Bowls Guernsey Association updated 1st April 2012

British Isles Council Guernsey has taken another step closer to holding the British Isles Outdoor Bowls Championships and International Team Series.  At the British Isles Annual General Meeting held in Manchester on March 24^th attended by the Bowls Guernsey representative Garry Collins it was agreed that a club does not need to have a 12 rink facility and alternatively two six rink clubs that are close together could jointly hold the event. A trial will be held in Ireland next year with the possibility that Guernsey could host the event using two of its three outdoor club greens in the future. The island has greens at Beau Sejour, Delancey Park and the Corbet Field.

New British Isles Competition A new Over 55’s Men’s Fours knockout competition was introduced into the Championships with the first event to be played in Ireland in 2013.  Locally this summer five teams will battle it out and the winner has been drawn to play Scotland in Ireland next June.

B.I. Delegate/Officer Garry Collins was re-appointed as the British Isles Web site and Results Officer for another two years, a position he has held since 2006, Collins has become the longest serving Officer and Delegate to the Council since becoming Guernsey’s delegate in 2001 at the age of 20.

Island Ranking System Matthew Le Ber tops the new Bowls Guernsey Four Year Rolling Island Ranking System with 98 points.  The four year rolling points system was developed as an additional tool to identify the top island bowlers and can be used by the island selectors to assess for Inter insular and International selection. The system is based on the twelve open bowls tournaments played annually in Guernsey which are open to all men and women namely the Open Singles, Ladies Singles, Men’s Singles,  Mixed Pairs, Open Drawn Pairs,  Ladies Pairs, Men’s Pairs, Ladies Triples, Men’s Triples, Ladies Fours, Men’s Fours and Island League Fours.  A player can achieve 48 points in one year and there are currently 99 Island players on the list.

Currently the top three ladies are Alison Merrien 82 points, Lucy Beere 66 points and Gwen De la Mare 54 points, the top three men are Matthew Le Ber 98 points, Gary Pitschou 88 points and Garry Collins 64 points. As is to be expected all six competed at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi where a separate international points criteria will be used to aid selection.  All the ranking points can be viewed on the Bowls Guernsey web site www.bowlsguernsey.com

2011 Player of the Year
The 2011 player of the year was Matthew Le Ber 24 points, second Gary Pitschou 22 points and Alison Merrien third 20 points.

Fixtures
Island bowlers are getting ready for another packed summer season which sees Guernsey entertain visiting teams from Jersey, Alderney and Florida.

Last year’s British Isles qualifiers travel to Liandrindod Wells, Wales on the last weekend in June to compete for the Men’s British Isles knockout titles in Men’s Under 25’s, Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours. Guernsey Women do not compete at the Women’s British Isles Championships.

The Men’s and Ladies Inter Insular matches against Jersey have been brought forward from the first weekend in September to the last weekend in July in order to avoid Jersey Live. This year to be played in Guernsey

The Channel Islands knockout titles will be decided in Jersey on the second weekend in September when two new competitions will be added to the twelve played, the additional competitions are the introduction of an Open Novice Singles and an Over 55 Men’s Fours.

Bowls Guernsey are to introduce a new B. G. A. Members Memorial Trophy for the new Open Singles Competition as many families have inquired about some form of memorial trophy for passed members, at this stage it is anticipated that the trophy would be engraved with the names of passed members who’s family wish them to be remembered in this way since 2005 the first year of the new joint association.

Report by Nigel Collins

1/4/12

Bowls Guernsey – Media Release – Tuesday 6^th September 2011 – CI Finals

Men’s Singles
(Guernsey) Matt Le Ber 21 – (Jersey) Lee Nixon 17
Matt Le Ber having never won the Channel Island Men’s Single was trying for the third time, having won the Island Singles in 2008 and 2009, but didn’t win the Channel Island final, however Lee Nixon was trying for his sixth time, having won the Jersey title six times over 15 years, the match started with a couple an exchanges of singles, to be 2 all after four ends, with a combination  of 1,1,2,1,2 Le Ber had the lead 9 to 2, after nine ends, but like every scale it was time to swing in the other direction, as Nixon scored a 1,4,1,3 score line to take the lead 11 to 9, after thirteen ends, a double for Le Ber and the match was level, a couple of singles for Le Ber and a double for Nixon, again the match was level at 13 all after seventeen ends, disaster hit as Le Ber didn’t mange to draw a bowl within a yard and dropped a second maximum, four shots, to trail the match 17 to 13 after eighteen ends, Le Ber having found a couple of extra gears, scored a double and two three to win the match 21 to 17.

Ladies Singles
(Guernsey) Anne Simon 21 – (Jersey) Sue Dingle 15
Anne Simon made sure she was going to use home advantage, as she started well against Sue Dingle, scoring two three, Dingle replied with a double, but Simon was in fine drawing form and won the next three ends with doubles to lead the match 12 to 2 after six ends, a comeback was always on the card, as Dingle managed to score a 2,3,2 combination, to only be three behind, but another two for Simon, again she had a five shot lead, Dingle again raising to bar, scoring a three to bring the match back, but another 1,1,2 combination from Simon she was completely in control again, being 18 to 13 after fourteen ends, Dingle scored a single and then managed a double, to only be within three shots, however Simon replied with a double and a single to win the match by that six shots, 21 to 15.

Men’s Under 25 Singles
(Guernsey) Kris Bichard 17 – (Jersey) Michael Rive 21
Jersey’s Michael Rive started well with scoring a double against Guernsey’s Kris Bichard, Bichard replied with two singles, so the match was 2 all, after three ends, Rive managed to score another double and single, to lead 5 to 2, a single for Bichard, a single for Rive and two singles for Bichard the match was now 6 to 5, in Jersey favour, another single for Rive and Bichard replied well with scoring a three to take the lead 8 to 7 after eleven ends, disaster hit as the wheels feel off for Bichard, as Rive scored a maximum, followed by two doubles and a three to lead the match 18 to 8 after fifteen ends, Bichard found his form again and replied with a 2,3,2 combination to bring the match closer, 15 to 18, a single for Rive and a double for Bichard, the match was set for a close finish, Rive managed to score another single to reach 20, needing one more and he was holding three, Bichard having the last bowl, which he fired as he had the best three bowls behind on the left, he hit the target as the crowd cheered his victory, looking like he had scored a maximum, but the jack hit one of his bowls and moved across the rink to find one Rive’s lose first bowls, Rive won the match 21 to 17.

Ladies Over 60 Singles
(Guernsey) Jean Simon 21 – (Jersey) Elizabeth Cole 17
Jean Simon started well against Elizabeth Cole, with scoring a couple of singles, Cole replied with a three and a single, Simon then replied with her own three and a single, she continued to take control with a single and a four to lead the match 11 to 4, after eight ends, Cole scored a three and Simon a single, another two for Cole and the match was 12 to 9, after eleven ends, a maximum of four, for Simon the match was again well in control, with an exchange of three the match was 19 to 12, Cole started the come-back with scoring a three and a double, but Simon scored that important double to win the match 21 to 17.

Men’s Over 60 Singles
(Guernsey) Dan Le Cheminant 11 – (Jersey) Alan Shaw 21
Dan Le Cheminant took the early lead with scoring singles on the first two ends, Alan Shaw from Jersey replied with a three and Le Cheminant a single, so the match was level after four ends at 3 all, a double and single for Shaw and double for Le Cheminant and the match was still close, Shaw edged ahead with score a 1,1,2,1 combination, Le Cheminant replied with a two and a single, to only trail 8 to 11 after thirteen ends, Shaw started to edged away again with another combination of 2,1,1,3 to lead 18 to 8, another double and single for Le Cheminant, but Shaw managed to score a two and single to win 21 to 11.

Ladies Pairs
(Guernsey) Joanne Hardill & Alison Merrien W/O – (Jersey) Gean O’Neil & Karina Bisson
Disappointed that the Jersey players Gean O’Neil & Karina Bisson didn’t turn up for the Ladies Pairs match, so Joanne Hardill and Alison Merrien claimed a walkover.

Men’s Pairs
(Guernsey) Alan & Ian Merrien 17 – (Jersey) John Rowcliffe & Cyril Renouf 8
Brother’s Alan and Ian Merrien really had the control of the men’s pairs against John Rowcliffe and Cyril Renouf, having won eight of the first ten ends, leading 13 to 2, a double for Renouf and it looked like a come-back might be on the cards, but Merrien scored a single to stop any run of shots, Renouf won the next four ends, but only managed to score singles, to make the score 8 to 14 after sixteen ends, Merrien finished well with scoring a three to finish the match an end early 17 to 8.

Mixed Pairs
(Guernsey) Jean Simon & Gary Pitschou 12 – (Jersey) Gail & Derek Boswell 21
The husband and wife combination of Gail and Derek Boswell, started well against Vale Pair Jean Simon and Gary Pitschou, with scoring a two, Pitschou replied with a single and two, with an exchange of doubles the match was Guernsey way, 5 to 4, another two for Boswell, Pitschou managed to score a four to again take the lead 9 to 6, with an exchange of singles the match was 10 to 7, after nine ends, Boswell found the lines on the Vale Rec green and won the next five ends, with a 1,5,3,2,1 combination to lead 19 to 10 after fourteen ends, Pitschou scored a double to keep them in the match, but Boswell scored two singles to finish an end early, 21 to 12.

Ladies Triples
(Guernsey) Linda Wakeham, Sally Paul & Alison Merrien 16 – (Jersey) Josie Gregory, Jo Le Quesne & Sue Noel 13
Linda Wakeham, Sally Paul & Alison Merrien played Jersey’s Josie Gregory, Jo Le Quesne & Sue Noel in the ladies triples, Noel started well with scoring a three on the first end, but Merrien replied with a double and a single, to level the match, 3 all, after three ends, two singles for Noel and a double for Merrien and again the match was level at 5 all, after six ends, Merrien took the lead with scoring a single, but Noel replied with a score of five having played Merrien only bowl from the head, Merrien’s triple replied well with scoring a single followed by a three to level again at 10 all after ten ends, an exchange of single and the match was again level, Merrien edged ahead with scoring a two, followed by three singles to lead 16 to 11 after sixteen ends, Jersey need five shots in two ends, but Guernsey forced them into only scoring singles to win 16 to 13.

Men’s Triples
(Guernsey) Garry Collins, Dan De la Mare, Matt Le Ber 20 – (Jersey) Lee Quemard, John Lowery, Alan Quemard 11
The Guernsey Men’s Triples champions of Garry Collins, Dan De la Mare, Matt Le Ber hoping to do the double having won the Channel Island triples last year, played father and son, Lee and Alan Quemard, with John Lowery, Le Ber’s triples demonstrated on the very first end their array of shot play, even when holding a drawn toucher from Collins, Le Ber fired to remove two Jersey bowls to score a possible of five or six, but hit the jack and killed the end, the Jersey team said they were happy to go one down, to the Guernsey replied we want more, the replayed end, Le Ber scored a single shot as Quemard managed to draw and cut down, Le Ber followed it up with a double, some excellent drawing bowls and Quemard collected a four, with Le Ber scoring a single, the match was 4 all after four ends, Le Ber took the lead with scoring a 1,4,1 combination, only for Quemard to reply with three singles and a three to level the match, 10 all, after eleven ends, Le Ber triple stepped-up a gear and collected a six, with an exchange of single Le Ber lend, 17 to 11, a close finish but Le Ber scored three singles to win the double title, 20 to 11.

Men’s Fours
(Guernsey) Kris Bichard, Todd Priaulx, Ricky Brehaut & Dan De Le Mare  22 –
(Jersey) Ian Partridge, Darren Clark, Kevin Le Long, Dider Le Falher 11
Kris Bichard, Todd Priaulx, Ricky Brehaut & Dan De Le Mare  played Jersey’s Ian Partridge, Darren Clark, Kevin Le Long, Dider Le Falher, with an exchange of three the match was 3 all after two ends, Le Falher edged away with scoring a single and a double, De la Mare replied with a double, Le Falher managed to score a single, with De la Mare scoring a double to level the match 7 all, after seven ends, another double for De la Mare and a single for Falher the match was still very close, De la mare’s fours champions found extra form and collected a single, followed by a big five and a double to really have control of the match 17 to 8, after twelve ends, Le Falher scored a single to keep the match from running away from his team, but De la Mare was in no mood to let a win get away, as he scored two doubles to lead 21 to 9 after fifteen, Le Falher scored a double, but De la Mare just needed to score on the seventeen end to stop play, as he scored a single to win 22 to 11.

Ladies Fours
(Guernsey) Jean Simon, Jenny Kimber, Gwen De la Mare & Anne Simon 9
(Jersey) Diane Canavan, Fay Le Mottee, Ann Richardson & Alison Camacho 13
The pressure was on the Guernsey ladies fours champions of Jean Simon, Jenny Kimber, Gwen De la Mare & Anne Simon, as Guernsey last lost the Channel Island Ladies four title in 1999, including Simon winning the title four times before, however it was the Jersey quartet of Diane Canavan, Fay Le Mottee, Ann Richardson & Alison Camacho, who had control of the match winning the first six ends with a combination of 1,1,1,2,1,1 to lend seven to zero, Simon replied with a single and two doubles, Camacho responded with two singles and Simon another double, as the match was 9 to 7, after twelve ends, with two exchanges of singles the match was still close at 11 to 9, after sixteen ends, Camacho scored a single to lead 12 to 9, Simon needed three shots to force an extra end, holding two, but unluckily managed to turn a Jersey bowl in with her last bowl to lose another single and the match 13 to 9.

Channel Island Team Trophy
Guernsey won the Team Trophy for the tenth time, having won 8 of the 12 competitions, “a great performance across the board, well done Guernsey players” Garry Collins
Garry Collins - Financial Secretary

Matt Le Ber (pictured) enjoyed a fantastic day on his own Corbet Field rinks on Saturday, landing his third island men’s singles title and the Press Open Singles, not to mention a starring role in yet another Tostevin Triples success for the mighty Falcons combination.

At 26, the Vale Rec man is destined to become one of the all-time greats of the game locally, if not the very best. His dark green bowls seemingly enjoyed a magnetic relationship with the yellow jacks all day long.

But he needed all his skill and nerve to stave off the challenge of his Vale Rec club partner Gary Pitschou to wrap up his third Elliott Singles crown.

Bowls Guernsey Semi Finals
Elloitt Men’s Singles
Gary Pitschou and Matthew Le Ber will play for the 2011 Elloitt Means Singles Title and 2012 Qualifier for the British Isles Championships after the semi finals of the Bowls Guernsey semi finals were played at Delancey Park the home green of the Northern Bowling Association. Pitschou won through after a very tight and exciting match against his younger and fellow Vale opponent Todd Priaulx who took an early lead 6-0 after three ends but Pitschou won the next six to be ahead after nine 6-9 thereafter it was a battle as a full house count of four on the thirteenth put Priaulx ahead once more and he continued to look the winner all the way to the twenty first end when he lead 19-13 but the very experienced Pitschou never gave up and gained control when his opponent failed to press home his advantage and picked up a 3-2-2 on the next three then one against and it was all level at 20-20 and it was Pitschou who steadied himself enough to draw closest to the Jack for the win at 20-21 after twenty six ends of play. Vale’s Matthew the Ber’s win over his much older but less experienced opponent GBC’s Mark Higgs was achieved as Higgs a bit nervous in his first major singles semi final and not surprisingly against such a talented opponent struggled to find his length and weight and found himself 0-6 down after two ends but steadied himself to dead draw his last bowl in the third to get on the board but on the next end Le Ber piled on the pressure by driving out his close drawn shot and all his fears started to materialise as he found himself 6-18 down after twelve, a count of three to Higgs on the next was punished by two three’s against on the next two and it was all over in fourteen ends 6-21.     

De Putron Ladies Singles
North’s Doreen Batiste and Vale’s Anne Simon will contest the Ladies Singles Title after both won through their semis. Batiste outplayed her opponent Gwen de la Mare who was surprisingly nervous in the first of her seven semi finals, no mean feat in itself but it was Doreen who found the pace of the green quickly and opened up a 2-11 lead after eight ends before Gwen got going and scored five shots to one against over the next four but it was not to last as her opponent picked up two three’s on the thirteenth and fifteenth to lead the match 8-18 and another count of three on the nineteenth was enough for Batiste to go through 12-21.
Anne Simon had a similar path to the final as she took control after the first four ends when her opponent GBC’s Jackie Nicolle was in front 3-5, Anne pushed for home with a 3-3-1-4 series in the next four ends to lead 14-5 and two three’s on the eleventh and fifteenth was enough for the 21-9 win. 

Open Singles
Matt Le Ber will play Garry Collins in the Open Singles final after their wins in their semis. Le Ber played Alison Merrien in a top class contest which could have gone either way with both players producing all the shots at various times to display their skills. Le Ber creeping ahead twice in the match only to be caught by full house counts of four shots by Merrien and eventually and inevitably it was 19-19. On the last and twenty second end Matt drew two shots close to the jack to hold a winning position but an accurate drive shot by Alison was unlucky in that it only took out one of them and left Le Ber with a draw shot with his final bowl which he duly accomplished to take the win.  Garry Collins played Lucy Beere in the other semi and it was also to be an exciting contest as Lucy opened up a 2-8 lead after six but with the help of two full house counts of four along the way plus two ditched jacks when two and three shots down in the head Garry was still there and ahead at 17-16 after sixteen ends, holding another count of four shots for the game on the next was not to be as Beere played a perfect hit and stay shot successfully with her last wood to level the match. Two scored for each player on the next two and a single for Beere brought the match to a climax at 19-20 in Beere’s favour but it was Collins who was to prove the winner as Beere failed to beat the two shots drawn by her opponent who went through to the final 21-20.

Travers Men’s Pairs
Vale’s Len Le Ber & Gary Pitschou will play Northern brothers Alan & Ian Merrien in the final for the Travers Men’s Pairs Title and 2012 British Isles Qualifier after they won through their respective semis. The formers were always in control of the game after picking up a count of six on the seventh and beat Don Ogier and Geoff Savident 24-15 over the twenty one end format game.  Alan’s father Mick stepped in while he was out of the island to help his son beat fellow Northerners Mick Cleal and Dan Le Cheminant in a closely fought contest 6-6 after nine ends but two doubles on the next opened up a four shot lead for the Merriens and they managed to stay ahead though to the finish at 17-12.

Brookman Ladies Pairs
Joanne Hardill & Alison Merrien will play Linda Nellis & Lyn Small for the Ladies Pairs Title after their semi final wins. The formers beat Jean Simon & Gwen de la Mare after a one sided game in which after winning the opening end with a single the latter pair were only allowed to score on one other end during the sixteen ends played which showed a welcome return to top form for Alison who accepted the handshake of her opposing skip with two ends to spare at 24-3.  Linda Nellis & Lyn Small sprung one of the surprises of the weekend when they outplayed Sally Paul & Lucy Beere, Linda a relative newcomer at this level outshone her more experienced opponent and gave the pairing a good start in the heads leaving the talented Beere an uphill struggle against an on form Lyn Small who came out best on the last seven ends to win 6-21 with an end to spare.

Tostevin Mens Triples
Falcons will play Mk 3 in the final of the Men’s Triples for the Tostevin Trophy and British Isles Men’s Triples Qualifier in 2012. Falcons trio of Vale bowlers Garry Collins, Daniel de la Mare & Matthew Le Ber comfortably beat North’s Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant & Don Batiste 17-6 with an end to spare. The GBC triple Mk 3, Peter Tostevin, Mark Higgs & Ron Le Tissier sprung a surprise and beat their much fancied opponents Vale’s Hitmen Kris Bichard, Todd Priaulx & Ricky Brehaut, settling quickly the formers opened up a four shot lead winning the first three ends but Brehaut skipping for his two younger protégé’s hit back over the next four ends to lead 11-4, and so the see saw continued with Mk 3 picking up a 5-1-3 to lead 11-13 and again a comeback by the Hitmen with a 1-2-4-1 to lead themselves 19-13 but a persistent Le Tissier skipping for his team was not to be out shone on the day and played some terrific woods to turn the last four heads in his teams favour and added to the heads with fine drawing shots which a frustrated and shocked Brehaut was unable to beat, the five scored by Mk 3 on the sixteenth together with three singles during the last four ends proved enough to take a very excited Guernsey Bowling Club team to their only final on Saturday 20^th August.

Woodhard  Ladies Triples
Wonder Women will play 3 of a Kind in the Women’s triples final for the Woodhard Trophy after their semi final wins. The Wonder Women team of Linda Wakeham, Sally Paul and Alison Merrien beat Phoenix’s Jenny Kimber, Sally Tranter & Anne Simon in a one sided affair, behind 24-6 after fourteen ends Anne Simon’s trio continued to play on to try to salvage some pride and they did just that in scoring nine shots to one against over the last four ends to reduce the losing margin to ten shots resulting in a card reading 25-15 in the Wonder Women’s favour.  3 of a Kind including Aimee Ogier, Jan Lawrence and Lucy Beere beat the Northern Belles in a close match 8-8 at eleven ends but a count of three on the thirteenth proved unlucky for the Northern Ladies as that proved to be the difference at the end of the eighteen end format game 12-15 and a win for 3 of a Kind.

