What did you think of the Pairs’ Final?  Good to have it on the BBC?  The plus is the overhead ‘target rings’ The first set looked pretty comfortable for Greg & Nick, although the final end of that set when Jason & Michael got the 3 was a bit surprising considering they’d only scored 1 shot up until then!

Although Jason played some brilliant drawing bowls, Michael just seemed to go off (not that bowls a foot from the jack are bad) they just weren’t as close as he was playing in the first set).  Greg was drawing well and Nick had some real crackers, especially that final shot.   Terrific display of accuracy.

Nick & Greg were obviously delighted to be lifting those glass trophies at the end for the thrid time.  Well done to them.

I see Jason is back on the green this morning in the singles.  He’s been drawing well.  A couple of years back, he only seemed to be playing running bowls, which were fine when they were working but it wasn’t what one expected to see!   Two other choice singles matches as well later on with former World Champions in all the ties.

Another final though with Paul Foster & Alison Merrien (last year’s winners) up against Stewart Anderson & Cerianne Glen at 1:00 pm.  Good lunchtime viewing as that is sure to be a tough match so I hope you all get to enjoy it either live or on catch up.

Last year’s winners – Alison Merrien & Paul Foster are through to the final which will be played on Tuesday 17th on the BBC at 1:00 pm.  They play the new pairing of Stewart Anderson & Cerianne Glen who came through yesterday afternoon v Mervyn King & Lisa Fetherby.  That probably wasn’t the most exciting game even though it went to a tie-break, but a win in any round at this level is a great achievement.

Di, Ann H & Dawn felt the same when they scored a win over Pauline, Doreen & Norma in the Over 50’s Triples at Egham yesterday morning.  Their prize is a tie against the 3T’s – Teresa, Tina & Tricia, but at least it’s at Cambridge Park.  28th January is the mooted date.  We might have to get some of those on the Markers’ Course to do some ‘real’ measuring!

So today, the Ladies take to the indoor arena at Potters, with some hot matches to watch.

As far as World Match Play Singles, I think I’m right in saying all the first named in the above draw, apart from Nicole, have played and/or won the Singles.  Let’s hope now that the other players, having got at least one game under their belt on the portable rink, settle in quickly and treat us to some good close matches.

How are you doing on the World Bowls?  I have pretty square eyes but it doesn’t help being on a computer at work for 9 or so hours a day and that doesn’t include watching bowls!

Thanks to Katharine Wallace for the following link.  Worth a read.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-64249302

It was a very tight first set between NIck & Nicole v Stuart & Cerianne with Nick & Nicole sneaking  a 2 shot win on the final end.  However, in the second set, Stewart & Cerianne came into their own taking it comfortably.  All to play for in the tie-break with Stuart & Cerianne coming through 2-1.  It was close though!I don’t remember Cerianne from previous years.  She has quite an interesting build up to her delivery, but it works for her,  Mervyn King & Lisa Featherby and Stuart Anderson & Cerianne Glen fill the other positions in the schedule below.

Fewer games today and it’ll leave the Potters’ residents having a Saturday night off to go and do what they want!

The first match today should be ex

Well, we’ll have to wait and see.  There are club games and world championship games and half of those people might feel thery were a bit unlucky in coming second, but maybe it was just that their opposition just had a better day.

Last night Tricia & Teresa were going head-to-head against Wendy & Norma from Egham. Our girls started well, then the others began fighting back and eventually ended up winning.  When the bowlers on the other two rinks finished, the temperature dropped.  In this afternoon’s commentary Nick B said that a green running at 18.5 then cooling to 18.0 mid game can make a difference of 2-3 feet on a shot.  So when CP gets a bit chillier midway through the game, remember to give your bowls a little extra push, then pull it back when the heater bursts into life!

Dick S was made to sweat on 20 in his club singles v Bernard Winter, who had a late flurry.  That final 1 shot, if you don’t get it the first time, gets harder and harder!

Good wins yesterday in the World Championships.  Mark Royal had a fantastic game against Alex Marshall and Alex wasn’t exactly playing badly.  Greg Harlow didn’t make it through even though his drawing was nigh on perfect.  Pretty galling on the first end putting 3 right on the jack then your opponent removes them in one fell swoop!  Jamie Walker played very well taking the tie 1.5:0.5.    Maybe the tide is turning and more green-shirted players are winning this year?!

Brilliant result for Jon Wilson, having reached the competition with a wild card, he then went on to take Commonwealth Games winner Jamie Chesney out in two sets.  Good luck to him in the next round, but he’ll have to wait until next Thursday before he faces Robert Paxton.

Today sees the start of the Mixed Pairs, so some cracking matches coming up with less familiar faces amongst the girls.

As predicted, it was a terrific display of bowling between Wayne Wilgress and Katherine Rednall last night, with Wayne winning 2-0 sets.  Some brilliant bowls from both players and nice to hear the commentators giggling over “Katherine’s gap”.  It was reminiscence of Brian Johnson & Jonathan Agnew’s fits of giggles when reporting about Botham “not quite getting his leg over”!  That was in August 1991.  Can you believe it?

I caught up a bit on Nick Brett v Jonathan Ross’ match but missed the rest.  Jonathan had a really good second set, but Nick is such a class bowler.  I hope the other games were just as enjoyable and, indeed, inspiring.

Today’s line up is all singles.  There should be some good matches to watch, especially if you don’t have to go to work!