich Goddard counted in blocks of 2 ends to each 1 of Janet Powell & Rich Lockett as they scored 10-4, 16-6 and finally 21-9.
Highlights of the quarter finals score cards
Helen Clee & John Clarke were tied 8-8 and 11-11 against Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson before pushing forward on to 17-11 and survived a late surge to finish it from 19-17, as Helen & John closed out the game 21-17.
Emily Cunningham & Mark Parsons had to fight back from 4-9 down against Charlotte Butler & Lee Walmsley before taking control to go 14-12 up and then run out 21-12.
Emma Duncan & Nathan Lacey quickly turned their 7-6 lead into 19-7 before Wendy Jones & Tony Cunningham fought back well but alas was too little too late as Emma & Nathan won 21-17.
Tracey Wraight & Rich Goddard from 8-9 down and went further behind Ann & Chris Grocott until at 8-16, Tracey & Rich hit a rich seam of form and ran out on them to win 21-16.
Highlights of the semi finals score cards.
From 5-5, Emily Cunningham & Mark Parsons opened up a significant lead of 17-9 over Helen Clee & John Clarke and kept it to go on to 20-13, eventually winning it 21-15.
Meanwhile.
Tracey Wraight & Rich Goddard fought hard to turn Emma Duncan & Nathan Lacey’s 11-3 lead into a 14-11 lead of their own that they turned into 18-15 and on to win 21-17.
Highlights of the Final
An evenly match began with the scores between Emily Cunningham & Mark Parsons and Tracey Wraight & Rich Goddard going from 8-8(5ends) and on to 13-13(12ends) but then Emily & Mark struck a decisive blow with a full house 4 and a couple of single chalks to lead 19-13(15ends) that proved to be enough for them to defend as the game came to its final conclusion and seal their victory winning 21-16(18ends) and become deserved champions.
Shropshire County Competition Secretary, Mike Potter thanked host club and its members, Greenfields BC for the supplying of quality greens along with the much-appreciated hospitality and refreshments.
There then followed the presentation made by County President, Simon Fullard, of cash prizes to competitors that featured from the semi-finals onward.
Simon then presented the Dave Card Rose Bowl to the worthy champions, Emily Cunningham & Mark Parsons.
The details of the finalists were also forwarded to the BCGBA in the hope they will represent Shropshire at finals day of The BCGBA Centenary Pairs competition due to be staged in October.
Well Done & Congratulations to all on a most successful day.
Mike Potter