Sandeman Mens Fours
Vale’s Hitmen will play Police in the final of the Sandemen Mens Fours for the Trophy and Qualifiers for the 2012 British Isles Championships. Hitmen including Kris Bichard, Todd Priaulx, Ricky Brehaut & Daniel de La Mare beat Brats including Keith de la Mare, Sid Le Maitre, Martyn Dorey & Mac Timms comfortably after leading 21-8 at eighteen ends but the Brats had a late rally over the last three ends to pick up a 6-1-2 to restore some pride but it was too late in the game to change the result and Hitmen got over the winning line at the end of the twenty one ends 21-17.  North’s Police team playing without Ricky Nash who is out of the island but including Trevor Savident, John Samuels, Steve Cowdrey & Don Batiste came through against GBC’s Moonrakers in a very close contest until the last four ends in which the Police arrested their opposition of Phil Schofield, John Rihoy, Derek Hurford & Paul Sargeant and took possession of a 1-4-1-3 series to bolt the door 27-17.

Friend Ladies Fours
Phoenix will play Wonder Women in the Ladies Fours final for the Friend Trophy after their semi wins. The Phoenix team of Jean Simon, Jenny Kimber, Gwen de la Mare & Anne Simon comfortably beat Northern Belles Pat Le Cheminant, Carol Besnard, Janet Cleal & Doreen Batiste 22-10 while Wonder Women achieved a similar win over their opponents Jolly Jacks Linda Nellis, Aimee Ogier, Kath Mahe & Jackie Nicolle 25-10.
Other Results
Nicolle Pairs, Jean Simon & Gary Pitschou beat Alison & Ian Merrien 20-14.  Geoff Savident & Angie Bartie beat Gwen & Dan de la Mare 25-10.
Drawn Pairs, Lyn Small & Stan Simon beat Phil Schofield & Jackie Nicolle 26-19.  Don Ogier & Martyn Dorey beat Ron Le Tissier & Gary Pitschou 23-7.
Over 60 mixed Pairs, Lorraine Ellis & Sid Le Maitre beat Pam & Phil Schofield 22-11.  Gwen de la Mare & Don Batiste beat Mary Saunders & Paul Sargeant 16-11.
Over 60 Triples, Trio, Jean Simon, Gwen de la Mare & Ricky Brehaut beat Westerners, Heather Queripel, Sid Le Maitre & Roy Queripel 14-13.  BLC, Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant & Don Batiste beat Sarnia , Paul Brehaut, Joan Shaw & Mick Le Page 15-14.
Over 60 Smithard Men’s Singles, Dan Le Cheminant beat Ken Laine 21-4.  Don Batiste beat Steve Machon 22-13.
Over 60 Carre Ladies Singles, Angela Bartie beat Gwen de la Mare 21-6.  Jean Simon beat Barbara Martel by walkover.
Over 70 Super Veteran Open Singles, Jean Simon beat Keith Derry 21-11.  Ron Le Tissier beat Paul sergeant 21-15.
Dot Foley Open Singles (Up to Four Years Outdoor Bowling),  Rob Batiste beat Noel Hodgett 21-7.  Aimee Ogier beat Nathan dicker 21-7

Report by Nigel Collins
08/08/11

Quarter-finals – Triples
Bowls Guernsey – Media Release – Wednesday 3^rd August 2011

Woodhard Triples Results
(Phoenix) Jenny Kimber, Sally Tranter and Anne Simon 20 - (Jolly Jacks) Sophie Rabey, Linda Nellis and Jackie Nicolle
(Northern Belles) Pat Le Cheminant, Jan Cleal and Doreen Batiste 19 – (Delancey Parkers) Lynn Le Vallee, Lorraine Ellis and Angela Bartie 12
(Lady Luck) Aimee Ogier, Jan Lawrence and Lucy Beere 21 – (3 of a Kind) Kath Mahe, Jean Simon and Gwen De la Mare 2

The Jolly Jacks, Sophie Rabey, Linda Nellis and Jackie Nicolle started the match with scoring a shot against the Phoenix teams of Jenny Kimber, Sally Tranter and Anne Simon, who replied with a three and single on the next two ends, a big six shots for the Jolly Jacks, put them back in control being 7 to 4 after four ends, two singles for Phoenix and two singles for the Jolly Jacks and the score line was unchanged at 9 to 6, after eight ends, Phoenix won the next four ends scoring a 4,1,1,2 to take the lead 14 to 9, a single for Jolly Jacks, a double for Phoenix, another single for Jolly Jacks and another double for Phoenix, put them in closing distance at 18 to 11, after sixteen ends, another double for Phoenix, meaning Jolly Jacks needed a maximum on the last end, but only scored a two, so Phoenix won 20 to 13.

The Delancey Parkers of Lynn Le Vallee, Lorraine Ellis and Angela Bartie, playing fellow Northern Bowlers Northern Belles, Pat Le Cheminant, Jan Cleal and Doreen Batiste, started with a single on the first end, Northern Belles won the next four ends with two singles, a three and a two to lead 7 to 1, after five ends, Delancey Parkers managed to score a shot, but dropped a four the next end, however managed to regain the four over the next two ends scoring a three and a single, so the match was 11 to 6, after nine ends, the next four ends, Northern Belles scored five shots to Delancey Parkers two shots, to still keep the lead at 16 to 7, after twelve ends, Delancey Parkers started the come-back with a 1,1,2,1 combination, but Northern Belles finished well with scoring a double and single to win the match 19 to 12.

The Lady Luck’s of Aimee Ogier, Jan Lawrence and Lucy Beere, playing three of a Kind, Kath Mahe, Jean Simon and Gwen De la Mare, won the first five ends, with scoring two singles, a double and another two singles, three of Kind managed to score a single, but Lady Luck replied with a double and three of a Kind, another single, however that was the last point they would score, as Lady Luck finished the match with two threes, a four, a double and a single, to win 21 to 2, only after thirteen ends.

Tostevin Triples Results
(Falcons) Garry Collins, Dan De la Mare and Matt Le Ber 21 – (Brats) Keith De la Mare, Martyn Dorey and Mac Timms 11
(BLC) Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant and Don Batiste 15 – (Moonrakers) Phil Schofield, Derek Hurford and Paul Sargeant 12
(Hitmen) Todd Priaulx, Kris Bichard and Ricky Brehaut 20 – (Locals) Mick Hullock, Len Le Ber and Gary Pitschou 6
(MK 3) Peter Tostevin, Mark Higgs and Ron Le Tissier 16 - (Police) Jim Poole, John Samuels and Steve Cowdrey 14

The current champions, the Falcons, Garry Collins, Dan De la Mare and Matt Le Ber, playing the Northern Brats of Keith De la Mare, Martyn Dorey and Mac Timms, started with a three and four, Brats replied with a single, but the Falcons replied with a six and a single to lead the match 14 to 1, after five ends, a single and a double for Brats, another single for Falcons and another two singles for the Brats, the score line was 15 to 6, after ten ends, Falcons increased the lead with scoring a single and a double, Brats replied with a 2,1,2 combination, the score line then being 18 to 11, after fifteen ends, the Falcons finished well with scoring a two and a single to win 21 to 11.

The Northern BLC lads of Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant and Don Batiste, started well scoring two singles, playing the Beau Sejour team of Phil Schofield, Derek Hurford and Paul Sargeant, who replied with also scoring two singles to level the match after four ends, BLC scored a four and a two to the Moonrakers, single and a three to take the lead, 8 to 6, an exchange of singles and a double for Moonrakers the match was level at 9 all, after eleven ends, BLC scored the next three ends with singles, Moonrakers picked-up a double to keep the match close, another exchange of singles and the match was 13 to 12, with one end to play, BLC managed to score a double to win 15 to 12.

The Hitmen of Todd Priaulx, Kris Bichard and Ricky Brehaut, playing fellow Vale Rec bowlers Locals, Mick Hullock, Len Le Ber and Gary Pitschou, started with a two and a single, with two exchanged of singles each, the match was 5 to 2, after six ends, an exchange of doubles, the score line was still in favour of the Hitmen, 7 to 4, a single for Locals closed the gap, but the Hitmen won the next six ends, with a 2,1,4,1,2,3 to lead the match 20 to 5, after fifteen ends, Locals scored a single and the Hitmen won 20 to 6.

Quarter-finals – Pairs
Bowls Guernsey – Media Release – Tuesday 2^nd August 2011

Ladies Brookman Pairs Results
Jean Simon & Gwen De la Mare 20 – Jan Lawrence & Angela Bartie 13
Joanne Hardill & Alison Merrien 23 – Sally Tranter & Anne Simon 14
Sally Paul & Lucy Beere 24 – Carol Besnard & Jan Cleal 12
Linda Nellis & Lynn Small 17 - Aimee Ogier & Jackie Nicolle 15

Ladies Pairs Champion of Jan Lawrence and Angela Bartie lost to Jean Simon and Gwen De la Mare, after an double exchange of singles the match was 2 all, after four ends, a double and a single for Simon and De la Mare and three for Lawrence and Bartie the match was again level at five all, after seven ends, Lawrence took the lead with scoring a three and two singles, but lost the next five ends with a 3,5,1,3,3 combination to be down 20 to 10, Lawrence and Bartie scored the next two ends with a double and a single to, but lost the match 20 to 13.

The Vale Rec pair of Sally Tranter and Anne Simon, won the first end against Northern Pair of Joanne Hardill and Alison Merrien with scoring a double, Hardill and Merrien replied with a single and Tranter and Simon another double, with another exchange of a single and a double, the match was 6 to 2 for Tranter and Simon, Hardill and Merrien took the lead over the next three ends with scoring a three, double and a single, to lead 8 to 7 after nine ends, a single for Tranter and Simon levelled the match at 8 all, Hardill and Merrien took the lead again with scoring a double and a four to make the difference 14 to 8, two three’s for Tranter and Simon the match was level again at 14 all, Hardill and Merrien finished strong with scoring two fours and a single.

Sally Paul and Lucy Beere took early control of their match against Carol Besnard & Jan Cleal being 9 to 1 up after four ends, Besnard and Cleal pulled the match back with scoring two three, a double and three singles, to Paul and Beere double and triple, so the match was 14 to 12 after twelve ends, but Paul and Beere closed the match with scoring a 3,2,1,1,2,1 combination to win the match 24 to 12.

Linda Nellis and Lynn Small took an early lead to Aimee Ogier and Jackie Nicolle by winning the first three ends, with a 2,1,1 score line, Ogier and Nicolle won the next end to start the ball rolling, Nellis and Small won the next end, just a single, Ogier and Nicolle replied with a three, a double, the match was 7 to 4 for Nellis and Small, Ogier and Nicolle stepped up a few gears and won the next six ends with a 1,2,1,1,1,5 combination to lead the match 15 to 7 after 13 ends, but Nellis and Small found their form again and scored two singles and three doubles, to level the match at 18 ends, an extra end, Small and Nellis trailed the jack to make a count of two to win the match at 17 to 15.  

Travers Pairs Results
Mac Timms and Martyn Dorey 22 – Len Le Ber and Gary Pitschou 27
Don Ogier and Geoff Savident 18 – Nathan Dicker and Roy Domaille 16
Alan and Ian Merrien 24 – Kris Bichard and Ricky Brehaut 20
Rob Batiste and Steve Merrien 16 - Michael Cleal and Dan Le Cheminant 20

Northern, Mac Timms and Martyn Dorey collected a four on the first end, playing the experienced Vale Rec Pair of Len Le Ber and Gary Pitschou, who responded with two doubles and a single, to one single for Timms and Dorey the match was level at 5 all after five ends, Timms and Dorey won the next couple of ends with a single and double, only to lose a three the next end to level the match against again at 8 all after eight ends, Timms and Dorey won the next three ends with a 2,1,1 combination, but Le Ber and Pitschou produced the goods and collected 14 shots over the next four ends, with a 3,5,3,3 score line, to lead the match 22 to 12, after 15 ends, a three for Timms and Dorey, and a Double and Single for Le Ber and Pitschou, the score line was still 25 to 15, Timms and Dorey collected a five to only need five shots on the last two ends, but an exchange of doubles and Le Ber and Pitschou won the match 27 to 22.

The Vale Rec pair of Don Ogier and Geoff Savident, against another Vale Rec pair of Nathan Dicker and Roy Domaille, two lot’s of singles each and the match was 2 all after four ends, Ogier and Savident scored the next three ends with two doubles and a single, but Dicker and Domaille took back the control of the match with scoring a double and a four to lend the match 8 to 7 after nine ends, a three and two for Ogier and Savident and a single and a three for Dicker and Domaille the match was level at 12 all after thirteen ends, another double and single for Ogier and Savident they lend the match 15 to 12 after fifteen ends, an exchange of singles and a single for Dicker and Domaille and a double for Ogier and Savident, the match was 18 to 14 after nineteen ends, Dicker and Domaille needed four shots over the last two ends, but only scored two singles, to mean Ogier and Savident won the match 18 to 16.

The Northern pair Alan and Ian Merrien, played the Vale Rec pair of Kris Bichard and Ricky Brehaut, the northern pair had the first couple of ends with two singles, but Bichard and Brehaut responded with a double and a four to lead the match at 6 to 2 after four ends, each pair scored a single and a double, but the Merrien brother scored a four to level the match at 9 all, after nine ends, and continued their winning ways with scoring the next couple of ends with singles, Bichard and Brehaut scored a three to take the lead 12 to 11, the Merrien brothers scored a big six shots, only to drop a three the next end, but collected after five to still lead the match 22 to 15, after fifteen ends, Bichard and Brehaut won the next four ends, but only singles, meaning they needed three shots form the last two ends, however the Merrien Boys collected a double, Bichard and Brehaut managed to win the next end, but only scored a single, Alan and Ian Merrien won 24 to 20.   

Michael Cleal and Dan Le Cheminant won the first two ends against the newcomer Rob Batiste and Steve Bichard, with a double and four, however Batiste and Bichard won the next end with a double, Cleal and Le Cheminant responded with a single and a double, another two for Batiste and Bichard the match was 4 to 9 after six ends, another double for Cleal and Le Cheminant and a triple and double for Batiste and Bichard, the match was 11 to 9, an exchange of singles and a single for Cleal and Le Cheminant and a double for Batiste and Bichard, the match was close 12 to 13 to Cleal and Le Cheminant, the latter scored the next two ends with a single and double, an exchange of doubles the match was 18 to 14, after seventeen ends, the next four ends with shared with two singles each, to make the winner Cleal and Le Cheminant 20 to 16.

Nicolle Mixed Pairs Results
Geoff Savident and Angela Bartie 20 – Sally Paul and Stan Simon 16
Gwen and Dan De la Mare 14 – Lucy Beere and Matt Le Ber 11
Alison and Ian Merrien 16 – Mavis Richards and Ricky Brehaut 14
Jean Simon and Gary Pitschou 35 – Carol Besnard and John Samuels 1

Sally Paul and Stan Simon started well against Geoff Savident and Angela Bartie, scoring a double and a single, Savident and Bartie scored a single, but Paul and Simon won the next three ends with singles, to lead the match 6 to 1 after six ends, Savident and Bartie scored a double on the next end, with Paul and Simon scoring just a single on the next, another one for Savident and Bartie, the match was 7 to 4, after nine ends, Paul and Simon collected a four to really take control of the match, after an exchange of singles and exchange of fours, the match was 16 to 9, after fourteen ends, Savident and Bartie finished well and won the last four ends, with two threes, a single and a four to win the match 20 to 16.

A close match for girlfriend and boyfriend Lucy Beere and Matt Le Ber, against mother and son Gwen and Dan De la Mare, the match was level after six ends being four all, after an exchange of singles and doubles, the match was again level at 7 all, after ten ends, a single for the De la Mares and three for Beere and Le Ber, they had the lend 10 to 8, after twelve ends, two singles for the mother and son, the match was again level at 10 all, after fourteen ends, an exchange of singles and the match was level at 11 all, after sixteen ends, the De la Mares finished well with scoring a double and a single to win the match 14 to 11.

Husband and wife, Ian and Alison Merrien, played Mavis Richards and Ricky Brehaut, each scoring a three on the first two ends, in fact after ten ends the scores were level at 9 all, after a three and a single for the Merriens, and two doubles for Richards and Brehaut, the match was 13 all, after fourteen ends, the last four ends only singles were scored, three for the husband and wife and only one to Beere and Le Ber, who lost 16 to 14.

Jean Simon and Gary Pitschou had a very strong game against Carol Besnard and John Samuels, with scoring 35 shots to 1 over the match.  

Over 60 Mixed Pairs Results
Phil and Pam Schofield 26 – Joan Tostevin and Alan Davis 25
Lorraine Ellis and Sid Le Maitre 21 – Sally Paul and Stan Simon 7
Don Batiste and Gwen De la Mare 22 – Dan and Pat Le Cheminant 18
Mary Saunders and Paul Sargeant 15 – Peter and Sally Tranter 10

Pam and Phil Schofield had a high, but close scoring match against Joan Tostevin and Alan Davis, they scored a seven, two fours and two threes, against losing a five, two fours and two threes, the match finished 26 to 25 in favour of the husband and wife 26 to 25.

Lorraine Ellis and Sid Le Maitre had early control of the match against Sally Paul and Stan Simon being 12 to 5 up after ten ends, Paul and Simon only managed to score two singles in the last eight ends, Ellis and Le Maitre combination of 1,1,1,2,1,3 was too strong and they won 21 to 7.

Don Batiste and Gwen De la Mare won the first end with a single, playing another husband and wife, Pat and Dan Le Cheminant, who replied with a single and a double on the next two ends, Batiste and De la Mare won the next five ends with a 1,2,3,6,1 combination to lead the match 14 to 3 after eight ends, the Le Cheminant’s scored a three and four, and only lost a single, that meant the match was still in sight at 15 to 10 after eleven ends, a couple of singles for Batiste and De la Mare and a single and double for the husband and wife, the match was 17 to 13, Batiste and De la Mare scored the next end with a single and a four to make the last end not important, however Le Cheminant scored a five to only lose the match 22 to 18.

After seven ends of singles, it was 5 to Mary Saunders and Paul Sargeant and only 2 to husband and wife Peter and Sally Tranter, a couple of doubles for Saunders and Sargeant they lend the match 9 to 2, after nine ends, an exchange of singles and another single and double for Saunders and Sargeant, they now lend the match 13 to 3 after thirteen ends, husband and wife picked-up their game and scored a five and a double to only trail by three shots with three ends to play, an tied-end and two singles for Saunders and Sargeant, ensured they won the match 15 to 10.

Garry Collins - Financial Secretary

Quarter-finals – Singles
Bowls Guernsey – Media Release – Monday 1st August 2011

Open Singles Results
Lucy Beere 21 Jackie Nicolle 8
Garry Collins 21 Kris Bichard 18
Alison Merrien 21 Len Le Ber 17
Matt Le Ber 21 Ken Laine 10

Lucy Beere started well against Jackie Nicolle in the quarter finals of the Island Open Singles, collecting a three on the first end, followed by an single, Nicolle scored a double and a single, with an exchange of singles the match was 5 shots to 4 in favour of Beere, who stepped-up a gear and won the next six ends, with an 1,2,3,1,2,2 combination to lead 16 to 4, dropping a three and a single, Nicolle had a chance, but Beere was too close to the finish and scored an single and two doubles to win 21 shots to 8.

Garry Collins won the first two ends with singles playing Kris Bichard, Bichard scored a single and Collins collected an three and single to have the early lead of 6 shots to 1 after 5 ends, Bichard produced some excellent drawing bowls the next end to score a three, after an exchange of singles the match was 7 to 5 for Collins, Bichard scored a double to even the match, Collins won the next end with just a single shot, Bichard responded well by winning the next three ends, with 2,1,4 to lead 14 shots to 8, Collins from not being able to draw close to the jack, scored an count of three and two maximums of four singles to lead 19 shots to 14 after 16 ends with eleven bowls within a foot of the jack, Bichard won the next end with a double, Collins scored a single to get close the finishing line, Bichard score another double to now only be behind 18 to 20, Bichard was holding two shots, but collins firing bowl produced a single and won the match 21 shots to 18.

