North Wales Bowling Festival 2009

The usual expectation during a week’s Bowling Festival is to have a mixture of the ‘so-so’ with the odd good day of sunshine. Well, the North Wales Festival was having none of that! Six days of barely interrupted sunshine, with an absolutely glorious finals day down at the seafront at East Parade in Rhyl.

With numbers increasing for 2009 on the back of a very enjoyable 2008 Festival, guests arrived over the weekend to either the Pontins Holiday Centre or the 3* Beaches Hotel right on the beach at Prestatyn and once again prepared to compete at the excellent host clubs at Abergele, Rhyl Seabank and Grove Park in the Singles and Mixed Pairs over the first three days. The greens were running well with each providing its own different challenge, and with so many past champions involved competition was fierce.

Thursday brought about the second stage of the Main and Consolation events at Abergele Bowling Club under the watchful eyes of Welsh referees Ken Hardman and Peter Kershaw, whilst the Plate competition was held at East Parade because of the excellent work done to their greens by the members and groundstaff there. Indeed, it was a delight to once again stage the finals day there on Friday using the No.1 and 2 greens.

Overseen by the quartet of referees Henry Milner, Peter Heyes, Peter Kershaw and Richard Davies it was undoubtedly a happy Welsh Crown Green President, Ken Hardman, as he was able to see one of their Premier venues returning to its former self for Finals day. And what a cracking start as, in one of the best finals of the day, Agnes McDonald pipped Carolyn Baldwin 15 – 14 to take the Ladies’ Plate. This was closely followed by two wins for first-timers at this Festival – Steve Portman beating Ian McDade to 10 in the Mens’ Plate, and John Thackery beating Dave Little by the same score in the Mens’ Consolation. In the Ladies’ Consolation, ‘regulars’ Andoreen Stewart and Frances Wagstaff fought it out with Andoreen winning 15 – 9.

Ian McDade, together with partner Irene Jackson, overcame his Plate Final disappointment to take the Mixed Pairs title over several times previous Champions, and possibly favourites, John Thompson and Denise Freeman, with a 15 – 2 victory. In the Ladies’ Final, in form Lynne Rimmer, at the North Wales Festival for the first time, overcame Pam Robinson, whilst in the Mens’ Final a clash of past Champions saw Eddie Lonergan defeat John Thompson to 15.

The Presentation ceremony was held greenside in glorious sunshine, and a special presentation was made to Ken Hardman, who is stepping down from his refereeing role at the North Wales Festival after many years of excellent service to the event.

The dates for 2010 have been set for 4th – 10th September and forms should be available from the beginning of November – call 01257 450991 or download from www.essellesports.com.

LADIES’ PLATE

Agnes McDonald (Barnsley) 15
Carolyn Baldwin (Derby) 14

MENS’ PLATE

Steve Portman (Castleford) 15
Ian McDade (Preston) 10

LADIES’ CONSOLATION

Andoreen Stewart (Stockport) 15
Frances Wagstaff (Radcliffe) 9

MENS’ CONSOLATION

John Thackery (Rotherham) 15
Dave Little (Stockport) 10

MIXED PAIRS

Ian McDade (Preston ) & Irene Jackson (Oldham) 15
John Thompson & Denise Freeman (Manchester) 2

LADIES’ SINGLES

Lynne Rimmer (Rochdale) 21
Pam Robinson (Halifax) 13