David Cornwell House, Bowling Green, Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 0DA
Fax: 01664 - 482888
S.A.Rodwell e-mail: sar@eiba.co.uk
REPORT
ON FINALS"Warners" Champion of Champions Final Stages 2001
In the other three games, Barry Jenkins (Egham) withstood a late recovery from Darren Griffith (Isle of Wight), to win 21 -15; as did Greg Harlow (City of Ely) who defeated David Bolt (Sunderland), 21 -16. Graham Smith (Spalding) took the last three ends to win 21 - 15 against Nick Barnett (Sleaford).
Saturday afternoon saw the remaining First Round games taking place. There were easy wins for Steve Mitchinson (Tye Green) against Barrie Forse (Gloucester), 21 - 8; Tony Webb (Stevenage) against Steve Utting (Acle), 21 - 7 & John Leeman (Stanley) against Trevor Monk (Egerton Park) 21 -12 (At one time John led 15 - 1).
The game of the session was between Simon Stevens (Exonia) and Adam Tidby (Dorchester). After Adam had taken an early lead of 11 - 1, Simon managed to keep clawing back to stand 15 - 19 down after 19 ends. Adam then proceeded to draw his first two woods to the jack for what proved to be a winning lie despite the valiant attempts by Simon to dislodge the woods.
The Quarter-Finals saw David Miller have an easy win over Barry Jenkins (21 - 8), as did Greg Harlow against Graham Smith (21 - 9).The two remaining games produced exciting finishes, with Adam Tidby playing a conversion shot to take 3 and beat John Leeman, 21 -17, whilst Steve Mitchinson recovered from 10 - 4 down, to comeback and win 21 -18 against Tony Webb.
In a packed Bowls Hall, Sunday morning saw the start of the Semi-Finals.
Greg Harlow and David Miller provided the spectators with a exhibition of high-class draw bowling, coupled with excellent conversion shots. David initially built up a lead of 9 - 3 after eight ends, only for Greg to achieve two threes to level the score. Once again David pulled away to stand 20 -14. Greg narrowed the lead to 20 -17 and in what proved to be the final end, David Miller gained shot by glancing the jack to have a "live wood" in the ditch. Greg then played an excellent drawshot which narrowly failed to save the game.
With the Harlow/Miller game decided, Steve Mitchinson and Adam Tidby decided that they would not be left out of the occasion. Adam gradually built up a lead of 19 - 13 and but for a slight touch on a nearby wood he must have thought that he had won the game on the 24th end, only for his wood to drop out and leave him still requiring one shot.
In a further exhibition of excellent bowling, Steve and Adam continued their tussle, with Steve winning the next three ends to level the game, 20 -20. Steve then held three shots in what seemed a match winning lie, only for Adam to change his hand and draw within six inches to win the game.
The Final on Sunday afternoon proved to be a worthy finale for the weekend. David Miller established an early lead of 9 - 4 after seven ends. Adam Tidby kept in touch for the next the next five ends, but then lost a four to give David a lead of 15 - 8.
Just when the spectators thought that they could not see anything better, David Miller produced the "Shot of the Championship" when on the fifteenth end with little more than a foot of running, he neatly played Adam's shot wood out of a tight head to take two shots and lead 18 - 8.Two ends later, to become the 2001 EIBA "Champion of Champions", David played an immaculate drawing wood finishing only inches behind the jack to take three shots and make the score 21 - 9.
D N Brown S A Rodwell