Alison Merrien had a surprising start against Len Le Ber winning the first six ends, with an combination of 1,1,2,2,3,1 to lead 10 shots to zero, Le Ber found form and collected two three and a single, dropping a single, however collecting another three and single to level the match after 12 ends at 11 all, Merrien scored two singles and Le Ber responded with a double to level the match again, a double for Merrien and a three for Le Ber, he now lead the match 16 to 15, he won the next end with a single, but Merrien finished well with scoring two three to win 21 shots to 17.

The experienced Matt Le Ber played the recent newcomer of Guernsey Bowling Club Ken Laine, Le Ber started well and score two doubles, Laine won the next three ends with singles, Le Ber however won the next three ends with a single, double and a four, to lead 11 to 3, Laine scored a double, but Le Ber scored two singles and another maximum of four shots to lead 17 to 5, a close next four ends with each scoring two singles, Laine scored a double and single, but Le Ber finished the match with two singles to win the match 21 shots to 10.

Ladies Du Putron Singles Results
Gwen De la Mare 21 – Lucy Beere 11
Doreen Batiste 21 – Angela Bartie 17
Anne Simon 21 - Jo Hardill 17
Jackie Nicolle 21 – Barbara Martel 5

Gwen De la Mare knocked-out the favourite Lucy Beere, who beat Alison Merrien in the previous Du Putron round, with the opening two ends, each collecting a three, De la Mare scored a single and another exchange of three the match was 7 to 6 for De la Mare, Beere took the lead by scoring an two, but De la Mare responded well with some excellent drawing bowls and collected an 1,4,2,2 to lead 16 to 8, Beere collected another three, but De la Mare was on top form and collected another 2,1,2 combination to win the match 21 to 11.

Doreen won the first two ends against follower Northern Bowler Angela Bartie, with a three and a double, Bartie scored a single and a maximum of four shots to level the match at 5 all, over the next six ends Batiste scored two three, a double and only dropping two singles to lead the match 14 to 7, Bartie picked-up a three and dropped a single to only trial the match by five shots, Bartie won the next three ends with doubles to lead the match 16 to 15, Batiste produced a couple of excellent ends with scoring a double and three to reach 20, with an exchange of singles, Batiste won the match 21 to 17.

Anne Simon started well and won a double, Joanne Hardill responded with a single and Simon won a single, two doubles for Hardill she lend the match 5 to 3, Simon won the next six ends with a combination 2,1,1,1,2,2 to lead the match 12 to 5, however Hardill won the next six ends with 1,1,1,3,1,2 to take back control 14 to 12, two doubles for Simon and an exchange of singles the match was 17 to 15 for Simon, after another four close ends, which resulted in two ends each of singles, Simon scored a double on the final end to win 21 shots to 17.

Barbara Martel scored a single and a four to lead, five to zero against GBC Champion Jackie Nicolle, however Nicolle won the match in the next eight ends with a 2,3,4,4,2,2,1,3 combination to win 21 shots to 5.

Elliott Singles Results
Matt Le Ber 21 - Kris Bichard 14
Todd Priaulx 21 – John Keat 17
Gary Pitschou 21 – Ian Merrien 15
Mark Higgs w/o – as Mac Timms didn’t turn-up

Island Men’s Singles Champion Matt Le Ber scored a maximum on the first end against Kris Bichard, Bichard replied with a single and a double on the next two ends, Le Ber scored two singles to lead 6 to 3, he continued to score with another single and a three, Bichard responded again with a single and double, Le Ber collect two doubles to lead the match 14 to 6, Bichard responded again with a single and double and Le Ber again with two doubles, to lead 18 to 9, a double for Bichard and two singles for Le Ber the score line was 20 to 11 to Le Ber, Bichard fought back by collecting a three, but Le Ber scored a single on the last end to win 21 shots to 14.

John Keat also started well with collecting a maximum of four shots against Todd Priaulx, who responded by winning the next four ends, with 2,1,2,1 combination, Keat scored a single and Priaulx a three and a single to lead after eight ends, 10 to 5, another exchange of doubles and a single for Priaulx he still lend 13 to 7, Keat stepped-up a gear and collected another maximum of four, with also a single, double and single to then lead the match 15 to 13, a double for Priaulx the match was level at 15 all, an exchange of singles the match was again level at 16 all, another exchange of singles the match was again level at 17 all, Priaulx edged closer to the finish line by winning four singles to win the match 21 to 17.

Gary Pitschou picked-up a three playing Ian Merrien at the Vale Recreation Bowling Club on the first end, with two doubles exchanges the match was 7 to 4 for Pitschou, Merrien scored a double and Pitschou another three to lead the match 10 to 6 after seven ends, another single for Pitschou, which lend Merrien to pick-up his game to score two doubles and only trial 11 to 10, Pitschou won the close next couple of ends with singles and Merrien also scored a single, however Pitschou scored another three to lead 16 to 11, another double for Merrien and four singles for Pitschou, he lead the match 20 shots to 13, Merrien started the come-back with scoring two singles, but Pitschou scored a single to win the match 21 to 15.

Disappointingly Mac Timms didn’t turn-up for his match against GBC Mark Higgs, who gets a walkover to the semi-final against Matt Le Ber.

Sandeman Fours quarter-finals
Bowls Guernsey – Media Release - 31st July 2011

Four-year championships knocked-out
The Island four-year fours champions have been not knocked-out, Len Le Ber, Garry Collins, Gary Pitschou & Matt Le Ber lost to Todd Priaulx, Kris Bichard, Ricky Brehaut & Daniel De la Mare at the Vale Recreation bowling greens.
An exchange of singles started the match, but the challengers produced some excellence drawing bowls to produce a count of three, another exchange of singles and a single for De la Mare’s team the match was 6 to 2, the champions collected a double on the next end to only trail 4 to 6, however the challengers raised their game and collect an double and a triple to lead the match 11 to 4, the champions started their come-back by winning the next three ends playing longer length ends, but only collecting singles, the 13^th end was the key, as the champions were holding two shots, but de la Mare played a heavy bowls hitting the jack and made an count of three to then lead the match 14 to 7, the writing was really on the wall and the challengers easily won the next three ends scoring a double, four and a single to lead 21 shots to 7, after 16 ends, Le Ber’s team collected a singles, but De la Mare quartet picked-up another four shots to win the match 25 to 8 shots.

Peter Tranter, Don Ogier, Mick Hullock and John Keat, lost to Trevor Savident, John Samuels, Steve Cowdrey & Don Batiste, Keat’s team was 8 to1 shots-up after 5 ends, but lost the next five ends to only be leading by one shot 8 to 7, winning a double and losing a single and a triple to be losing 10 to 11 after 13 ends, after 19 ends the match was level at 17 all, an exchange of doubles and the match was a draw at 19 all, after 21 ends, an classic extra end with the winning bowl not too close to the jack as everyone was trying to get the jack into the ditch, Batiste draw the winning bowl as Keat last bowl was short.

Another close match Keith De la Mare, Sid Le Maitre, Martyn Dorey & Mac Timms beat Alan Gibson, Andy Lucas, Geoff Savident & Bernie Simon 19 shots to 18 shots, Timms team won the first three ends, with an 1,3,1 combination, however losing an four, the match was close, after 13 ends the match was 12 all, and 17 all after 19 ends, Simon collected an single, but Timms collected an double on the last end to win 19 to 18.

Phil Schofield, John Rihoy, Derek Hurford & Paul Sargeant beat Mick Yabsley, Dennis Chick, Stan Simon and Roy Domaile 23 to 15 shots, the match was a draw after 9 ends at 7 all, however Sargeant’s team won the next six ends with an combination of 1,3,2,1,1,1 to lead 16 to 7 after 15 ends, Domaille collected an three and an two on the next two ends, but considered an count of three, collected an three and dropped an three and an a single, to lose the match 23 to 15.

Garry Collins - Financial Secretary

Dot Foley Singles (bowlers up to 4 years experience)
Vale’s Aimee Ogier together with Nathan Dicker and North’s Rob Batiste and all mastered the wet conditions at Delancey Park on Saturday morning to gain a place in the Dot Foley Singles semi finals of Bowls Guernsey’s Open Singles competition for members with up to four years experience of outdoor bowling. Aimee a previous winner, not bothering with her waterproofs got a soaking but still managed to win fourteen of the nineteen ends it took to decide the winner in her 21-8 win over GBC’s Ken Laine.  Nathan also from Vale Rec. managed to see off another GBC player Keith Derry in sixteen ends picking up a full house count of four shots and two three’s on his way to a 21-9 win.  The closest contest was battled out between North’s Rob Batiste and Vale’s John Gill who traded singles for most of the game until Gill playing in his first singles competition managed to pick up a full house four shots on the twenty first end to narrow the gap to one but Batiste playing on his home green won the next four ends to get to the finish line first at 21-16 after having played a marathon twenty six ends.  Noel Hodgett went through on a walkover as his opponent has left the island.

Guernsey Glass Fours League
Guernsey Bowling Club’s Moonrakers could still land their first Island Fours league title if they beat the Vale Rec. based Falcons team by ten shots in the final round of the Guernsey Glass Fours League. In the penultimate round played on their home green Beau Sejour, Moonrakers Paul Sargeant, Steve Machon, John Rihoy and Phil Schofield just edged out the Northern Nomads on the last end when their Skip Paul Sargeant having found himself three shots down in the head and two shots down in the match after a brilliant last bowl by Nomads Don Batiste who played a perfect last bowl trail shot to put his team in a winning position but Sargeant’s last bowl recovered the situation to win the end and match 14-12.

The Falcons Matt Le Ber, Gary Pitschou, Garry Collins and Len Le Ber continued their march towards the title with a resounding 27-11 win against the Pirates team of Ron Le Tissier, Joe Thompson, Keith Derry and Peter Tostevin.

The Wonder Women’s hopes of winning a second title were dashed when they came up against the Barracudas team of Ricky Brehaut, Nigel Collins, Peter Tranter and Don Ogier who lead from the start to finish. The Wonder Women Lucy Beere, Angela Bartie, Jan Lawrence and Gwen de la Mare saw their good head build ups continually ruined when Nigel Collins on his return from a wrist injury and playing number three found his drawing touch to turn the heads in the Barracudas favour much to the frustration of the women and especially Beere who was left to play difficult shots to try to recover the situation not an easy job when each player has only two woods per end, 3-18 down at ten ends however they never stopped trying and a second half revival winning six consecutive ends put them back in with a chance until a short trail of the jack by Collins when four down in the head stopped the rut and the latter team went on to win their first encounter this summer by 14-19.    

Other Results

Over 60 Open Triples

Peter Tostevin, Joan Tostevin & Alan Davis lost to Jean Simon, Gwen de la Mare & Ricky Brehaut 15-22.  Paul Brehaut, Joan Shaw & Mick Le Page beat Mick Yabsley, Roy Domaille & Stan Simon 19-15.  Clive Ogier, Peter Tranter & Bernie Simon lost to Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant & Don Batiste 14-22.  Phil Schofield, Derek Hurford & Paul sergeant lost to Sid Le Maitre, Heather Queripel & Roy Queripel 16-20.

Smithard over 60 Men’s Singles
Ken Laine beat Paul Sargeant 21-3.  Dan Le Cheminant beat Noel Hodgett 21-13.  Steve Machon beat Mick Hullock 21-5.  Bon Batiste beat Alan Gibson 21-20.

Carre Over 60 Ladies Singles
Doreen Batiste lost to Jean Simon 18-21.

Report by Nigel Collins
18/07/11

Press Open Singles
Played on her home green Beau Sejour, Guernsey Bowling Club’s Jackie Nicolle provided the biggest shock result in the Bowls Guernsey Open Singles second round when she not only managed to keep pace with her no. eight ranked World Bowls opponent she managed to pick up a count of four shots on the nineteenth and what proved to be the final end to beat North’s Ian Merrien 21-17.  A second shock result came when Kris Bichard out drew his top class opponent Gary Pitschou the former recovered from a second end full house four shots against him to lead from the sixth and steadily build up to the twenty one shots required to beat his opponent 21-13.

Lucy Beere comfortably beat Alan Gibson in seventeen ends scoring the ten shots she required over the last seven to win 21-7.

Played at the Corbet Field, Ken Laine beat Andy Savident with a storming eight shots collected on the last three ends played to win the match after his opponent led at twelve ends 10-11 he conceded only one more shot on his way to the 21-12 result.  Matthew Le Ber comfortably beat Mick Hullock in seventeen ends leading all the way and collecting twelve shots to one against over the last seven to go into the quarter finals 21-7.

Alison Merrien beat John Rihoy in a match of two halves, nothing between them during the first ten ends and they were level at 9-9 then Alison found some of her usual form and collected a full house count of four on the next plus six more shots on the following three and together with two shots on the nineteenth was enough to book a place in the quarter finals.

Garry Collins and Len Le Ber go through to the quarter finals on walkovers.

Guernsey Glass Fours League
The Vale Rec. Falcons, Matt Le Ber, Gary Pitschou, Garry Collins and Len Le Ber look set to retain their Fours Title after yet another outstanding display of bowling at Delancey Park when the beat fellow Vale bowlers Barracudas Ricky Brehaut, Don Ogier, Peter Tranter and John Keat in the latest round of matches they lead from start to finish over the eighteen ends returning a card of 25-16.

Northern Nomads could still cause an upset after their win against GBC’s Pirates who seem to have lost some of their form this year. The Northerners Don Batiste, Ricky Nash, Sid Le Maitre and Mac Timms totally outplayed their opponents skipped by Joe Thompson, Peter Tostevin, Jamie Mash and Keith Derry in outscoring them on fifteen of the eighteen ends and returned a card reading 21-5.

The Wonder Women led by Lucy Beere and including Gwen de la Mare, Sally Paul and Jan Lawrence severely dented the hopes of Moonrakers winning the title by beating them soundly 18-11, three shots on the last end to the latter team including Paul Sargeant, Steve Machon, John Rihoy and Phil Schofield gave some respectability to the score card.

Report by Nigel Collins
13/07/11

De Putron Ladies Singles
Alison Merrien lost her Island Singles Crown on Saturday Morning when still recovering from her recent illness she was unable to keep pace with her closest rival Lucy Beere. The match which has great significance for both players not only in the island but in World Bowls circles as the title holder will get an invitation to the World Champion of Champions to be played in Cyprus in 2012. Alison who is currently rated number two in the World by World Bowls Limited and Lucy herself rated at number twenty were unfortunate enough to be drawn to play each other in the opening round. Lucy sportingly agreed for the match to be delayed in order for her rival to have time to get well but perhaps the writing was on the wall as Beere opened with a full house count of four shots, Alison though had not turned up to lose and fought back and was not only still in the match but one shot ahead10-11 after eleven ends. However a four end run including a sequence of a 3-3-2-1 to one against and a two on the seventeenth and final end was enough for Beere to go through with a great title chance 21-12.

Guernsey Glass Fours League
With the second round of the Guernsey Glass Island Fours League being rained off the third round was played at the Corbet Field, the home based Falcons team met the in form Northern Nomads including Don Batiste, Ricky Nash, Mac Timms and Sid Le Maitre, the Falcons started confidently enough leading 4-0 after the first two ends but their game plan went wildly astray after that as the Nomads won the next eight scoring fourteen shots without reply to lead 4-14 at fourteen and a shock win against the unbeaten champions was on the cards but the fifteenth end was to mark the difference between the champions and the rest as the Falcons opener Len Le Ber drew a bowl to the Jack to hold shot and one behind, incredibly all of the Nomads managed to send their woods heavy and through the head as Garry Collins, Gary Pitschou and skip Matt Le Ber all drew their two woods each to count culminating in a seven shot count to narrow the gap to one shot and a triple on the last was enough for the Falcons to steal the win by two shots 18-16 to stay unbeaten this term.  Wonder Women still without the indisposed Alison Merrien but led ably by Lucy Beere as skip and including Angela Bartie, Jan Lawrence and Gwen de la Mare comfortably beat the GBC based Pirates team of Ron Le Tissier, Peter Tostevin, Jamie Marsh and Keith Derry 24-6, they had scored more shots by the fifth end than their opponents managed during the eighteen end format game.

Moonrakers led by Paul Sargeant and including Steve Machon, John Rihoy and Phil Schofield beat the out of sorts Barracudas team including Ricky Brehaut, John Keat, Don Ogier and Peter Tranter 22-7.   

Report by Nigel Collins
12/07/11

Elliott Men’s Singles British Isles Qualifier

The second round of the Island Men’s Championship took place at the Corbet Field and Delancey Park, with the current champion Daniel de la Mare already out of this years competition the rest of the first round survivors were looking to get through to the quarter finals to be played next month but there were no shock results in store as the islands top rated players all made it through. The current world ranked number eight Ian Merrien beat Keith de la Mare despite losing eight shots over ends three, four and five to claim a place in the quarters 21-14.  The closest game being between North’s Mac Timms and Vale’s Matthew Solway who is no stranger to toppling some of the more experienced bowlers but not on this occasion as Timms opened with three shots and continued to stay ahead until the eleventh when “Train” managed to pick up a full house count of four shots to level the match at 13-13 but the more experienced Timms did not let that upset him too much and eventually came out on top 16-21.  Vale’s Garry Pitschou joint hot favourite for the title beat his Vale counterpart Alan Gibson after a sticky start 1-5 down at the fourth he found his usual touch and picked up a full house four shots on the next and went on to win 21-9. The other joint hot favourite for the title Vale’s Matthew le Ber beat GBC’s Paul Sargeant in a similar style to Pitchou’s 2-5 down initially after four ends he comfortably controlled the rest of the game to win 21-12.  The shortest match being the game between two Vale players John Keat and Don Ogier, Keat leading all the way through the fifteen ends to achieve a 21-7 win and could be the dark horse in the title hunt.  Vale’s young Todd Priaulx could upset the favourites if he continues with the form he showed in his win over North’s Paul Wakeham who was one shot ahead at 12-11 but four ends later the talented youngster had collected the ten shots required to reach the finish line 12-21.  GBC,s Mark Higgs and Noel Hodgett were drawn against each other and it was the former who proved best on the day winning 21-12 in eighteen ends. Vale’s Kris Bichard received a walkover against Nigel Collins. 

De Putron Ladies Singles
With the number of lady bowlers slowly declining North’s Joanne Hardill and Vale’s Aimee Ogier provided great entertainment for their supporters at the Corbet Field on Friday evening when they played out a marathon twenty seven end match to decide the winner. Hardill seven shots ahead after eleven at 10-3 was pegged back to a two shot lead after twenty two 16-14 but a count of three on the next and two singles apiece over the next four ends was enough to see her through to the quarter finals 21-16.

Dot Foley Singles (players up to four years experience)
Nathan Dicker beat Andrew Savident 21-5. Noel Hodgett beat Ann Sumner 21-16. Keith Derry beat Richard Sumner 21-11. Ken Laine received a walkover from Jenny Kimber. 

Brookman Pairs
Sally Paul & Lucy Beere beat Pat Le Cheminant & Doreen Batiste 24-7. 

Over 60 Triples
Stan Simon, Roy Domaille & Mick Yabsley beat Alan Gibson, Vic Dorey & Dennis Chick 19-15 

Over 60 mixed Pairs
Mary Saunders & Paul Sargeant beat Anne & Bernie Simon 16-15. Sally & Peter Tranter beat Jean Simon & Ricky Brehaut 13-12.

Over 70 Singles
Paul Sargeant beat Barbara Martel 21-13. Jean Simon beat Stan Simon 21-13. Ron Le Tissier beat Alan Davis 21-18. Keith Derry received a walkover from Phil Schofield.

Report by Nigel Collins 
26/06/11

The British Isles Men’s Knock Out Championships get under way next week at Sighthill Bowling Club, Scotland and Guernsey will be represented by the 2010 Island Champions in five disciplines namely the Fours by Matthew Le Ber (skip), Gary Pitschou, Garry Collins and Len Le Ber. The Triples by Matthew Le Ber (skip) Garry Collins and John Keat who is standing in for Daniel de la Mare who qualified in three events but the competition rules only allow an individual to play in two events. The Pairs by Don Batiste (skip) and Ricky Nash. The Singles and Under 25 Singles by Daniel de la Mare.  In the second round of the 2011 Guernsey Championships played this week, last years champions were not only looking to retain their titles before travelling to Scotland but get some good matches under their belts before being tested by the best of the other British Countries.

