There was a superb turnout of 34 bowlers for this afternoon’s Roy Ashcroft Memorial Trophy competition. This included a good number of our newer bowlers. The bowlers were divided into pairs and then into three groups. Group A saw 6 pairs doing battle and there were some very tight games. Up to the last set of games Ian Gill & Peter Grimes had won all their games but young Aaron Backhouse & Dave Arnold had only lost one so if they could defeat them in the last game then it would go down to points difference, with Dave Hulse & Ian Prescott also just needing one more victory on their last game to stand a chance of getting through. In a very tight game it was 5-5 going into the last end but Aaron’s Yorkshire nerve just let him down and Peter & Ian took the last end by one point to win the match. Dave Hulse & Ian Prescott also lost their nerve in the last game and lost to Keith Knaggs & Mike Fagan Snr in a surprise upset.

Group B saw some further close games. Both Hannah & Ian Jones and Dave Roper & Ed Lyon had won all their games going into the final set of matches and in the ‘big showdown’ last match were playing each other. In the end Hannah & Ian made short work of it running out 12-0 to take the group. Earlier on they had been run close by Dave Leadbetter & Brian Johnstone who came close but narrowly lost 5-4.

Finally in Group C there were only 5 pairs, and the formidable pairings of Mike Fagan Jnr & Marg Copeland met Martin Roberts & Marilyn Lea in the first game, with Martin & Marilyn taking first blood, winning 11-2. Martin & Marilyn went on to win three games in total and drew one, which was just enough to pip Marg & Mike, who won three and lost one.

With the top pairings going through to the semi finals the best runners up from each group were put in a draw and it was Marg & Mike that were the fortunate pair to be drawn to take part in the semis.

The first semi was between Ian Gill & Peter Grimes against Hannah & Ian Jones on the grass green. A very close game went right down to the final end, with Ian & Peter just coming out on top 5-4. The second semi saw a rematch between Mike Fagan Jnr & Marg Copeland against Martin Roberts & Marilyn Lea on the artificial green. This was also a very close match with Mike & Marg getting their revenge and winning 7-6.

So, onto the final and in the end it was a bit of a one sided affair with Marg & Mike running out 8-2 winners with one end to spare, with both players playing superbly and not giving Ian & Peter an inch. So the winners of the 2021 Roy Ashcroft Memorial Trophy were Margaret Copeland & Mike Fagan, who not only scooped the trophy but £40 in prize money.

The main winner though was the bowling, with it being great to see both experienced players and beginners having such a great time. One of our newer players commented that it had been the best day she had had in 2 years, which was fantastic to hear.