In slightly overcast conditions, the 90th Eastbourne Open Bowls Tournament sponsored for the 11th year by Wendy and Neil Kirby (Langham Hotel) got under way on Sunday with over 230 entrants from around the country in the seven competitions that comprise the event. At the greens of Gildredge Park BC , headquarters of the event for the 19th year, the Deputy Mayor (Cllr Sammy Choudry) welcomed visitors to the town and wished all of the participants well before declaring the competitions open.
In a highly competitive field there were several former champions of the ‘Blue Riband’ Mens Singles competition fighting for the £1,000 winners prize. Charles Wright (Gullivers BC), winner in 2016, fell in the first round to Colin Nutton (White Rock BC) 21-12. 2006 Champion Francois Celada (Eastbourne BC) was another early casualty falling to Mick Bevis (Goring Manor BC) 21-16 and Peter Jackson (Eastbourne BC) who triumphed in 2012 also fell to evergreen Martin Mapp (Marden BC) 21-14. Still in the running are 2005, 2010 and 2013 victor David Richardson (Unattached) and the reigning champion Graham Bridges (Grosvenor BC) who is looking to retain his title – a feat never achieved in the history of the event.
In the Ladies Singles, current champion Rachel Mackriell (Polegrove BC) survived a second round scare winning 21-19 against Jackie Waterman (Supreme BC) and she is joined in the quarter-finals by 2017 champion, Linda Stanley (Eastbourne BC), 2004,2012 and 2015 champion Joan Jones (Unattached) and 1996 champion Gillie Hill (Eastbourne BC).
Play culminates in the Finals at Gildredge Park BC on Friday (19th July) followed by the trophy presentations and prizegiving. All welcome.
As a pre-tournament event, a keenly contested mixed competition was held (won by the Ladies) on behalf of the JPK Project on the greens of Hampden Park BC followed by a ‘high tea’ and £250 was raised.
90A Report from the 2019 Eastbourne Open Bowls Tournament
New Name on the Mens Singles Trophy as Colin triumphs in three competitions – Rachel triumphs for the 7th time in the Ladies Singles competition.
After a week of highly competitive bowling, the Finals of the 90th Eastbourne Open Bowls Tournament, sponsored for the 11th time by Wendy and Neil Kirby (Langham Hotel), were played on the greens of Gildredge Park BC in front of a crowd of approximately 130 people.
Colin Nutton (White Rock BC) wrote his name into the history books when he became the first ever player to triumph in a single year in three of the finals of the competitions played.
The highly competitive ‘Blue Riband’ singles event which carries a winners prize of £1,000 saw him defeat Lee Dickson (Spartan & Lakeside BC) 21-15. The game was very evenly matched with both players winning 12 ends and 1 being tied but after going ahead on the 6th end Colin maintained an advantage through to the finish.
The Ladies singles saw Rachel Mackriell (Polegrove BC) retain her title, beating Louise Kenward (Eastbourne BC) 21-16. After an impressive start by Rachel, leading 12-5 after 11 ends, Louise got into her stride and after 20 ends the scores were level 15-15. Highly experienced Rachel, 9 times finalist and now 7 times Ladies Champion, then edged away to victory.
The Mens Pairs saw Colin team up with Alec Martin (White Rock BC) and they raced away to a 10-1 lead after 6 ends against brothers Ted (Kings Chase BC) and Alan Vidler (Worthing Pavilion BC). A spirited revival saw the brothers fight back to 15-15 after 16 ends and take the lead picking up a 2 on the 17th. Colin and Alec then won the final 4 ends and triumphed 21-17.
The Ladies Pairs saw the Hellingly BC duo of Mary Smith and Jean Akehurst take on the Eastbourne BC pairing of Louise Kenward and Linda Stanley. In another close fought game the score was 10-10 after 14 ends but despite Louise and Linda taking the lead 11-10 on the 15th end, it was Mary and Jean who ran out winners 19-13 taking 5 of the last 6 ends.
The Mixed Pairs final was an all local affair with Sue Taylor and Adrian Wainwright (Eastbourne BC) taking on Alison Hope and John Morris (Gildredge Park BC). After taking an early lead the Eastbourne BC pairing were never headed and ran out winners 20-15.
In a match played in drizzle, finishing late on Friday evening, Colin Nutton teamed up with White Rock BC club mates Chris Surman and Alec Martin to play an Eastbourne BC triple in the form of Simon Knight, Mike Dooley and Gordon ‘George’ Brown. The 13th end saw the teams level 11 shots apiece but it was the White Rock team winning the next 4 ends played who triumphed 18-11 – giving Colin his third title of the day. This was a remarkable achievement as Colin has hardly played over the past two years due to work commitments.
The Mixed Triples was contested between the team of David Richardson (Unattached) Tess Streeter (Hampden Park BC) and Barrie Fordham (Bexhill BC) and that of Vince Smith (Unattached) Carol Templeman and Peter Jackson (both Eastbourne BC). Yet another keenly contested final saw the teams level at 13 ends 13-13 but it was Barrie’s team who picked up 10 shots on the last 3 ends played to triumph 23-14.
Trophies were presented by Simon Brown (General Manager of sole Tournament Sponsor – Langham Hotel) , Jill Parker MBE (CEO of the JPK Project) and Tournament President Vince Smith.
After a brief dscription of the work carried out by the JPK Project, Tournament Organiser Mike Taylor presented Jill with a donation cheque for £380 – funds having been raised from a Charity match at Hampden Park BC, donations and a cuddly toy auction at the Social evening on Thursday.
Tournament President Vince Smith thanked all of the clubs and their many workers behind the scenes that had made the event such a success. Particular thanks were given to Ron Putland (Vice-President) for his many hours of work at Gildredge Park BC, to Terry Boniface (Tournament Umpire) and his team, Mike Taylor (Tournament Organiser) and to Gildredge Park BC for hosting for the 19th year. Gildredge Park BC celebrate their centenary next year and have decided to relinquish the role of Tournament HQ due to the extra commitment their celebrations will entail.
Simon was pleased to confirm the ongoing sponsorship of the event by Wendy and Neil Kirby (Langham Hotel) for the coming year when the Headquarters will move to Eastbourne BC.