2011 Travers Pairs and British Isles Qualifier for 2012.
There was a shock and confidence knock in store for the current pairs champions Northerners Don Batiste and Ricky Nash when they lost their crown at Delancey Park to club fellows and Don’s nephew Rob Batiste and his partner Steve Bichard, the latter pair buoyed by their surprise first round win, settled quickly and got off to a good start winning the first two ends but it was all level by the fifth, seven shots gained over the next four lifted their hopes at 4-11, a count of four on the next by the champions was cancelled out by four shots gained over the following four ends 8-15. The inevitable was bound to happen and the champions hit back with a 4-1-3 sequence but this was again cancelled out by their opponents picking up a two and a four on the seventeenth and eighteenth to lead 16-21, a two on the nineteenth gave the title holders some hope but this was dashed when they only managed to gain a single on the last of the twenty one end format game.  The competition is wide open now that all the usual favourites are now out of this years competition and Ricky Brehaut and Kris Bichard must fancy their chances after beating Paul Sargeant and John Rihoy, a count of five shots on the ninth by the former pair put them into the lead for the first time in the match at 8-9. thereafter except for a loss of a four on the fifteenth it was one way traffic all the way to the finish line 33-14.  North’s Martyn Dorey and Mac Timms continued their good run by beating Vale’s Stan Simon and Mick Yabsley, the former pair behind by two shots at 11-9 at the eleventh found a good streak of form to string together six winning ends to help them on their way to a 24-14 win.  Vale’s Geoff Savident and Don Ogier beat North’s Roy Queripel and Sid Le Maitre comfortably leading from the third end all the way to the finish with one end to spare 25-11.

In the games played at the Corbet Field Gary Pitschou and Len Le Ber are certain to fancy their chances after beating their Vale counterparts Andrew Lucas and Peter whales 25-10 helped by a count of six on the eighth and winning the last four ends to return a card of 25-10.  Northern stalwarts Dan Le Cheminant and Mick Cleal beat GBC’s Bob Cherry and Phil Schofield 23-16 in a closely fought contest, losing the battle10-16 at the fifteenth the formers put in a good run to win the last six ends to return a card reading 16-23.  Vale stalwart Roy Domaille who has taken novice Nathan Dicker under his wing came out surprise winners in their contest against fellow Vale bowlers and high flying Todd Priaulx and his partner Matt Solway, very closely fought all the way to the eighteenth when they were about to concede the match by one shot only to be reminded that the British Isles Qualifier play the full international twenty one ends so on they played and on the twentieth end Solway, down at that point in the head of bowls played a running wood at the Jack unfortunately he only managed to clip the Jack sideways and was unable to draw his remaining woods to count but the very experienced Domaille drew all his four bowls close to make a count of five shots and good enough to win the match 18-16.  Ian and Alan Merrien received a walkover against Derek Barlow and Jim Poole.

2011 Tostevin Triples and British Isles Qualifier for 2012
The 2010 Men’s Triples champions team of Matthew Le Ber (skip), Daniel de Mare and Garry Collins travel to Scotland next week with their heads held high after the first round of island knock out triples for the 2011 Guernsey crown and island representatives at the British Isles Championships in 2012 took place at Beau Sejour, they beat the team of Nigel Collins (skip), Don Ogier and Peter Tranter comfortably but it was not all plain sailing as they were trailing at the eleventh end by two shots 11-13, unfortunately for the latter team their only wood in the head on the next end was winkled out by the Falcons skip Le Ber by first managing to move the unsighted (from the mat) shot wood with a superb controlled weighted shot with his penultimate wood and taking it clean out of the head with his last with a drive shot to pick up a count of five shots and they somehow managing to pick up a count of seven on the following end after a measure involving five woods to turn the match firmly in their favour and they completed the match with a four on the sixteenth to return a card reading 29-17.  Paul Sargeant skipped his team including, Steve Machon and Phil Schofield to a 28-12 win against Roy Domaille (skip), Nathan Dicker and Reg du Feu, ten shots gained from the fifth to the tenth end set them up nicely but the six gained on the seventeenth put the icing on the cake.  Sid La Maitre, Mac Timms and Martyn Dorey beat Bernie Simon, Geoff Savident and Alan Gibson in a good match in which the formers lead 12-1 at the seventh, then they were pulled back to 15-15 on the thirteenth but managed to regain their initial form and picked up two counts of four on their way to win 25-18.

In the matches played at the Corbet Field Ricky Brehaut (skip), Todd Priaulx and Kris Bichard beat Stan Simon (skip), Dennis Chick and Mick Yabsley, a feature of this match was a mid game four end golden streak gaining seventeen shots to nil including counts of a six, a two, a seven and another two to win 29-18.  Gary Pitschou (skip), Len Le Ber and Mick Hullock beat Peter Whales (skip) Matthew Solway and Nigel Hurford, the former team 9-0 ahead after four ends including a six on the third carried on their good form to pick up counts of a five on the ninth and sixteenth ends on their way to a 25-14 win. 

Guernsey Glass & Windows Men’s and Ladies Fours League
There are no knock out Fours until the next round of island competitions in July so the British Isles representative men’s fours team were looking to the Guernsey Glass & Window Company’s Island Fours League to give them the practice needed for the Championships to be played in Scotland next week.

In round one of the league played at Delancey Park the current champions which included three Commonwealth Games players the Falcons team of Matt le Ber, Gary Pitschou, Garry Collins and Len Le Ber came up against the 2009 champions Wonder Women who were without their top player Alison Merrien rated Women’s number two by World Bowls so Lucy Beere herself ranked world number twenty stepped up to skip the team including Gwen de la Mare, Aimee Ogier and Jan Lawrence, the former mentioned two also represented Guernsey at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi. There were only two shots in it at the ninth and halfway point as the Falcons lead 9-7 but five shots gained over the next two and five shots on the fifteenth put the match beyond reach at this level and the champions rolled out the winners by 23-17 to earn two points and go away to Scotland as confident as they could be.

In the other games the two Guernsey Bowling Club’s teams were drawn against each other and it was the Moonrakers team of Paul Sargeant (skip), Derek Hurford, John Rihoy and Phil Schofield who came out best against the Pirates team of Ron Le Tissier (skip), Joe Thompson, Jamie Marsh and Keith Derry, nothing in this match at the halfway point 8-8 but the former team won six of the remaining nine ends to return a card of 18-13.  The Northern Nomads team of Don Batiste, Ricky Nash, Mac Timms and Sid Le Maitre beat the Barracudas team of Ricky Brehaut, Don Ogier, Peter Tranter and Nigel Collins, the Nomads winning the first five ends scoring nine shots to nil enabled them to cruise along until two counts of a six and a three against on the thirteenth and fourteenth ends respectively narrowed the margin to two shots but a four gained by the Northerners on the next was enough to help them over the winning line 20-17.

Nicolle Mixed Pairs
In one of the islands most keenly contested competitions the Nicolle Mixed Pairs, the matches played at the Corbet Field this week included high flying Alison Merrien together with her husband Ian world ranked two and eight in their respective genders, teamed up to beat two of their fellow Northerners Pat and Dan Le Cheminant 24-4 in a very one sided match in only fourteen of the eighteen end format match, the latter pair won the final against the same opponents in 2008.  The pair of Jean Simon and Gary Pitschou beat Joan Tostevin and Ken Laine despite losing the first end by a single shot the former pair were always going to win this one after gaining eleven shots over the next three ends and went on to win comfortably 24-10.   Northerners Ricky Nash and Carol Besnard beat Jenny Nicolle and Paul Sargeant, the former pair opened up a 5-0 in the first four ends and continued to hold the lead all the way to a four point win at 18-14.

In the matches played on the Beau Sejour Green, Matt Le Ber and his partner Lucy Beere showed their class in dominating their encounter against Lianna de la Mare & Matt Solway very comfortably winning 33-7 with two ends to spare.

Mother and son Gwen and Daniel de la Mare lead from the start and comfortably beat stalwarts Doreen & Don Batiste 26-15 in sixteen ends.  Sally Paul and Stan Simon beat the very strong pairing of Ann Simon and Len Le Ber, the latter pair 5-0 up after three soon found themselves in for a match when three ends later it was levelled at 6-6, four shots gained on the ninth was not enough to stem the flow of Paul and Simon who won six of the last nine ends to return a card of 13-22.  Northern Bowling Association President Angela Bartie who is recovering from a shoulder injury teamed up with Bowls Guernsey President Geoff Savident and were delighted to gain a single point victory over Jan Lawrence and Keith de la Mare 14-13.    

Press Drawn Pairs
Phil Schofield & Jackie Nicolle beat Barbara Martel & Joan Tostevin 24-9. Lynn Small & Stan Simon beat Clive Ogier & Keith de la Mare 22-11. Ron Le Tissier & Gary Pitschou beat Aimee Ogier & Keith Derry 21-13. Don Ogier & Martyn Dorey beat Peter Tranter & Steve Machon 18-12.

Smithard over 60 Men’s Singles
Steve Machon beat Ron Le Tissier 21-9. Alan Gibson beat Stan Simon 21-9. Ken Laine beat Bob Cherry 21-14. Dan Le Cheminant beat Keith Derry 21-9. Don Batiste beat Alan Davis 21-17. Noel Hodgett, Mick Hullock and Paul Sargeant received walkovers.

Report by Nigel Collins
24/06/11

British Isles Bowls Championships – New Event
Bowls Guernsey – Media Release – 4^th June 2011

At the recent British Isles Bowls Council Annual General Meeting the six countries, England, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, Scotland and Wales – voted to introduce a new competition in their programme, a senior fours knockout competition, to be played annually from 2013.

The qualification for the event is; men age over 55 (not over 60 as the normal local senior trophies) to be members from the same club and their national/Island champions.

The Bowls Guernsey Association will be proposing at their AGM later this year in November, the creation of a new competition “Over 55 Men’s Fours” to start next summer, the Association is currently looking for a sponsor to donate a new trophy.

The new event is to encourage more senior players to get involved or still get involved in international events across the British Isles.

Garry Collins
Financial Secretary
3^rd June 2011

Elliott Singles British Isles Qualifier
The coveted Elliott Men’s Singles British Isles Qualifier attracted thirty two entries and the first round was spread over the three clubs, in the games played at Delancey Park Daniel de la Mare failed by just two shots to hold on to his Island Singles Championship crown in an unlucky first round draw against the 2009 winner Matthew Le Ber. In an exciting encounter at Delancey Park the pair who both played at the  commonwealth games enjoyed what was always going to be a tough match, only one shot in it at ten ends 6-7 the match was all square at 16-16 after twenty one ends. On what was to be the last and twenty sixth end and the match standing at 19-20, de la Mare was holding the two shots he required for the win but Le Ber with his now familiar accurate drive shot is never out of it while he still has woods to play and so the inevitable happened and the jack ended up a foot from the far ditch and de la Mare’s final bowl just rolled passed the jack without touching it and fell into the ditch only to be taken off the green by the marker leaving Le Ber with three yards to play with in order to get the shot he required which he duly accomplished with ease to return a card of 19-21.  Paul Sargeant was one of three players to win his game in thirteen ends when he beat fellow stalwart Dan Le Cheminant 9-21.  Paul Wakeham beat Keith Derry although the latter won ten of the twenty ends played he only managed to score singles whereas Wakeham scored six counts of three shots on his way to a 10-21 win.  Young Todd Priaulx’s confidence after his great showing in the World Junior Cup in Australia earlier this year saw him beat commonwealth games bowler Garry Collins 21-6 in only thirteen ends.  Two Vale Rec bowlers of about four years experience met in the first round and it was Don Ogier who came out best against Peter Whales building gradually to win 21-14 in eighteen ends. 

Played at Beau Sejour, another of the up and coming player Mathew Solway who has built up a reputation for himself in singles play in the last couple of years saw him beat yet another senior player Steve Machon 21-13 in twenty ends.  Kris Bichard gave the very experienced Sid Le Maitre a hard time and quickly ran up an 11-1 lead at seven ends and comfortably built up to 19-8 after twenty ends but a late surge of form from the northern stalwart saw that close three ends later to 19-14 and the two shots required to go through to the next round came on the twenty fourth end 21-14.  Nigel Collins built up a 3-16 lead in ten ends against 2005 winner Geoff Savident but the latter fought back and traded singles all the way to the finish line when the former got to 21 shots returning a card of 9-21.  

Played at the Corbet Field, UK bowler John Keat now working and living on the island must be a threat to the top local players as he comfortably beat John Rihoy 21-8, Keat lead from start to finish and won the game in seventeen ends.  Alan Gibson brought Andy Savident back to earth after his big win earlier in the week, Gibson went 0-11 up after only three ends and things didn’t get any better for Savident as he scored only two singles against an on form Gibson who won 2-21 in only thirteen ends.  Len Le Ber versus Gary Pitschou promised to be a good match but luckily for the latter he caught Le Ber on an off day and he managed to score only five shots against the on form commonwealth games player Pitschou who returned a card reading 5-24.  The remaining two commonwealth and Northern players were drawn against each other and Ian Merrien beat Don Batiste in seventeen ends 9-21 in which the victor scored two full house counts of four shots and dominated the last four ends scoring eleven shots to nil. 

Incredibly four players gave their games away rather than bring them forward and one game was claimed when the opponent did not turn up. 

Travers Men’s Pairs British Isles Qualifier

Played at Vale Rec’s Corbet Field Green the home favourites for the Travers Men’s Pairs British Isles qualifier Matthew Le Ber and Daniel de la Mare were in for a shock when they played Guernsey Bowling Club’s Paul Sargeant and John Rihoy as the latter pair had not come to lose and fought their way to a 1-9 lead at six ends but the very talented home pair struck back over the next eight by scoring three counts of four shots and two singles to one count of four and two singles in reply to level the match but it was the visitors who mastered the rink better with three doubles on the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth and held their opponents to two singles on the last two ends of the twenty one end format game to win 20-21 and record the shock result of the evening.  North’s Rob Batiste and Steve Bichard gradually built up their lead to win 24-15 with one end to spare against fellow Northerners brothers Keith and Raymond de la Mare.  Ricky Brehaut and Kris Bichard both enjoyed good form in comfortably beating fellow Vale Bowlers Mick Hullock and Alan Gibson 24-11 who conceded with four ends to go.

Played at Beau Sejour, North’s Mac Timms and Martyn Dorey were happy to come away winners against Vale pair John Keat and novice John Gill, the latter pair held their opponents all the way until they dropped a count of four shots on the nineteenth and could only manage to singles on the last two in reply. Stan Simon and Mick Yabsley fell 2-11 down after seven ends but never gave up and when they won the mat they put longer jacks to great effect against Garry and Nigel Collins, not that the latter pair weren’t holding on several occasions but Simon managed to pick up three counts of four and two of three on their way to a 21-27 win.  Veterans Roy Queripel and Sid Le Maitre beat their Northern counterparts Paul Wakeham and Steve Cowdrey in a very close match, starting to fall behind initially a count of five shots on the tenth end put the vets one shot up but dropped a four on the next, however winning eight of the next ten ends saw them home 22-16.  

Drawn Pairs
Keith Derry & Aimee Ogier beat Gwen de la Mare & Dan Le Cheminant 18-16.  Steve Machon & Peter Tranter beat Mac Timms & Alan Gibson 23-6.

Report by Nigel Collins
01/06/11

2010 Men’s Le Quesne

Guernsey won the Men’s Le Quesne match at Le Creux on green two in Jersey for the first time since 1997 by a single shot in dramatic style on Saturday when Nigel Collins playing number three was asked by his skip Len Le Ber to play the jack into the end ditch while already holding a brilliantly drawn single shot by lead John Keat but with Reining European Singles Champion Cyril Renouf as Len’s opposing skip, he as did the whole team, knew that Renouf was waiting in anticipation of being given the chance to play the drive shot himself and win the match for Jersey for the twelfth consecutive time but with Collins playing a perfect controlled drive which picked up the jack cleanly and trailed it into the ditch together with his toucher bowl and the jack now in an almost impossible position to beat, laying in the ditch behind a head of thirteen bowls the task proved too much when Renouf’s last bowl drew up short leaving Le Ber’s rink 11-21 up and just enough to get over the winning line. The crowd of more that one hundred bowlers and supporters raised their arms in applause at what was a wonderful end to the match and achievement by the Sarnians.

The Guernsey Captain Garry Collins mentioned that only three men in the squad of twenty four namely Len Le Ber, Gary Pitschou and Mac Timms had previously won a Le Quesne before Jersey Bowls President Lawrence De Gruchy presented the cup to Guernsey’s most capped bowler Len Le Ber and badges to the four new caps namely Peter Whales, Alan Gibson and Ron Le Tissier and John Keat. Collins also said that credit must go to the selectors who have been trying to find a winning combination for fourteen years and it was generally considered that the compatibility among the teams was the vital factor.

The match started an hour late at 11 am after the ferry was delayed with engine trouble  and there were no loose first ends as Jersey took a slim lead of three shots over the six rinks of fours. After the completion of the second hopes of a good Guernsey performance was in the air as the visitors scored ten shots to break into the lead by six but it was apparent the green was playing slow and heavy after the overnight rain. The shot difference increased to nine shots after the next and by the ninth and halfway point the lead was at it’s height of ten.

Things take on a different viewpoint from there on as the big mobile scoreboard shows the latest shot position end for end and as some teams play quicker than others it has the more dramatic and up to date position of the match. The rink of Alan Gibson, Peter Whales, Geoff Savident and skip Gary Pitchou finished first with a draw 15-15 against the Jersey rink of P Mc Couviase, B Le Suer, D Clark and skip Gus Mc Kinnon. Pitchou’s team were trailing 15-7 after thirteen ends and recovered brilliantly to level the score over the last five ends. Second finished was the rink of Todd Priaulx, Matt Solway, Garry Collins and skip Matt Le Ber with a loss by only two shots 13-11 to the Jersey rink of Martin Rive, Ross Davies, Greg Davies and skip Malcolm de Sousa. Le Ber junior’s team being 8-10 ahead at thirteen ends but it was the home team who finished the better scoring six shots to one over the last five ends. Then the team of Phil Schofield, Ron Le Tissier, Ricky Nash and skip Ricky Brehaut finished with a loss of fifteen shots 21-6 to Jersey’s Kevin Le Long, Lee Nixon, John Lowery and skip Thomas Greechan, this being one of Jersey’s strongest teams and the Guernsey team did well to keep them to the fifteen shot deficit, in fact many a Le Quesne has been lost by teams conceding much higher scores and Brehaut was unlucky in drawing this team on his comeback after a four year break. Next to finish was Keith de La Mare, Andrew Lucas, Kris Bichard and skip Daniel de la Mare with a win by eleven shots 14-25 against Jersey ’s T Knight, J Le Gros, John Skelley and skip Tim Mallet. This Guernsey team proved to be the team winning by the highest margin of eleven shots and comfortably controlled the game throughout, a fine performance by skip Dan de la Mare the reigning Guernsey and Channel Islands Singles Champion.

By that time the last two rinks were finishing the tension was mounting as everyone was tentatively watching the big board which read greens 8 shots up. On their last end the rink of Sid Le Maitre, Mac Timms, Martyn Dorey and skip Don Batiste playing against T Le Motte, N Weymouth, Brian Bisson and Terry Allen who had enjoyed an evenly fought contest with the visiting side 9-13 up and were declaring the result of their last end which had seen Jersey skip Allen trail the jack and ending up picking up a count of seven shots, returning a card of 16-13 but effectively reducing the big board to Green’s only one shot up.

To make matters even more tense at the same time Len Le Ber had decided to accept a one shot loss on their penultimate end even though he had the last bowl yet to play but deciding that any attempt at the draw to win the end might go disastrously wrong and he might accidentally play out Collins’s bowl which was now demoted to second shot after a brilliant final bowl from Renouf, it would also give him last bowl on the last end. So with the big board shot difference at zero, the last end was started by the Jersey lead Brian Ferbrache in casting a short jack two metres from the far ditch with the mat well up the green but it was Guernsey’s John Keat who had had an excellent game who drew a superb shot bowl and so the head built up with Jersey’s Derek Boswell and Guernsey’s Don Ogier’s two bowls each contributing to a good close head build up and Boswell succeeding in getting best back position. Jersey ’s number three Alan Shaw failed to turn the head in their favour with his two attempts and Collins first attempt to claim best back bowl failed when he touched another bowl in its path.

It was at this point that skip Le Ber senior the most experienced Guernsey player on the green made what proved to be a winning decision in asking for the jack to be ditched and which was so superbly achieved by Collins.

2010 Ladies Le Quesne

The Guernsey ladies playing at the same time on the Le Creux Green one

were beaten by their more experienced Jersey counterparts by 42 shots but must be regarded as a good performance considering they had included eight new caps namely Shirley Guilliard, Linda Nellis, Pam Schofield, Jenny Kimber, Ann Sumner, Lianne Queripel, Vanessa Machon and Sophie Rabey. Credit must again go to the selectors when looking at the results overall that the teams were well balanced in that no team was heavily beaten which can be a feature at this level. A fine rink win by 10 shots for the Guernsey rink skipped by Dorreen Batiste. Bowls Guernsey President Geoff Savident presented the trophy to the winning Captain.

