Bowdon Bowling LTC hosted the event again, and our thanks go to the club for allowing use of their excellent courts and facilities. We were blessed with good weather throughout, and the Men’s events were especially competitive with many matches going to a final set championship tie break.
There were a number of good quality matches in the 1st round of singles matches, and this included a notable upset with the number 2 seed and three times holder, David Trainor, losing to Patrick Talbot. Patrick went on to back up this performance by going on to reach the final. In the other half of the draw the number 1 seed Seb Jackson put a marker down with convincing wins in all 3 matches prior to the final. Seb then maintained his excellent form defeating Patrick Talbot in straight sets. The Ladies singles final was dominated by Caroline Harrison’s greater consistency and she defeated Fiona Fosbury 6 – 1, 6 – 3.
The men’s doubles event also included some very close matches with a new partnership of Paul Lomas & Roger Hill reaching the final by virtue of winning two final set championship tie breaks. This included saving a match point in the quarter finals against Ben Loh & Jason Tonge, and then defeating the holders Nigel & Stuart Birkett in another very close match. Their final opponents Seb Jackson & Phil Spencer had not been stretched in their semi final, however, this was far from the case in the final. Paul & Roger took the 1st set 7- 5, however, Seb & Phil showed their fighting qualities and leveled the match winning the 2nd set 6 – 2. With little between the pairs Paul and Roger managed to take the initiative in the second half of the tie breaker winning it 10 – 6, and therefore claiming their first county doubles title. The Ladies doubles final was dominated by the experienced partnership of Caroline Harrison & Katie Sidell, who defeated Clare Slack & Joanna Waterhouse.