Teams Lead, Two three & Skip. Katie Nixon, Marianne Smith, Yvonne Andrews & skip Joan Renouf  (J) lost to Pat Le Cheminant, Shirley Gilliard, Lyn Small & Doreen Batiste (G) 12-22. T. O’Connor, F Videgrain, J Knight & H Greechan (J) beat Linda Wakeham, Lianne Queripel, Joan Shaw & Gwen de la Mare 28-14 (G). Doreen Moon, Jossie Gregor, Gapron Thomas & Alison Lamach (J) beat Pam Schofield, Linda Nellis, Aimee Ogier & Jackie Nicolle (G) 24-11. Amy Ferbrache, Shiela Mc Ginnigle, Gean O’Neil & Sue Dingle (J) beat Jenny Kimber, Ann Sumner, Jean Simon & Wilma Le Feuvre (G) 22-10. Jo Le Quesne, Ann Richardson, Eileen Vowden & Karina Bisson (J) beat Pam Harding, June Finigan, Jan Lawrence & Lucy Beere (G) 21-13. Fay Le Motte, J Holmes, M Breen & Sue Noel (J) beat Sophie Rabey, Vanessa Machon, Lorrainne Ellis & Janet Cleal (G) 20-15.

Report by Nigel Collins
29/05/11

2010 Le Quesne Matches

Last years Men’s and Ladies Le Quesne matches versus Jersey which were cancelled due to lack of Ferry and Hotel space last September when they clashed with Jersey Live is going to be played at Le Creux in Jersey on Saturday. The Ladies who won their respective Trophy in 2008 will be looking to improve on the 34 shot loss in 2009 and may make some late team changes as there are some notable absentees in the Ladies squad because of holidays or injury namely Alison Merrien, Anne Simon, Angela Bartie, Pauline Leadbeater and Shirley Petit.

The Men who last won their encounter in 1997 will be looking to improve on the 41 shot loss in 2009.

The teams are Skip, Three, Two & Lead.

Men
Skip Matt le Ber, Garry Collins, Matt Solway, Todd Priaulx.
Skip Gary Pitchou, Geoff Savident, Peter Whales, Alan Gibson.
Skip Dan de la Mare, Kris Bichard, Andy Lucas,  Keith de la Mare.
Skip Don Batiste, Martyn Dorey, Mac Timms, Sid Le Maitre.
Skip Len le Ber, Nigel Collins, Don Ogier, John Keat.
Skip Ricky Brehaut, Ricky Nash, Ron le Tissier, Phil Schofield. 

Ladies
Skip Lucy Beere, Jan Lawrence, June Finigan, Linda Wakeham.
Skip Jackie Nicolle, Aimee Ogier, Linda Nellis, Pam Schofield.
Skip Wilma le Feuvre, Jean Simon, Carol Besnard, Pam Harding.
Skip Doreen Batiste, Janet Cleal, Lyn Small, Pat le Cheminant.
Skip Gwen de la Mare, Joan Shaw, Jenny Kimber, Joanne Hardill.
Skip Lyn le Vallee, Mavis Richards, Sophie Rabey, Lorraine Ellis.

The Outdoor Lawn Bowls season is under way with the Greens reported to be cut shorter and playing well despite the Green Keepers having to use extra water during the drought conditions. This year World Bowls has pleased most players and gone back to the old rule which means that a player must retain the Mat and deliver the Jack if he wins the previous end giving the player who lost the last end the coveted last wood in the next end. 

Open Singles
The first round of the Open Singles Competition saw some tight matches with most of the top bowlers going through to the next round. The biggest shock being Vale’s Alan Gibson who beat North’s Don Batiste comfortably 21-7.  The next closest call being Vale’s Len Le Ber who struggled to get to grips with the allocated rink at Beau Sejour, his opponent and home player Noel Hodgett built up a lead of 15–4 before Len got his act together and clawed his way back to win by two shots at 19–21. The most outstanding performance was North’s Andy Savident who came out best in a tight affair against GBC’s Paul Sargeant 10–5 up after ten ends but it was all square 14 – 14 at seventeen, however five shots gained on the next three put him in the driving seat and he closed the game out with a double on the twenty fifth end 21-18. Jackie Nicolle had the closest of encounters against Keith Derry 5-5 at six, 17-17 at seventeen 20-20 at twenty two but it was Jackie who got the single on the next to stay in the competition.

Garry Collins beat Dan Le Cheminant 6-21. Nigel Collins beat Mac Timms 21-12. John Rihoy beat Don Ogier 17-21.Gary Pitchou beat Peter Whales 9-21. Kris Bichard beat Gwen de la Mare 12-21. Lucy Beere beat Matt Solway 21-11. Matt le Ber beat Aimee Ogier 21-4. Mick Hullock beat Geoff Savident 21 – 8. Ali and Ian Merrien together with Keith de la Mare received walkovers. 

Nicolle Mixed Pairs
Vale’s Ricky Brehaut buoyed by his selection as a skip for the forthcoming Men’s Le Quesne Match in Jersey made a winning comeback after a four year break when together with his partner Mavis Richards they beat Aimee & Don Ogier 17-13. Gwen & Dan de la Mare beat Joanne Hardill & Martin Dorey 28-16. Lucy Beere & Matt le Ber beat Lorraine Ellis & Sid le Maitre 21-13. Jackie Nicolle & Paul Sargeant beat Lyn Small & Alan Gibson 20-8. Jenny Kimber & Bernie Simon beat Linda Nellis & John Rihoy 20-11. Mavis Richards & Ricky Brehaut beat

Over 70 Open Singles
Alan Davis beat Derek Barlow 21-18. Ron le Tissier beat Doreen Batiste 21-18.

Report by Nigel Collins
26/05/11

Bowls Guernsey Finals – Report – Day 2 – Sunday 22^nd August 2010

Friend Ladies Fours
Jan Lawrence, Sally Paul, Lucy Beere & Alison Merrien - 26
Lorraine Ellis, Linda Wakeham, Mavis Tardiff & Angela Bartie - 7
The Wonder Women lived up to their name and won the ladies fours, this being the first time Alison Merrien will have her name on that trophy, they collected an single on the first end, dropping a double, to be behind for the last time during the match, they collected a five on the third, followed by two singles and a double, losing an single then scored a 3,2,1,4 combination to lead the match 20 shots to 3 shots, dropping an single and count of three, then scored an single, double, and a count of three to win the match 26 shots to 7 shots with two ends remaining, now playing in Jersey for the CI finals.

Over 60 Mixed Pairs
Anne & Bernie Simon - 14
Gwen De la Mare & Ricky Nash – 17
De la Mare & Nash won the first end with a single and seemed in control thought the match, but only won 10 ends of the eighteen, but won the match 17 shots to 14 shots.

Tostevin Triples
Garry Collins, Dan De la Mare & Matt Le Ber - 26
Todd Priaulx, Kris Bichard & Alan Gibson - 11
Priaulx, Bichard and Gibson played excellent bowls to start the match, collecting an double, single and double to lead the match 5 shots to 0, the next end an draw from Le Ber won them an single, the next again holding again an single, but Gibson unlucky moved the jack and awarded four shots to level the match five all after five ends, Falcons had to step up a gear or too, which they did, they scored 5,5,1,1,1,2 shots to lead the match 20 shots to 5 shots after eleven ends, the Saints fought back and collected an four, but conceded an double on the very next end, collecting two singles and dropping a four, Collins, De la Mare and Le Ber won the match, a place in the CI Finals and British Isles Championships.

Super Vet (over 70 singles)
Pauline Leadbeater - 21
Stan Simon - 12
It only took Leadbeater 18 ends to beat Simon in the super vets finals, scoring an double an a count of three on the last two ends to win the match 21 shots to 12 shots.

Bell Under 25 singles
Kris Bichard - 10
Dan De la Mare – 21
De la Mare opened the match on his last under 25 as he turns 25 in April next year before the May deadline, by winning a double, Bichard responded with a single, De la Mare scored an 1,2,2,1 to lead 8 shots to 1 shots after six ends, Bichard played some excellent bowls and won the next three ends with a double, and two singles, De la Mare responded with an 2,2,1,2,1 combination to lead 16 shots to 5 after 15 ends, Bichard picked up his draw, to win the next fours ends with an 1,2,1,1 but De la Mare determined to win his last Under 25 match, scored a 2,1,2 to win the match and another CI Final and British Isles place.

Over 60 Triples -
Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant & Don Batiste - 13
Phil Schofield, Derek Hurford & Paul Sargeant - 23
Schofield, Hurford & Sargeant won eleven of the eighteen ends, collecting 1 four, three counts of three to ensure victory 23 shots to 13 shots.

Press Drawn Pairs
Pauline Leadbeater & Jackie Nicolle – 22
Joan Tostevin & Gwen De la Mare – 17
Leadbeater & Nicolle, started the match with scoring a double, single and two fours to lend the match 11 shots to 1 after five ends, they collected another two fours on the ninth and thirteen ends to ensure control of the match, winning

Bowls Guernsey Finals – Report – Day 1 – Saturday 21^st August 2010

Travers Men’s Pairs –
Ricky Nash & Don Batiste - 21
Bob Cherry & Steve Merrien - 14
Don Batiste and Ricky Nash with over 141 years of life experience between them have won the men’s pairs and a place at the British Isles next year in Scotland .   Bob Cherry and Steve Merrien played some great bowls, having won the first end with an two, Nash and Batiste responded by winning the next three ends with 1-2-1 combination, however some excellent pressure bowls from Merrien, to save many counts including a possible eight down, to make shot, after 17 ends the score was level with 14 all, however Batiste demonstrating the reasons for his selection for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in October, played some of the best bowls of his career and Nash & Batiste won the last five ends with a 2, 1, 2, 2, 2 combination, a place in the Channel Island Final in Jersey on the 5^th September.

Sandeman Men’s Fours –
Don Ogier, Peter Tranter, John Keat, Mick Hullock - 12
Len Le Ber, Garry Collins, Gary Pitschou & Matt Le Ber - 31
The Falcons are still flying high having now won the Island Title for four years, breaking all records over the last 82 years by being the only team to it win four years following, opening with a 4, 2, 2 score line set the tone for the match, then an exchange of singles, the falcons collected a five, with all four players drawing well to lead 14 shots to 5 after nine ends, with exchanges of singles and a double for the falcons they lead by 18 shots to 7 after 14 ends, the last five ends 18 shots were scored, a 5 by the Barracuda’s and 3,3,3,4 for the Falcons to ensure a play in the Channel Island Final and British Isles.

Dot Foley Singles Final (up to 3 years novice - outdoor) –
Todd Priaulx 21
Ken Laine 9
Laine had Priaulx worried after fours ends with an 1, 2, 2 and only collecting an single, being 5 shots to 1 shot, however Priaulx lifted his game and collected a 2, 4, 1, 1 combination to 10 shots to 5 shots after eight ends, collecting another 4, 2, 1, 3 with only conceding four singles to win 21 shots to 9.

Woodhard Triples
Shirley Petit, Jean Simon & Gwen De la Mare - 19
Peggy Fish, Pam Harding, Anne Simon - 15
Petit, Simon & De la Mare dominated the match winning nine of the first eleven ends being 13 shots to 4 shots, Anne Simon played some great conversation shots to collect two three and a five to only being one behind 16, 15 after 15 ends, Petit, Simon & De la Mare played some excellent drawing bowls and collected three singles to seal the match 19 shots to 15 shots.

Press Open Singles
Matt Le Ber 21 – Len Le Ber - 19
A 26 end match had the crowd on the edge of the seats at the Corbet field, Le Ber Junior took control of the opening of game scoring two singles, however Le Ber Senior played drawing bowls within inches to collect a 3,1,1,2,3,2, to lead the match 12 shots to 2 after eight ends, Le Ber Junior picked up his game and also the same scored line, nine shots in six ends being an 1,1,2,2,1,3 combination, to level the match at 12 all after 14 ends, three singles to Senior and a three to Junior again the match being level after 18 ends, at 15 all, another 1,1 for Le Ber Junior and a 2 for Le Ber Senior again the match level at 17 all on 21 ends, Le Ber Junior won 3 of the last 5 ends to win 21 shots to 19 shots by collecting a 2,1,1 to Le Ber Seniors two singles.

Elliott Men’s Singles
Don Batiste 10 – Dan De la Mare - 21
De la Mare was always in control of the match, being 13 shots to 7 shots after ten ends, collecting another 1,3, to being 17 shots to 8 shots after 13 ends the closing line was insight, Batiste responded with an single and a double, but it was too little too late as De la Mare collected a full house to win the match 21 to 10, winning his first Island Singles Cap, a place in the Channel Island Finals, British Isles and the World Champion of Champions in Hong Kong next year.  

Carre Ladies (over 60) Singles
Jean Simon 11 – Gwen De la Mare 21
Having won the triples in the morning the champions now playing each other in another nail biting match, De la Mare set the tone by collecting three singles to start the match, Simon responded with two singles, so the match being 2 to 3 after five ends, De la Mare had an outstanding ends with drawing all her fours bowls to collect an full house on the next year, and then a single, with a response from Simon with a two, so the match being 4 to 8 after eight ends, an exchange of singles on both sides, the match was 7 to 12 after fifteen ends, with another exchange of doubles being 9 to 14 after 17 ends, De la Mare again taking the control of the match collecting an 2,1,2,2 to Simon’s two singles, the match was won 21 shots to11, and place for De la Mare in the CI Finals.

De Putron Ladies Singles
Lucy Beere 17 – Alison Merrien 21
Alison Merrien, the current World Number Two was under heavy fire from Lucy Beere from end one, with Beere collecting a 2,1,1,3 to start the match 7 shots ahead after five ends, Merrien finally scored a single, but lost a three on the very next end to being 10 shots to 1 shot down after six ends, some great conversation shots collected Merrien three two’s and an singles to bring the match closer now being 11 to 8 after eleven ends, an exchange of doubles and Beere collecting an another double and single, the match looked Beere’s being 16 shots to 10 shots after fifteen ends, Beere holding three shots on the next end, but an excellent conversation shot by Merrien to make a count of two, followed by another three and a single levelled the match at 16 all after eighteen ends, Beere scored an single, but Merrien stepped up a gear and won the last four ends with a double and three singles, to win the match 21 shots to 17 shots.  Also a place in the Channel Island Final and the World Champion of Champions in Hong Kong next year.

Smithard Men’s (over 60 singles)
Mick Hullock 17 – Roy Queripel 21
Hullock had early control of the match winning nine of the first twelve ends being 13 shots to 4 shots, Queripel a former British Isles Champion responded with winning the next ten ends to lead the match 20 shots to 13, Hullock finally got off the unlucky number 13 with scoring an full house, but Queripel lead was too great, and he collected an single for a place in the CI Finals, to win 21 to 17 after 24 ends.

Bell Drawn Fours
Clive Ogier, Joanne Hardill, Stan Simon & Gwen De la Mare - 21
Jean Simon, Jean Brown, Keith De la Mare & Alan Gibson - 17
Gibson team lead the match after five ends being 9 shots 1, Gwen De la Mare team, having collected two fours and a three and only having conceded two 2’s and a single, the match was level at 17 all after 16 ends, De la Mare collected an single and an three to win her third match of the day.

Brookman Ladies Pairs
Sally Paul & Lucy Beere – 15
Jan Lawrence & Angela Bartie – 16 
Paul & Beere scored a three on the first end, to start their campaign and after an exchange of singles still lend the match being 5 shots to 2 shots after five ends, collecting another three and dropping a single and a double the match was 8 shots to 5 shots, Bartie having played some excellent shots levelled the match at 10 all after 13 ends, Beere took control again a scored a single, but only to lose a double and four on the next two ends, Paul and Beere tried their best to re-score but only managed an single and a count of three to lose the match, 15 shots to 16 shots.  Lawrence and Bartie now play in Jersey in the CI Final.

Nicolle Mixed Pairs
Alison and Ian Merrien – 8
Pauline Leadbetaer & Garry Collins - 24
The shock of the day! Garry Collins having stepped into his father place in the semi-final, after being taken with illness, having beaten Gwen & Dan De la Mare, never dreamed they could beat the Merrien combination. 
Leadbeater and Collins started the campaign with scoring a three on the first end, being three down the next end Collins killed the end, and then only dropped an single on the replayed end, followed by another two 2, to level the match 3 all after three ends, collecting an 5,6,4,3 combination, put Collins and Leadbeater in control with some excellent drawing bowls and the Merrien attacking bowls not working, with collecting a couple of two’s and a single and dropping another two and single – the Merrien conceded the match after only 13 ends of the possible 18 ends, 24 to 8.  Leadbeater and Collins now head off to Jersey for the CI Final. 

President triples (not won an CI Island in three years)
Phil Schofiled, Ken Laine & Paul Sargeant - 19
Jean Martel, Mick Le Page & John Martel - 14
The Moonrakers always had control on the match winning eight of the first ten ends, being 15 shots to 3, Martel collected an single, two doubles and a three to bring the match back into possible contention, but collecting only two 2’s and dropping an single and a double, Moonrakers won the match 19 shots to 14 shots after 18 ends

Bowls Guernsey Le Quesne v Jersey 2009

Bowls Guernsey Ladies and Men competed against Jersey this weekend for the Le Quesne Trophies, six teams of four played in each gender. The Ladies were looking to retain the trophy won in Jersey last year. The men have not beaten Jersey since 1997.

The Guernsey Selectors introduced new caps Joanne Hardill, Aimee Ogier and Mary Saunders and  Don Ogier, Kris Bichard, Todd Priaulx and Matt Solway. The matches started at 1:05pm after the Condor Ferry arrived late 40 minutes late from Jersey .

In the Ladies match Lucy Beere’s team was the only gsy. winning rink but the Match was lost to Jsy. By 34 shots.

Beau Sejour Green.
Ladies: Captain Angela Bartie
Skip Alison Merrien, Gwen de la Mare, Joanne Hardill, Pat Le Cheminant.
Skip Anne Simon, Sally Tranter, Aimee Ogier, Shirley Petit.
Skip Lucy Beere, Sally Paul, Linda Wakeham, Pauline Leadbeater.
Skip Angela Bartie, Mavis Tardiff, Jan Lawrence, Lorraine Ellis.
Skip Wilma Le Feuvre, Doreen Batiste, Carol Besnard, Jean Simon.
Skip Jackie Nicolle, Beryl Ferbrache, Lynn Le Vallee, Mary Saunders.

Results:Gsy                                           Jsy
Alison Merrien              08                    P De Gruchy      24
Anne Simon                  13                    D Moon             13
Lucy Beere                   21                    J Knight              14
Angela Bartie                14                    K Bisson            20
Wilma Le Feuvre          15                    J Renouf             24
Jackie Nicolle               09                    M Jacque           19
Totals                           80                                            114
Jersey won by 34 shots

In the Men’s match Don Batiste’s team was the only winning rink  and Jsy. won the match by 41 shots.

Corbet Field Green.
Men: Captain Len Le Ber
Skip Matt Le Ber, Nigel Collins, Matt Solway, Paul Wakeham.
Skip Don Batiste, Ricky Nash, Keith de la Mare, Sid Le Maitre.
Skip Len Le Ber, Garry Collins, Don Ogier, Stephen Merrien.
Skip Paul Sargeant, Steve Machon, Geoff Savident, Phil Schofield.
Skip Ian Merrien, Paul Merrien, Martyn Dorey, Mac Timms.
Skip Dan de la Mare, Craig Dorey, Kris Bichard, Todd Priaulx.

Results:Gsy                                           Jsy
Matt Le Ber                 20                    T Mallet             22
Don Batiste                  21                    T Greechan        17
Len Le Ber                   09                    Terry Allen         26
Paul Sargeant               12                    A Quemard        25
Ian Merrien                  15                    C Renouf            21
Daniel de la Mare         14                    G Davis           21                             
Totals                           91                                            132

Jersey won by 41 shots

Channel Islands K. O. Finals 2009
The Channel Island Knock out Finals took place at the Corbet Field Green.

Saturday 2009

C.I. Men’s Under 25 Singles
On Saturday evening Matt Le Ber beat his Jersey counterpart Malcolm de Sousa in the Men’s Under 25 Singles , both players having had a short rest after the Le Quesne matches both players were on song with accurate bowls right from the start and only a single shot separated them at ten ends 8-9 but two singles and a full house count of four shots to Le Ber lifted him to three shots clear and by the eighteenth he was one shot from victory at 20-13, however de Sousa fought back to score five shots on the next three ends but it was not enough as the single required by Guernsey Champion came on the twenty second end to record a 21-18 victory in his last year of qualifying.

C.I. Ladies Triples
The Ladies Triples competition also took place after the Le Quesne matches and the 40 minute late arrival of the ferry put pressure on the bowlers as time was critical especially as the ladies had to travel down to the Corbet Field venue where the Knock out competitions were being staged. The Jersey women’s team including the highly rated Lindsey Greechan, Katie Nixon and Rachel McDonald settled surprisingly quicker than the Guernsey team and at the halfway point of nine ends the score was 1-14 to Jersey, at that point the both teams were called together to inform them that the return ferry was now running an hour late and that the game could be played out to the full eighteen ends, after that the local team of Alison Merrien, Sally Paul and Linda Wakeham who was making her debut at C.I. level seemed to settle and won the following five ends to close the score to 9-14 but their Jersey counterparts had not come to lose and picked up a sequence of a 5-4-3 on the next three ends to open up an unbeatable fifteen point gap and won the game with one end to spare.

Sunday
On the Sunday morning at the Vale Rec. Corbet Field Green two of the five rinks had a delayed start as three ladies travelling from Jersey by Air arrived an hour later than expected and caused some frustration amongst the Guernsey competitors who had arrived especially early for the scheduled 9am start.

C.I. Ladies Fours
The delay did not affect the local ladies as the Guernsey Fours led by Anne Simon and including Sally Tranter, Peggy Fish and Shirley Petit beat the Jersey Four of skip Karina Bisson, Gean O’Neil, Chris Grimes and Corole Allen in a very close match 7-7 at ten ends and only a single point separated the teams at the conclusion of the eighteen end format 13-12.

C.I. Ladies Pairs
The other delayed start featured Lucy Beere and Sally Paul in the Ladies Pairs against Jersey’s Gaynor Thomas and Sue Dingle, at the halfway point of nine ends the score was tied at 7-7 but a count of five shots to the former pair opened up a clear lead they went on to dominate the second half of the game emerging 22-10 winners with an end to spare.

C.I. Mens Triples
The Men’s Triples team of Len Le Ber who skipped in place of Gary Pitschou, who was out of the Island competing at an Indoor Event, and including Mick Hullock and substitute Kris Bichard beat their very experienced Jersey opponents of brothers Terry and Dickie Allen and Brian Bisson, nothing much in it and 7-6 at eight ends the Guernsey trio continued to edge ahead were standing 19-10 with one to play and needing a full count of nine shots on the last to force a tie managed only three to return a card of 19-13 and a very satisfied Len Le Ber who had levelled the score with his Jersey counterpart Terry Allen who had beaten him the day before as opposing skips in the Le Quesne.

C.I. Mens Singles
Matt Le Ber was beaten in the Men’s Singles by the same player he beat the day before in the Under 25’s, the young Jersey star Malcolm de Sousa was in control of the game throughout with Le Ber not finding the line to the Jack in his usual manner and the Caesarean was happy to level the score between them with an 8-21 score card.

C.I. Ladies Over 60 Singles
Jean Simon beat Jersey ’s Joan Renouf in a very closely fought contest in the ladies over 60 singles, the Sarnian scoring a two on the final end of twenty four to separate them at 21-19.

C.I. Mens Over 60 Singles
In the Men’s over 60 Singles Don Batiste beat Jersey’s Tim Murphy, the former settled quickly and romped ahead in the game until the fourteenth end with the score standing at 18-5 when his opponent at last got to grips with the speed of the rink and won the next six ends to reduce the deficit to 18-13, however Batiste held his nerve and produced the three singles required on the following three ends to lift the trophy 21-13.

C.I. Mixed Pairs
Alison and Ian Merrien were in no mood to negotiate in the mixed pairs against Jersey ’s Yvonne Andrews and Brian Bisson and totally dominated their match who surprisingly went the full eighteen ends despite being 20-0 up at nine ends and in an unbeatable position with three to play returning a card of 28-6.

Jersey’s Chrissy Grimes came out on top in the Ladies Singles match against Anne Simon who could not find the weight of the green as well as her opponent who took full advantage varying the length of Jack to gradually build up to the 13-21 victory.

C.I. Mens Fours
The Guernsey Champions without Gary Pitschou managed to put together a team, including substitute Peter Whales who was making his debut at C.I. level, Garry Collins, Len & skip Matt Le Ber, strong enough to beat the young Jersey stars Ross & skip Greg Davis, Michael Rive and newly crowned C.I. Mens singles champion Malcolm de Sousa. The match close all the way to the finish line of eighteen ends was exciting to watch as each of the players performed shot after shot changing the heads in their favour with the formers emerging the winners by only two shots 16-14.

C.I. Mens Pairs
Matt Le Ber achieved a hat trick of wins in the championships when in his third match of the day and together with his partner Daniel de la Mare beat Jersey ’s Terry Allen and Tim Murphy the latter pair not finding much going in their favour conceded the game after fourteen ends with the score at 20-5. 

Team Trophy
Guernsey won the Cognac Prince Hubert De Polignac Trophy for the overall team competition by winning nine of the twelve matches played and reclaimed the trophy last won in 2001.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Press Open Singles: 2009

Lucy Beere is the first new Guernsey Open Press Singles Champion, she beat her boyfriend Matt Le Ber on Sunday Morning on the second day of the Island Bowls Finals played at the Corbet Field. Beere recovering from the disappointment of losing her Island Ladies title the day before made a determined start opening up a ten point lead to nil by the seventh end before Le Ber managed to get on the score board with a count of three, followed by two singles and a two 7-10. The former stopped the comeback with two singles herself followed by two singles in reply, thereafter the seesaw run of scoring continued, a 1-3-2 sequence to Beere was cut by a 3-1 by Le Ber but his girlfriend had the last word with a 2-1 to wrap up fine win and inflict Le Ber’s only defeat of the five played by him over the two-day event.

Elliott Men’s Singles: B.I. Qualifier

The most competitive singles final of the weekend was the British Isles Qualifier the Elliott Trophy between Matthew Le Ber and Garry Pitschou, the latter picking up a count of three on the first end was countered by seven shots by Le Ber over the next four ends, back came Pitschou who won the next five ends to lead 7-10, the Pitschou advance was slowed by Le Ber’s now famous backhand driving shot killing an end while his opponent was holding a count of three and driving the jack into the far ditch to pick up another two shots on the fourteenth end making the score11-11. Pitschou undeterred captured a two on the next but was hit by a five shot haul by Le Ber over the next three, not to be outdone Pitschou himself picked up five shots over the following three ends, only singles were gained over the next four ends as both players were well aware of being in the winning zone area and that the end they were playing could be their last and by the twenty fifth it was 19-19, two superbly close drawn shots on the next and holding game by Pitschou was countered with a well controlled slightly weighted shot by Le Ber with his last bowl picking up the jack clean and trailing it the yard necessary to make a count of two shots for himself, game and Men’s Title retained.

De Putron Ladies Singles

Anne Simon dashed the hopes of Lucy Beere holding on to her De Putron Ladies Singles Title in a game when after opening with a single on the first end she was out played by her more experienced opponent who opened up a 1-7 lead after four ends including a full house count of four shots on the third, thereafter the former five times champion held the young champion in check and gradually built up to the 12-21 victory to claim her sixth Ladies Title.

Travers Men’s Pairs B.I. Qualifier

Matt Le Ber and Dan de la Mare made a hat trick of Titles in the Men’s Travers Pairs with a fine 7-27 over Paul Sargeant and Geoff Savident, the score line not showing the fine play by the latter pair but not being allowed to get into the match by the current champions who finished with three ends to spare.

Brookman Ladies Pairs

Lucy Beere and veteran Sally Paul got off to a fine start on Saturday morning by beating Alison Merrien and novice Joanne Hardill in the Ladies Brookman Pairs in a very closely fought match over eighteen ends, 7-7 at seven, the deadlock was broken by a count of a five followed by a single by the formers only to be countered by a 1-3-2-1 sequence by the latter pair to lead 15-13, however being stuck on thirteen for five ends and wondering whether luck was against them turned out not to be the case because they did not let their opponents score again and finished with a flourish 1-1-2-3 sequence to return a card of 15-20

Tostevin Men’s Triples B.I. Qualifier

The current Champions Locals, Gary Pitschou and Len Le Ber playing with Mick Hullock retained their title with a fine win over the inexperienced Bad Boys team of Peter Whales, Matt Solway and Wes Baker. The champions opened up a 9-0 lead at five ends and despite reducing this lead to 9-5 with some fine play themselves the latter team held on to their hopes of causing an upset until the twelfth when trailing 12-6, thereafter it was one way traffic and all over in sixteen of the format eighteen ends 23-6.

Woodhard Ladies Triples

Alison Merrien had some joy over the weekend leading her Wonder Women triples team including Sally Paul and Linda Wakeham to a hard fought win over the Northern Belles team of Doreen Batiste, Janet Cleal and Pat Le Cheminant. A count of four shots on the fifth end and leading 3-6 lifted the northern ladies hopes but a counter haul of ten shots against by the Wonder Women made it 13-6 at ten, by the fifteenth it was 20-11 to and despite a seven to one against over the final three ends the Wonder Women retained their title with a 21-18 score card.

Sandeman Men’s Fours B.I. Qualifier

Skip Matthew Le Ber lead his current champion Falcons Men’s fours team including Gary Pitschou, Garry Collins and his father Len Le Ber to yet another title against challengers Moonrakers Paul Sargeant, Steve Machon, Phil Schofield and Geoff Savident. This match closely fought with fine bowling by both teams kept the spectators entertained with Skip Paul Sargeant keeping his team in the hunt for the title right up to the end of the full twenty one end format, locked at 5-5 at eight ends and leading 5-10 at twelve, they were sunk with a 2-2-1-3-2 sequence against to trail 15-10 at seventeen and despite scoring five shots to four against over the last four ends the Champions retained lifted the title with a card of 19-15.

Friend Ladies Fours.  

Anne Simon’s Phoenix team including Sally Tranter, Peggy Fish and Shirley Petit retained the Ladies Fours title with a very close single point victory over the Jolly Jacks team of  Jackie Nicolle, Gwen de la Mare, Kath Mahe and Pauline Leadbeater. Nothing in this game throughout the eighteen ends 9-9 at the halfway point of nine ends and still all square at 12-12 with one to play when a single gained by the current champions was enough to lift the trophy 13-12.

Bell Under 25 Men’s Singles B.I. Qualifier   

The Bell Under 25 Men’s Title and British Isles Qualifier went to Matthew Le Ber after a comfortable 4-21 win over Todd Priaulx, the latter’s fine early bowls were countered by Le Ber who was determined to win in his last year of age qualification to make a magnificent total haul of six titles in this category and a last attempt at the British Isles Title.

Dot Foley Open Singles (players with up to 4 years experience of outdoor bowling)

In the Dot Foley Open Singles for players of up to four years experience Aimee Ogier came out on top of a clash between her and Joanne Hardill, the latter settling early and opened up a lead of 5-1 after four ends but a full house count of four by the former on the seventh levelled the match and lifted her confidence and she went on to control the game by scoring another fifteen shots to only two against over the next nine ends to lead 8-20 and within one shot of victory however Joanne was not ready to give in just yet and dug in to score seven shots over the next three ends to reduce the lead to 15-20 with Aimee nervously trying to hold her composure to play the winning bowl which came on the twentieth end to win 15-21 and complete a remarkable family double with her father Don winning the same Cup last year.

Nicolle Mixed Pairs

In the coveted Nicolle Mixed Pairs, Alison and Ian Merrien beat Joanne Hardill and Craig Dorey surprisingly comfortably 7-28 in only fourteen of the eighteen end format to complete a hat trick of titles in this competition.

Presidents Open Triples (bowlers not qualifying for a C.I. final over the last three years)

The President’s Open Triples title was contested between the all Vale Rec. teams of Vic Dorey, Mike Hullock and Clive Ogier verses Wes Baker, Matthew Solway and Peter Whales. The latter team starting the better and were leading 1-6 at five ends and 4-9 at ten, when their opponents settled to score on all the remaining seven ends in the match and finishing when handshakes were offered with one end to spare, a card reading 19-9 and a very delighted Veteran Vic Dorey who had been called in as a last minute substitute in the semi finals when one of the team didn’t show up.

Carre Over 60 Ladies Singles:

Jean Simon surprised herself with her good form on the day in winning the Carre over 60 Singles final against Pauline Leadbeater who just could not get her bowls to turn into the jack despite good length on several occasions, 3-3 at six ends was followed by a string of seven winning ends by the former to lead 7-17 before a full house count of four shots by the latter signalled a possible comeback but it wasn’t to be as Simon gained a three on the next and then the single required on the seventeenth to return a card of 8-21.

Smithard Over 60 Mens Singles:

Don Batiste beat Stan Simon in the Smithard over 60 Men’s Singles comfortably 21-9.

Super Veteran over 70 Open Singles:

In The Super Veteran over 70 competition for the Peggy Fish Trophy Pauline Leadbeater beat Vic Dorey in eighteen ends, 16-1 up after nine ends she had to hold on to score the five necessary over the next nine ends to claim the 21-8 win.

Over 60 Mixed Pairs:

Veteran Alan Davis and Joan Tostevin were always ahead and came away with the Over 60 Mixed Pairs Title after beating fellow veteran Stan Simon and Sally Paul 13-25.

Over 60 Open Triples:

In the Over 60 Open Triples the Eagles team of Angela and Ted Bartie playing with Ian Le Vallee were always ahead in the game and beat Roy and Heather Queripel playing with Sid Le Maitre 12-16.

Press Drawn Pairs:

In the Press Drawn Pairs, Gary Pitschou and Ron Le Tissier beat Keith de la Mare and Paul Sargeant 12-19.

Bell Drawn Open Fours:

The team of Mac Timms, Stan Simon, Barbara Martel and Alan Gibson beat Dan Le Cheminant, Carol Besnard, Clive Ogier and Pauline Leadbeater 21-17 in the Bell Drawn Fours.

Young Player of the Year

The young player of the year was awarded to Todd Priaulx.

The Marion Parker Trophy

The Marion Parker Trophy was awarded to Garry Collins for his outstanding contribution to Island Bowls over the last ten Years.

The Bowls Guernsey Men beat the Ladies in the Annual Le Quesne warm up match by for rinks to two and by 51 shots.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Press Open Singles: 2009

The first new Open Press Singles champion will be either Lucy Beere or her boyfriend Matt Le Ber after the Island semi finals were held at the Guernsey Bowling Club’s Beau Sejour Green in fine weather conditions. Beere saw off the challenge of Don Ogier who must be well satisfied with reaching this stage of the competition settled quickly and managed to score a single on the first end but a full house count of four on the fourth by his opponent made him realise what he was up against and nine shots to Beere from the seventh to the tenth put her 5-14 up and it was all over in eighteen ends 10-21. Le Ber stormed into a 0-11 lead when Gary Pitschou uncharacteristically just could not find his drawing length despite being given the jack by his opponent for the first five ends. The latter then recovered to score three shots on the next two ends only to see his opponent take five on the next three to lead 3-16, Pitschou dug deep to try to recover his position scoring a sequence of a 4-1-2 to 10-16 but Le Ber was having none of it and duly tied it up with a 3-2 on the next two ends to return a card of 10-21 in fifteen ends.

Elliott Men’s Singles: B.I. Qualifier

Nigel Collins made the mistake of giving the jack away on the last end of a match he should have won against Gary Pitschou, the former having lost the toss given the jack by his opponent drew two very close bowls on the first end only to see his opponent steal the shot with his last bowl touching the jack while resting against his own closest bowl, that set the scene for the rest of the game when it was clearly unadvisable to let Pitschou have the last wood, however the former opened up a 2-10 lead at eight ends and was still in front on the twenty fourth end 14-16 but then the latter captured a full house four and a two on the next two ends to lead 20-16, Collins fought back with a two on the next and a tight measure for a count of three and match lie on the next was a fraction out and a two levelled the match at 20-20. Pitschou having been given the Jack set the length successfully to get the shot required to win on the twenty ninth end to earn a place in the final against Matt Le Ber who beat his pairs partner Dan de la Mare, the former storming into a 0-14 lead after only five ends played and both players scoring nine shots apiece over the next seven was enough for Le Ber to reach the final.

De Putron Ladies Singles

Lucy Beere beat veteran Wilma Le Feuvre in the De Putron Ladies singles, the latter got the better start leading 0-4 after three ends but Beere soon settled to the task and recovered to lead 11-6 at eleven when Le Feuvre picked up a count of three but that was all she could do against an in form Beere who went on to win in twenty ends 21-10. Gwen de la Mare’s hopes were dashed by Anne Simon who after trailing 11-7 turned on the heat and won six ends on the trot to return a card of 11-21.

Travers Men’s Pairs B.I. Qualifier

Geoff Savident and Paul Sargeant beat Charlie Browning and John Martel in the Men’s Travers Pairs, the latter pair ahead at eight ends 10-6 but were hit with a sixteen shot to nil score over the next seven ends by the home pair on their way to a 15-24 win and a place in the final against Dan de la Mare and Matt le Ber who beat Ted Bartie and Mac Timms, a count of six on the first and a four on the fourth end by the current champions set them nicely on the road to victory despite a mini comeback by the Northern pair to trail by only two shots at nine ends 11-9 but a counter 5-2-3 sequence against set their opponents on their way to a 27-17 win.

Brookman Ladies Pairs

In the Ladies Brookman Pairs Joanne Hardill and Alison Merrien beat Kath Mahe and Jackie Nicolle in a game comfortably controlled by the former pair 22-10 and will play Sally Paul and Lucy Beere in the final after they equally comfortably beat Gwen de la Mare and Sally Tranter 7-25.

Tostevin Men’s Triples B.I. Qualifier

The British Men’s Triples Champions Gary Pitschou and Len Le Ber together with Mick Hullock came out on top of a titanic battle against fellow Vale’s Matt le Ber, Dan de la Mare and Garry Collins, this match arguably the toughest of the weekends battles saw competitive bowls at its best with the heads changing with almost every wood played. The champions under heavy pressure early on in the match and 2-9 down at five ends struck back with a sequence of seven winning ends to lead 11-9 at twelve, a single apiece on the next two, then a see saw four for the champs followed by a four shots against and yet another four shots for the title holders now leading 20-14 with one to play, their opposing skip Matt le Ber needing a count of six to tie and an extra end kept the spectators enthralled with the accuracy of his firing shots and went on to kill the following three ends by putting the jack out of bounds until on the twenty first of an eighteen end game and holding three shots Le Ber conceded the match to applause for both teams. The Bad Boys team of Peter Whales, Matt Solway and Wes Baker will contest the all Vale Rec. final after beating fellow Vale bowlers Nathan Dicker, Reg Du Feu and Roy Domaille, the formers raced into a 1-10 lead at five ends dropped a four on the next then scored five over the next three to lead 5-15 at nine and despite winning only two of the last nine ends and enduring a comeback by the latter team, won the game by a two shot margin 17-19.

Woodhard Ladies Triples

In the Woodhard Ladies Triples Alison Merrien’s trio including Linda Wakeham and Sally Paul comfortably beat Lucy Beere’s team which included Aimee Ogier and Jean Simon by ten shots and were always ahead in their 23-13 win, they will play follow Northerners Doreen Batiste, Janet Cleal and Pat le Cheminant who also comfortably beat Jackie Nicolle, Wilma le Feuvre and Pauline Leadbeater 14-23.

Sandeman Men’s Fours B.I. Qualifier

In the Sandeman Men’s Fours the Moonrakers, Paul Sargeant, Steve Machon, Phil Schofield and Geoff Savident settled quickly and got the better start in their match against the new up and coming team Hitmen, Dan de la Mare, Kris Bichard, Todd Priaulx and Shaun Bichard and lead 7-1 after five ends thereafter both teams were well matched the letter team even getting the better of the sixteen ends remaining but just could not overhaul their opponents before the end of the game at twenty one ends and lost out 19-15 to the home side but all credit to Daniel de la Mare for building for the future. The final will be contested by the very strong quartet and British Isles Silver Medallists team of Matt le Ber, Gary Pitschou, Garry Collins and Matt’s father Len le Ber, they easily saw off the Police team of Don Batiste, Ricky Nash, Steve Cowdrey and John Samuels who won only six of the twenty one ends played 11-26.

Friend Ladies Fours.  

In the ladies Friend Fours Jackie Nicolle’s Jolly Jacks team including Gwen de la Mare, Kath Mahe and Pauline Leadbeater were never troubled by Angela Bartie’s foursome including Mavis Tardif, Linda Wakeham and Lorrainne Ellis beating them 6-22 and in the final they will play Anne Simon’s Phoenix team including Sally Tranter, Peggy Fish and Shirley. Peggy Fish a veteran bowler in her eighties still astonishes all around her with her stamina and accurate drawing to the jack on a good green, her team comfortably took care of Doreen Batiste’s four including Janet Cleal, Carol Besnard and Pat Le Cheminant, counts of a two and a five on the penultimate two ends putting an air of respectability on the card reading 15-21.

Bell Under 25 Men’s Singles B.I. Qualifier   

In the Bell Under 25 Men’s British Isles Qualifier Matt Le Ber staged the comeback of the weekend with a stunning display of accurate bowling in his match against Daniel de la Mare, both bowlers on top of their game produced gasps of amazement from the spectators at their brilliant display of how it should be done, the latter getting the better of the first three quarters of the match and leading 9-20 after eighteen ends, however Le Ber never beaten till its lost was not in a losing frame of mind and despite all the different length tactics tried by de la Mare he proved equal to it and astonishingly won eight ends on the trot to pip his dejected and Vale and pairs partner to the winning post 21-20 in a marathon twenty six ends. The other finalist will be Todd Priaulx who beat Matt Solway 13-22 after coming from behind 12-6 at nine ends, he found a purple patch and picked up sixteen shots to one against over the following eight ends to win the game of the up and coming stars of future and an opponent already known for his singles successes.

Dot Foley Open Singles (players with up to 4 years experience of outdoor bowling)

In the Dot Foley Open Singles the ladies won the day with Joanne Hardill beating Peter Whales and Aimee Ogier beating Todd Priaulx. Hardill lost the first end  by three shots but gained a four on the next, Whales picked up a four on the fifth and it was all square at 8-8 at seven ends but the former Northern newcomer never looked back after a 3-3-2-2 scoring sequence and recorded a fine 10-21 win over fancied opponent. Ogier also shocked everyone including her opponent during a match in which she was gradually losing to the consistently drawing Priaulx, the latter ahead 6-13 after fourteen ends was suddenly hit by a 4-2-1 sequence by his opponent to level the match 13-13 at seventeen, a two gained on the next by Priaulx seemed to settle the matter but a superb trail of the jack by Ogier with her last bowl on the next to make a full count of four put her 17-15 ahead and to top that she went on to draw a superb four shots close to the jack leaving her opponent in all sorts of trouble and match lie against which he could not reduce with his last wood to leave both of them momentarily shocked.

Nicolle Mixed Pairs

In the coveted Nicolle Mixed Pairs the Champions Pat and Dan le Cheminant lost their title to their beaten last years final opponents Alison and Ian Merrien, the latter pair won the last four ends of an otherwise equal battle in which the champions scored a rare “Hot-Shot”(maximum 8 shots) on the seventh end when 2-12 down, the formers only two shots adrift at 14-16 after thirteen ends but being 14-23 down with one to play conceded gracefully. They will play Joanne Hardill and Craig Dorey after they surprisingly easily beat Don and Doreen Batiste 25-8.

Other Results:

Super Veteran over 70 Open Singles:

Pauline Leadbeater beat Stan Simon 21-8. Vic Dorey beat Alan Davis 21-20.

Carre Over 60 Ladies Singles:

Pauline Leadbeater beat  Wilma le Feuvre 21-18. Jean Simon beat Gwen de la Mare 21-13.

Smithard Over 60 Mens Singles:

Stan Simon beat Alan Gibson 21-16. Don Batiste beat Ron le Tissier 21-19.

Over 60 Mixed Pairs:

Joan Tostevin & Alan Davis beat Shirley Fox-Riley & Paul Sargeant 17-14. Sally Paul & Stan Simon beat Ricky Nash & Angela Bartie 22-10.

Press Drawn Pairs:

Keith de la Mare & Paul Sargeant beat Terry Rowe & Stan Simon 17-16. Ron le Tissier & Gary Pitschou beat Craig Dorey & Mac Timms 24-4.

Over 60 Open Triples:

Roy Queripel, Sid le Maitre & Heather Queripel beat Paul Sargeant, Derek Hurford & Phil Schofield 17-16. Angela Bartie, Ted barite & Ian le Vallee beat Stan Simon, Roy Domaille & Mick Yabsley 16-9.

Presidents Triples (bowlers not qualifying for a C.I. final over the last three years)

Wes Baker, Matt Solway & Peter Whales beat Martyn Dorey, Terry Rowe & Mick le Page 27-10. Clive Ogier, Vic Dorey & Ken de Moulpied beat John Martel, Charlie Browning & Jean Martel 21-11.

Bell Drawn Open Fours:

Pauline Leadbeater, Clive Ogier, Carol Besnard & Dan le Cheminant beat Peter Tranter, Sally Tranter, Ron le Tissier & Gwen de la Mare 15-14. Alan Gibson, Barbara Martel, Stan Simon & Mac Timms beat Jean Brown, Mick le Vasseur, Jean Simon & Jackie Nicolle 23-17.

Channel Islands Inter Insulars

The B.G.A. Finals to be played at the Vale Rec Corbet Field Green on Sat. 22^nd & Sun. 23^rd August.

The Annual Ladies versus Men match to be played at the Corbet Field on Sunday 23^rd 2pm.

The Le Quesne Men’s Match versus Jersey to be played at the Corbet Field on Saturday 5^th September approx 11.30am – 12pm.

The Le Quesne Ladies versus Jersey Match to be played at Beau Sejour on Saturday 5^th September approx. 11.30am - 12pm.

The Channel Island Knock out Championships to be played at the Corbet Field on Saturday approx. 4.30pm and Sunday 9.30am & 1pm 5^th & 6^th August.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Press Open Singles - 2009

The Bowls Guernsey Island Semi-finals take place at the Guernsey Bowling Club’s Beau Sejour next weekend and will feature some exciting encounters between the island’s top stars. In the new Open Press Singles Lucy Beere is the only women left in this new competition after her superb 21-8 victory over the experienced international Len Le Ber, all square at 6-6 at six ends Beere turned up the heat and never looked back after scoring eleven shots to nil over the next six ends to lead 17-6 eventually winning in seventeen ends 21-8, in the semi-finals she will play last seasons novice champion Don Ogier who superbly beat another rising star Matt Solway, the former winning eleven of the fifteen ends played on his way to returning a 21-8 score card.

Gary Pitschou dashed the hopes of Gwen De La Mare beating her convincingly 21-3 in a one sided game and will meet Matt Le Ber in the semi-final after he beat Garry Collins, the latter got the better start leading 8-4 after nine ends but Le Ber picked up three counts of three shots while allowing his opponent to score only singles on his way to a 21-14 win.

Elliott Mens Singles (B.I. Qualifier)

In the Elliott Men’s Singles and British Isles Qualifier the current champion Vale’s Matt Le Ber will be trying to retain his title after beating North’s Ricky Nash in the quarter-final played at the same venue, Nash was on good form and after losing 2 shots on the initial end went on to lead 2-10 after seven, dropped two 3’s on the next two and continued get the winning shot after good head build-ups by Le Ber, Nash gained another 5 shots over the next four ends to lead 8-15 and was still in front after the twentieth end but now by only one shot 17-18, however the consistency by Le Ber not wanting to lose this one after his great showing on the World stage at Ayr in Scotland last week when he won the Bronze medal closed out the game with a 2-1-1 sequence to reach the 21-18 required for victory. In the semi he will play his club mate and island pairs partner Daniel De La Mare after he beat GBC’s Steve Machon, the latter won the initial three ends to lead 0-5 but then De La Mare settled to dominate the game allowing his opponent to score only four more shots on his way to a 21-9 score card. In the other semi Gary Pitschou came out on top in a game against fellow Vale club mate Alan Gibson, the latter got the better start and was leading 5-2 after four ends but Pitschou settled to take the lead at 10-11 after fourteen, the former champion then picked up two 2’s on the next two ends and eventually was relieved to get to the winning post on the twenty fourth end to win 14-21. Pitschou will play last year’s runner-up Nigel Collins in the semi after he beat North’s Terry Rowe, Collins 0-5 up after the opening four ends had to work hard to gain points as only singles were gained by both players over the next ten ends and Rowe played some excellent bowls at three quarter length jacks only to see his opponent score with the last bowl, however two full house counts of four put the Vale man on the road to a 9-21 score card.

Du Putron Ladies Singles

Lucy Beere is on course to retain her title after her return and brilliant showing at the World Champion of Champions in Ayr when she won the Silver medal, at the NBA’s Delancey Park Green she beat GBC’s Jackie Nicole 21-8 in sixteen ends to claim a place in the semis against fellow Vale bowler Wilma Le Feuvre who won her game against another Vale player Barbara Martel, the latter put in a good showing and was ahead 10-8 after twelve ends but two full house counts of four shots by the Le Feuvre set her up for a 13-21 win. Vale’s Anne Simon, always in the hunt for the title beat North’s Angela Bartie, the former always ahead and leading 8-18 had to endure a comeback by Bartie who closed to 15-18 after a 3-2-2 sequence on the twentieth, twenty first and twenty second ends, however Simon held her nerve and secured the win with a double scored on the twenty fifth end to return a card of 16-21 to claim a place in the other semi-final against Gwen De La Mare who beat Joanne Hardill comfortably at 6-21.  

Travers Mens Pairs ( B. I. Qualifier)

Played on the Corbet Field Green Bob Cherry and Stephen Merrien who had a great win in the previous round came met their match in their quarter final encounter against fellow clubmates Geoff Savident and Paul Sargeant, the latter team always in control and steadily built up to the 13-23 scoreline to win over the twenty one end format, they will play North’s Charlie Browning and John Martel in the semis after they beat GBC’s Phil Schofield and Steve Machon in a very close encounter throughout the statuary twenty one ends a single and a double on the last two ends was all that separated the teams who returned a 12-15 score card. Current champions Vale’s Daniel De La Mare and Matt Le Ber put an end to the hopes of North’s Will Ceillam and Craig Dorey beating them convincingly 12-27. However North’s hopes of lifting this trophy are still alive with Ted Bartie and Mac Timms who beat fellow Northerners Mick Cleal and Dan Le Cheminant  convincingly 29-13.

Brookman Ladies Pairs 

Alison Merrien who teamed up with relative newcomer to island bowls Joanne Hardill after the retirement from bowls of her island and channel island championship winning partner Ellie Collins and they look in good form as they beat the strong pairing of Anne Simon and Shirley Petit, played at Delancey Park and always in control of the game after scoring fifteen shots to nil from the fifth to the eleventh end to lead 18-5 and went on to return a card of 20-15 at the close of play on the eighteenth end. In the semis they meet Kath Mahe and Jackie Nicole who beat Almena Coker and Barbara Martel in a one-sided game 6-31. Sally Paul and Lucy Beere convincingly beat Carol Besnard and Janet Cleal 14-27 and will play Gwen De La Mare and Sally Tranter in the other semi –final, the latter pair beat Jan Lawrence and Angela Bartie in a very close fought match, all square at 7-7 at ten ends and again all square at 14-14 after the close of play at eighteen ends, on the extra end necessary to produce a winner lead bowler De La Mare put in a close bowl behind the jack and that proved to be the winner as their opponents could not out draw or move it.

Tostevin Mens Triples ( British Isles Qualifier)

The British Isles Current Champions Vale’s Gary Pitschou and Len Le Ber teamed up with Mick Hullock after the retirement of Dave Lucas and again reached the semi-finals stage, the games played at Beau Sejour recorded a win over Vale’s  Alan Gibson, Nigel Collins and Don Ogier 12-20 in the semis they will play another Vale trio Matt Le Ber, Daniel De La Mare and Garry Collins after they beat GBC’s Geoff Savident, Steve Machon and Paul Sargeant 14-20. Veteran Vale bowler and skip Roy Domaille teamed up with Reg Du Feu and newcomer to island bowls Nathan Dicker to beat fellow clubmates Stan Simon, Mick Yabsley and Dennis Chick comfortably 4-30 allowing their opponents to score only four singles throughout the eighteen end game, they will play fellow Vale bowlers Peter Whales, Matt Solway and Wes Baker after they in turn beat the experienced Northern side of Ricky Nash, John Sameuls and Steve Cowdrey in a very close match which was all square at 9-9 at eleven ends and only one shot in it with one to play but a single gained by the formers was enough to achieve the win 13-15.

Woodhard Ladies Triples

Alison Merrien, Sally Paul last seasons champions and playing at the Corbet Field teamed up with Linda Wakeham to beat Anne Simon,Pam Harding and Peggy Fish 16-8, in the semis they will play Lucy Beere, Jean Simon and Aimee Ogier who beat Sally Tranter, Gwen De La Mare and Shirley Petit, the latter team looked like winning this one and were always ahead 7-14 at the half way nine ends and 15-17 ahead with one to play the brilliant Beere played a remarkable conversion shot on the final end to pick up a count of three shots to brilliantly and at the same time cruelly take the victory from her disappointed opponents 18-17. Doreen Batiste’s trio including Janet Cleal and Pat Le Cheminant beat Angela Bartie, Mavis Tardiff and Jan Lawrence 9-19 by picking up eight shots on the final four ends, they will meet Jackie Nicolle, Wilma Le Feuvre  and Pauline Leadbeater in the semis who beat Kath Mahe, Carol Besnard and Lyn Le Vallee 11-19.

Sandeman Mens Fours ( B.I. Qualifier)

Played at Delancey Park Daniel De La Mare’s newly formed team Hitmen including brothers Shaun and Kris Bichard and Todd Priaulx got the better of Bad Boys, Wes Baker, Matt Solway, Andy Lucas and Peter Whales all themselves up and coming at island level by having the stronger finish over the second half of the game on their way to return a card of 23-14 at the close of play at twenty one ends. In the semis they will play the experienced Moonrakers, Paul Sargeant, Steve Machon, Phil Schofield and Geoff Savident after they in turn beat Barracudas Nigel Collins, Mick Hullock, Don Ogier and Alan Gibson a 7-14 lead by the formers proved to be enough to clinch the win despite a late surge of good drawing by the latter team only to see the favourable heads cut  down to single shots by skip Sargeant to return a 16-18 score card. The Police team of Don Batiste, Ricky Nash, John Sameuls and Steve Cowdrey overwhelmed Stan Simon’s Sarnians team including Roy Domaille, Mick Yabsley and Dennis Chick 8-33 and will play the Falcons  team of Matt le Ber, Gary Pitschou, Len Le Ber and Garry Collins or the Brats team of Paul Merrien, Roy Queripel, Mac Timms and Sid Le Maitre.

Friend Ladies Fours

Played at Delancey Park, the Delancey Parkers team including Angela Bartie Mavis Tardif, Linda Wakeham and Lorraine Ellis pulled of a shock win against the strong favourites Wonder Women’s Alison Merrien, Lucy Beere, Sally Paul and Jan Lawrence 9-9 at thirteen ends the formers scored seven shots to nil against on the following four ends putting them 9-16 ahead with one to play and a count of three against on the final eighteenth was not enough to spoil their party mood in a great win and a place in the semis where they will meet Jackie Nicolle’s Jolly Jacks team including Gwen De La Mare, Kath Mahe and Pauline Leadbeater who had a narrow single point victory over Les Filles team Wilma Le Feuvre, Jean Simon, Pam Harding and Almena Coker, counts of a four on the twelfth and a six scored on the fifteenth helped the former team to return a card reading 23-22.

Nicolle Mixed Pairs

Dan and Pat Le Cheminant hopes of retaining their title are on course after beating the strong pairing of Gary Pitschou and Jean Simon, 8-0 up after four ends but 9-13 down after thirteen, a 2-4-2 sequence on the next three put them 17-13 up again but a single and a three gained by the latter pair on the last two of eighteen ends produced a tie and an extra end, lead Pat drew a close bowl and it remained unbeaten throughout the end, a 19-18 score card and a place in the semis against Ian and Alison  Merrien which will be keenly contested by the latter pair after losing to the champions in last years final, the top rated Merrien’s beat Don Ogier and stand in Barbara Martel convincingly 29-8. The other semi will be between Joanne Hardill and partner Craig Dorey and Don and Doreen Batiste. The former pair beat Sid Le Maitre and Lorraine Ellis in a closely fought contest emerging the winners 17-14. The Batiste husband and wife team beat Angela Bartie and Geoff Savident in another close contest until the sixteenth end produced a count of six shots to put them on their way to a 20-17 win.

Other Results:

Nicolle Mixed Pairs (2^nd rd.)

Pat & Dan Le Cheminant beat Sally & Pete Tranter 24-17. Alison & Ian Merrien beat Pauline Leadbeater & Nigel Collins 24-15. Joanne Hardill & Craig Dorey beat Lucy Beere & Matt Le Ber 19-12. Don & Doreen Batiste beat Shirley Petit & Kris Bichard 18-15. Jean Simon & Gary Pitschou beat Jean & John Martel 25-7. Don Ogier & Aimee Ogier beat Jean Brown & Phil Schofield 15-14. Angela Bartie & Geoff Savident beat Jackie Nicole & Paul Sargeant 22-15. Lorraine Ellis & Sid Le Maitre beat Carol Besnard & Ricky Nash 25-12.

Over 60 Open Triples

Ted Bartie, Ian Le Vallee & Angela Bartie beat Peter Tranter, Clive Ogier & Terry Rowe 21-8. Phil Schofield, Derek Hurford & Paul Sargeant beat Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant & Don Batiste 16-8. Heather Queripel, Sid Le Maitre & Roy Queripel beat Pauline Leadbeater, Jean Simon & Wilma Le Feuvre 16-11. Mick Yabsley, Roy Domaille & Stan Simon beat Jean Martel, Charlie Browning & John Martel 18-12.

Over 60 Mixed Pairs

Shirley Fox-Riley & Paul sergeant beat Almena Coker & Ron Le Tissier 21-4. Ricky Nash & Angela Bartie beat Pat & Dan Le Cheminant 16-15. Joan Tostevin & Alan Davis beat Lorraine Ellis 7 Sid Le maitre 21-14. Sally Paul & Stan Simon beat Pauline Leadbeater & Vic Dorey by a walkover.

Super Veteran Over 70 Singles

Vic Dorey beat Barbara Martel 21-5. Alan Davis beat Paul Sargeant 21-18. Pauline Leadbeater beat Keith Derry 21-6. Stan Simon beat Ron Le Tissier 21-20.

Dot Foley Singles (less than 4 years outdoor bowling)

Peter Whales beat Nathan Dicker 21-17. Aimee Ogier beat Anne Sumner 21-9. Todd Priaulx beat Don Ogier 21-12.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Tostevin Triples ( British Isles Qualifier) - 2009

The start to this summers competition to find next summers participants in the British Isles which was brilliantly won at the end of last month by the Vale trio of Dave Lucas, Len Le Ber & Gary Pitschou got underway at Delancey Park and saw Vale’s veteran Stan Simon who’s qualified for the B. I.’s before continues to be the man to produce winning firing shots to turn ends around and no more than happened on the last end of this game when playing with Dennis Chick and Mick Yabsley and after tying on 15-15 at the end of the scheduled eighteen ends an extra end produced a winning lie for his opponents Northerners Roy Queripel, Mac Timms & Sid Le Maitre but Simon seeing no other alternative launched one of his drive shots, hit the target disturbing the head and when all settled his team held two shots to win 15-17.

The Police team of Ricky Nash, Steve Cowdrey & John Samuels beat fellow Northerners Mick Cleal, Dan Le Cheminant & Don Batiste in a match where the Police were always in charge, helped by scoring two counts of four and a two followed by five singles put them firmly on the way to a 9-20 win.

Brookman Ladies Pairs

Bowls Guernsey is exploring the possibility to return the Ladies to compete at British Isles level after they pulled out several years ago but the ever reduction of female bowlers on the island threatens to thwart Chief Executive Garry Collins’s attempt to boost this area of the sport despite having the talents of world class players such as Ali Merrien and Lucy Beere leading the headlines and showing what’s possible even for a small island.  The preliminary round of the Ladies Brookman Pairs was played at the Corbet Field and  saw Alison Merrien team up with fellow Northerner and relative newcomer to the island bowls scene Joanne Hardill, they came through successfully against the experienced Jean Simon and Lorraine Ellis, the former pair opened with scoring eight shots over the first four ends and continued to build up a strong lead until they dropped a count of five shots on the fourteenth followed by a two on the next to reduce their lead to only two points, however a strong finish over the final three ends produced a 15-21 score card.

Vale’s Lucy Beere and Sally Paul beat Northerners Doreen Batiste and Pat Le Cheminant by three shots in a match which was closely contested up to the eighth end of eighteen level at 7-7, two singles and a four scored by the formers put them on the road to victory13-16.

Northerners Carol Besnard and Janet Cleal raised their game to beat their Vale Rec counterparts in a match dominated by the Northern pair but not until their opponents scared them with a count of a two and a six to reduce the lead to just three points and a very nervy last eighteenth end when a single to the formers settled it at 14-18.

Over 60 Mixed Pairs

Pat & Dan Le Cheminant beat Pam Harding & Peter Tranter 26-10. Almena Coker & Ron Le Tissier beat Jean Simon & Bernie Simon 27-4. Pauline Leadbeater & Vic Dorey beat Jean Brown & Phil Schofield 20-13.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

De Putron Ladies Singles - 2009

Lucy Beere, the current Island Ladies Singles Champion who later this month goes to Ayr in Scotland to compete in the World Singles Champion of Champions by way of winning the title last year couldn’t have drawn a tougher opponent in the preliminary round of this years local championship campaign in Alison Merrien who is the number one in the World Bowls Ranking List but she met the challenge brilliantly and beat her opponent in eighteen ends played on her home Green at the Corbet Field. Lucy, a former English International Under 25 player went 1-5 down in the opening three ends settled down to win the next three ends to lead 7-5 and it was all square at 7-7 at eight but a superb winning sequence on the following six ends of a 2-3-2-1-1-3 to lead 19-7 put her well on the road to the eventual 21-13 victory and a great confidence boost for her launch onto the World Stage in Ayr.

In the other prelim Angela Bartie came out the winner in a very close encounter with fellow Northerner Doreen Batiste, Angela 0-6 up at four ends dropped a full house count of four shots to her opponent on the next end  but picked up five shots on the following two, all square at 14-14 on the sixteenth, 15-15 and 16-16 on the eighteenth and twentieth respectively, Doreen went ahead by scoring four shots to nil on the next two ends to lead 16-20 but that one shot needed for victory never came as every time she held the winning shot which she did umpteen times over the next four ends Bartie countered with superb accuracy to claim the win 20-21 in a marathon twenty six ends of play.

Elliott Men’s Singles (British Isles Qualifier)

Matthew Le Ber who also travels to Ayr Scotland later this month to compete in the World Champion of Champions made a successful start to retain his current Island Title when after a bye in the first round he beat Paul Wakeham in the second round of matches played at the Guernsey Bowling Club’s Green at Beau Sejour, after dropping a single on the first end Le Ber never looked in danger of losing this one and gradually built up to lead 7-20 after sixteen ends, Wakeham however made him wait by scoring four shots over the next three ends but Le Ber’s finally got the single required on the twentieth to win 11-21.

Nigel Collins, last years finalist also came through against Sid Le Maitre, the former leading 15-8 at eleven ends had to endure a comeback by Le Maitre who’s weighted draws at three quarter length proved fruitful in turning the heads in his favour on the following six ends to lead himself 15-16 however a full length jack cast by Le Maitre on the next was the turning point when Collins went on to score the six shots to one against over the final six ends to return a 21-17 score card.

Gary Pitschou always in the hunt for the trophy won his encounter against the 2007 winner Don Batiste, a full house count of four on the first end by Pitschou was turned around by Batiste to himself lead 5-6 on the sixth when another full house by Pitschou on the next was yet again drawn back by his opponent level at 9-9 at ten, a single and two three’s with one against over the next for ends put Batiste 10-16 up but Pitschou replied with a 3-2 on the next two and went on to win the match 21-18 by scoring on the final three ends of a twenty end game.

Alan Gibson was the shock winner of the round with a superb win over Geoff Savident, the promising Vale Rec bowler lead all the way in this twenty five end encounter but not before Savident had closed to 19-17 with a superb weighted shot to turn around a match winning lie by Gibson on the twenty third followed by a single on the next however the former held his nerve to draw the two shots required and this time his opponent missed with his last bowl.

The longest match was the twenty seven end encounter and close all the way through between fellow Northerners Ricky Nash and Dan Le Cheminant in which the former came out on top by winning 21-19.

Terry Rowe scored ten shots to nil against over the last five ends to beat Wes Baker 21-12 and the shortest game of the round was Daniel De La Mare’s win over Peter Whales 21-3 in only ten ends of play.

Travers Pairs ( British Isles Qualifier)

In the Travers Pairs British Isles Qualifier Guernsey Bowling Club’s Bob Cherry & Stephen Merrien playing on their home Green at Beau Sejour were the shock winners of the round by beating the very experienced Gary Pitschou & Len Le Ber, the home pair’s consistent drawing to the jack was a feature in their terrific 26-22 victory. Steve Machon & Phil Schofield beat Northerners Derek Barlow & Trevor Savident1-5 down at four ends the GBC pair settled down to dominate the rest of the match to return a 23-11 card. North pair Charlie Browning & John Martel successfully reversed their order of play and were always ahead to beat Vale’s Stan Simon & Mick Yabsley 22-10. The very experienced GBC pair of Paul Sargeant & Geoff Savident beat Mick Hullock & Alan Gibson and were always in control of the game which finished 20-11.

Played on the Delancey Park Green Craig Dorey & Will Ceillam may be the dark horses in this years competition with another win in beating fellow Northerners Steve Cowdrey & Paul Wakeham, although the latter pair were well ahead 21-13 after sixteen ends the Northern duo picked up counts of a six and a five on the following two ends to set up a great comeback and eventually won 26-22. Matthew Le Ber & Daniel De La Mare are now the only Vale Rec bowlers left in the competition after they beat fellow Vale Rec pair Garry & Nigel Collins, the latter pair ahead 13-6 at eleven ends but by the fifteenth the match was level at 16-16 and ten shots gained on the following two ends put the former British Isles champions on their way to a 26-18 win. Northerners Mac Timms & Ted Bartie beat the inexperienced but up and coming Vale Rec pair Andy Lucas & Peter Whales 23-13 and Dan Le Cheminant & Mick Cleal beat fellow Northerners Mick & Alan Merrien comfortably 22-13.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

(New) Open Press Singles - 2009

Gwen De La Mare raised her game to beat the World Number one Alison Merrien in the second round of the Open Press Singles Competition at Vale Rec’s Corbet Field Green to lead a number of shock results of Island Knockout results. Gwen who’s family of husband Keith and son Daniel are also heavily involved in bowls at Island level opened up a lead of 5-0 with five singles only to see that turned around by Alison who won the next four ends to lead 5-6, a double on the next for Gwen to lead 7-6 back came her opponent with a single and a full house count of four shots to retake the lead 7-11. The challenger then secured a run of four winning ends to lead 14-11, back came the World Champion to win the next three ends to lead 14-15 but six shots scored over the next three ends put De La Mare within one shot of victory and despite two singles against in reply Gwen got the to the Magic 21 shots required on the twenty sixth end to make her the winner of what must be her best outdoor personal performance. In this competition it only gets tougher though and in the next round De La Mare will meet Gary Pitschou the Current Press Singles Champion in what was up to this year a male only competition. Pitschou goes through by way of a walkover.

Garry Collins goes through to the next round by beating Don Batiste in sixteen ends, 6-1 down after three ends and 9-5 down after nine played had to make changes to his game plan as Batiste was getting good results by playing into the head of bowls, changing his line slightly so as not to leave his opponent a target with a running bowl Collins picked up two full house counts of four shots followed by a single to lead 9-14, a two on the next end in reply by Batiste was all the resistance he could muster and Collins went for home with a 2-2-3 sequence to reach an 11-21 win and a place in the next round against Matthew Le Ber who has just returned to the Island after just failing in the final to lift the British Isles Singles Championship. Le Ber beat Ian Merrien himself no stranger to bowls at a World level in only twelve ends. The former leading 5-6 at six ends found the line and weight perfectly to string together on the next six a sequence of 1-4-4-2-2-2 to reach the 21 shots required and a card which read 5-21.

While at the Guernsey Bowling Club’s Beau Sejour Green Matt Solway was continuing with his good run of Singles results with a win over Paul Wakeham. The former 2-5 down at five ends struck out over the next six to lead 12-5, the latter recovered his form slightly to take the next two ends with two doubles but Solway then pushed for home with a sequence of a 2-3-1-3 to return card of 21-9. In the next round he will meet last years novice champion Don Ogier who by a walkover.

Lucy Beere beat Paul Sargeant in seventeen ends, Beere who could be in with a great chance of the title now that the World number one is out came out best after the opening six ends were shared 6-6 allowing her opponent only one more shot to string together seven winning ends to reach the winning post 6-21. The next opponent Beere will have to deal with is Len Le Ber who beat Sid Le Maitre, after the opening eight ends when the latter lead 6-3 Le Ber settled down to dominate the game by winning nine of the last eleven ends played to return a card of 8-21.

Other Results

Smithard over 60 Men’s Singles

Don Batiste beat Mick Hullock 21-18. Stan Simon beat Paul Sargeant 21-17. Alan Gibson beat Terry Rowe 21-14. Ron Le Tissier won by a walkover.

Carre over 60 Ladies Singles

Jean Simon beat Barbara Martel 21-4. Wilma Le Feuvre beat Lorraine Ellis 21-10. Gwen De La Mare beat Angela Bartie 21-13. Pauline Leadbeater beat Doreen Batiste 21-10.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Guernsey Glass Island League - 2009

The Wonder Women have done it; they have broken the four year domination of the Island Fours league by the Men. Alison Merrien, Lucy Beere, Sally Tranter & Angela Bartie beat the Moonrakers team of Paul Sargeant, John Rihoy, Derek Hurford & Phil Schofield 20-14 at Beau Sejour on a fine Sunday Morning. The all Women’s team which includes squad member Gwen De La Mare have won all their five matches to claim the title but they didn’t have it all their own way though with the Moonrakers playing on their home green kept the game tight throughout and leading by a single point at 6-7 after nine ends were all square on 12-12 at fourteen ends, a single on the next put them ahead again but the strength and resolve of the ladies team to win this one produced a count of three and a five on the sixteenth and seventeenth ends respectively putting the game out of reach with the men only managing a single on the eighteen and final end to leave the ladies jumping for joy at the 14-20 scoreline and what a fine achievement considering the strength and high profile domination of the league by their male counterparts many of whom will be competing at the British Isles Championships in Belfast this coming week.

The Falcons team of Gary Pitschou, Len Le Ber, Garry Collins & Matt Solway secured their third win of the season with a win over the Northern Nomads team of Don Batiste, Mac Timms, Ricky Nash & Sid Le Maitre, although trailing for most of the match the Falcons emerged in front on the fifteenth end with a count of four shots and continued by winning the final three ends to return a 14-19 score card.

The Pirates team of Ron Le Tissier, Peter Tostevin, Robert Bourgaize & Stephen Merrien continues to improve and won for the first time this season beating an out of sorts Barracudas team which includes Nigel Collins, Alan Gibson, Don Ogier and Peter Tranter. The former team who have let good positions slip in the past games never looked in danger of losing this one and won the first eleven ends on their way to an 8-26 victory.

League                         Played              Won                 Points               Diff

Wonder Women           5                      5                      10                    +24

Northern Nomads        5                      3                      6                      +22

Falcons                        4                      2                      4                      +03                 

Pirates                          4                      1                      2                      +16

Moonrakers                 4                      1                      2                      -19

Barracudas                   4                      1                      2                      -37

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Guernsey Glass Island League - 2009

The Wonder Women, Alison Merrien, Lucy Beere, Gwen De La Mare & Angela Bartie which includes squad member Sally Tranter look set to win the Guernsey Glass fours league with a win over Pirates Ron Le Tissier, Peter Tostevin, John Tall & Stephen Merrien 22-14. The only women’s team to enter the high profile, male dominated Island Fours League have maximum points from four matches played and could win the title this Sunday morning at 9.30 when they take on the Guernsey Bowling Club based Moonrakers at Beau Sejour.

The Vale Rec based Falcons team and four year champions Gary Pitschou, Len Le Ber, Garry Collins & Matt Solway which includes squad members Matt Le Ber & Joe Pitschou surprising lost a second match this season this time to Moonrakers Paul Sargeant, John Rihoy, Derek Hurford & Phil Schofield 12-19.

Delancey Park based Northern Nomads Don Batiste, Mac Timms, Ricky Nash & Sid Le Maitre beat Barracudas Nigel Collins, Alan Gibson, Don Ogier and Peter Tranter 28-6. The games were played at the Corbet Field.

Nicole Mixed Pairs

The Nicole Pairs, Bowls Guernsey’s most popular pairs competition played the opening round of this summer’s competition at Beau Sejour with Pauline Leadbeater & Nigel Collins achieved a count of six on the last of the eighteen ends to beat Sally Paul & Stan Simon by a single point 20-19.Geoff Savident & Angela Bartie beating the strong pairing of Len Le Ber & Anne Simon 22-9. Don & Doreen Batiste beat Gwen & Dan De La Mare 19-18. Kris Bichard & Shirley Petit beat Jan Lawrence & Keith De La Mare 20-13. Paul Sargeant & Jackie Nicole beat Alan Gibson & Wilma Le Feuvre 22-10. Joanne Hardill & Craig Dorey beat Joan Tostevin & Alan Davis 18-12.

Smithard Singles

In the Smithard over 60 Singles Ron Le Tissier beat Ricky Nash 21-5. Stan Simon beat Alan Davis 21-20. Terry Rowe beat Dan Le Cheminant 21-10. Mick Hullock beat Keith Derry 21-20. Paul Sargeant received a walkover.

Press Drawn Pairs

Gwen De La Mare & Jackie Nicole beat Barbara Martel & Kath Mahe 13-11. Keith De La Mare & Paul Sargeant beat Clive Ogier & Stephen Merrien 19-6. Matt Le Ber & Matt Solway beat Joanne Hardill & Peter Tranter 23-2. Ron Le Tissier & Gary Pitschou beat Shirley Petit & Carol Besnard 18-6.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Elliott Singles ( British Isles Qualifier) - 2009

Vale Recreation Club Lawn Bowlers Matthew Le Ber (Singles & Pairs), Daniel De La Mare (Pairs), Len Le Ber (Triples & Fours), Dave Lucas (Triples), Gary Pitschou (Triples & Fours), Wes Baker (Fours) and Garry Collins (Fours) will represent Guernsey in the Men’s British Isles Championships at Belmont Bowling Club in Belfast during the week commencing 23^rd June having all secured their places at the championships last summer by winning their respective Guernsey Titles in Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours.

Matt Le Ber was lucky enough to be one of only two players to receive a bye in the first round draw for this year’s singles Elliott Singles competition played at all three clubs and goes to Belfast as current champion. Gary Pitschou always in the hunt for the title came through comfortably against Craig Dorey 22-10. Nigel Collins last year’s finalist beat Don Ogier 21-14. Don Batiste picked up four shots on the last two ends to beat Garry Collins 21-19. Alan Gibson who almost beat Alison Merrien last week went one better in beating Mick Merrien 21-19 after picking up six shots over the last four of twenty seven ends played. Geoff Savident completed a hat trick of wins during the week when he beat Len Le Ber 21-14. Dan Le Cheminant found fine form in beating Rob Batiste 21-9. Dan De La Mare was never in trouble in beating Matt Solway 21-12. Paul Merrien beat Paul Sargeant after being seeing a12-1 lead turned around by the latter to 14-15 after seventeen ends but got the better of his opponent over the last five to win 21-18. Ricky Nash came through unscathed 23-4 against newcomer to outdoor bowls Todd Priaulx who will definitely improve if his fine indoor bowling is anything to go by. Terry Rowe beat Andy Lucas 21-15 in twenty six ends. Sid Le Maitre beat Stephen Merrien 21-11. Steve Machon and Wes Baker received walkovers.

Travers Pairs ( British Isles Qualifier)

Matthew Le Ber and Daniel De La Mare who have previously won the Trophy at Belmont in Belfast will again represent Guernsey in the Men’s Pairs, they came though this summer’s first round of the Travers Pairs comfortably beating Nathan Dicker and Roy Domaille 27-8.

Nigel and Garry Collins beat Ian and Paul Merrien in a reversal of last season’s semi final result, the former pair 1-10 down at seven ends gradually found the line and weight to draw level at 15-15 at fifteen ends and were still deadlocked at 19-19 with one to play when yet another short Jack length proved profitable in gaining the win 23-19.

Geoff Savident and Paul Sargeant beat Ricky Nash and Don Batiste 19-17 in a very closely fought contest in which there were no more than three shots separating the teams throughout the twenty one ends.

Craig Dorey and new comer to outdoor bowls Will Ceillam beat Sid Le Maitre and Roy Queripel 27-13.

Peter Whales and Andy Lucas beat Matt Solway and Wes Baker 21-17.

Len Le Ber and Gary Pitschou and Alan Gibson and Mick Hullock also go through by walkovers.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Guernsey Glass Island League - 2009

Wonder Women Alison Merrien, Lucy Beere, Sally Tranter and Gwen De La Mare still lead the Guernsey Glass fours league with a win over Barracudas Nigel Collins, Alan Gibson, Don Ogier and Peter Tranter 21-15 played at Delancey Park . Northern Nomads Don Batiste, Mac Timms, John Samuels and Ricky Nash beat Moonrakers Steve Machon, Paul Sargeant, John Rihoy and Phil Schofield 24-13. Falcons Matt Le Ber, Gary Pitschou, Len Le Ber and Joe Pitschou beat Pirates Ron Le Tissier, Peter Tostevin, Rob Bourgaize and Fred Doggett 23-14.

Nicole Mixed Pairs

The Nicole Pairs, Bowls Guernsey’s most popular pairs competition played the opening round of this summer’s competition at Beau Sejour with Geoff Savident & Angela Bartie beating the strong pairing of Len Le Ber & Anne Simon 22-9. Don & Doreen Batiste beat Gwen & Dan De La Mare 19-18. Kris Bichard & Shirley Petit beat Jan Lawrence & Keith De La Mare 20-13. Paul Sargeant & Jackie Nicole beat Alan Gibson & Wilma Le Feuvre 22-10. Pauline Leadbeater & Nigel Collins achieved a count of six on the last of the eighteen ends to beat Sally Paul & Stan Simon by a single point 20-19.

Smithard Singles

In the Smithard over 60 Singles Ron Le Tissier beat Ricky Nash 21-5. Stan Simon beat Alan Davis 21-20. Terry Rowe beat Dan Le Cheminant 21-10. Mick Hullock beat Keith Derry 21-20. Paul Sargeant received a walkover.

Press Drawn Pairs

Gwen De La Mare & Jackie Nicole beat Barbara Martel & Kath Mahe 13-11. Keith De La Mare & Paul Sargeant beat Clive Ogier & Stephen Merrien 19-6. Matt Le Ber & Matt Solway beat Joanne Hardill & Peter Tranter 23-2. Ron Le Tissier & Gary Pitschou beat Shirley Petit & Carol Besnard 18-6.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009

Guernsey Glass Island League - 2009

The summer season opened with a round of the Island Fours League played at Guernsey Bowling Club’s Beau Sejour Green in which Wonder Women were drawn against the Falcons. The Falcons Skip Le Ber had not lost a match as skip of this team in the four years since the league was launched and was in for a surprise as the Ladies team including Gwen De La Mare, Angela Bartie, Sally Tranter and Skip Lucy Beere got the better of a challenging rink to lead 0-9 after four ends. The men’s team including some of the islands top male bowlers in Len Le Ber, Garry Collins, Garry Pitschou and Le Ber clawed their way back to lead 16-15 at fifteen ends but were not able to score again as the ladies closed out the match winning the last three ends to claim a shock16-20 win.

Northern Nomads team of Sid Le Maitre, John Samuels, Mac Timms and Skip Don Batiste eventually beat the Pirates Team of Stephen Merrien, Fred Doggett, Peter Tostevin and Skip Ron Le Tissier after a sea-saw match 4-15 to Pirates at ten ends turned around to a 20-17 result for Batiste’s team at the close of play.

The Barracudas team of Peter Tranter, Don Ogier, Alan Gibson and Skip Nigel Collins were always ahead against the home team of the Moonrakers Phil Schofield, Derek Hurford, Paul Sargeant and Skip Steve Machon winning twelve of the eighteen ends to return a 21-12 score card.

(New) Open Press Singles

Who is the best Lawn Bowler in Guernsey is it the Women’s World number one Alison Merrien or European top Lady Lucy Beere or is it Current Press Singles Men’s Champion Gary Pitschou or Matthew Le Ber the current Men’s Singles British Qualifier or will someone else pop their head above the parapet. This year Bowls Guernsey has opened up the Press Singles to include for the first time ever in Island Singles competition both male and female bowlers, this has resulted in a near doubling of the entries and has made this the most popular and exciting competition. Alison Merrien showed her class in coming from 17-11 down against Alan Gibson to claim victory by a single point 20-21. Lucy Beere came through 21-6 in her match against Stephen Merrien in fourteen ends. Gary Pitschou beat Dan Le Cheminant 21-8 and Matt Le Ber beat Peter Whales 21-12. Gwen De La Mare beat Ricky Nash 21-11. Rob Batiste beat Keith De La Mare 21-7. Don Batiste beat Andy Lucas 21-7. Paul Sargeant beat Todd Priaulx 21-8. Sid Le Maitre beat Nigel Collins 21-19. Paul Wakeham beat Mick Hullock 21-19. Garry Collins beat Dan De La Mare 21-16. Don Ogier beat Wes Baker 21-16. Matt Solway beat Doreen Batiste 21- 17. Mac Timms beat Jackie Nicole 21-14. Len Le Ber received a walkover.

Report by Nigel Collins - 2009