Abergavenny Bowls Club was blessed by superb weather for their Finals Day last Saturday. A total of eight titles were contested with some excellent bowling resulting in some very close games throughout the day.

In the Men’s Pairs Matthew Vale and Peter Hopkins established a substantial 13 shot lead with six ends to play. However, their opponents Gary John and Robert Poynter reduced this lead to five shots by the penultimate end but Matthew Vale and Peter Hopkins then secured the Pairs title by scoring one shot on the final end to win by 21 shots to 15.

In the Ladies Pairs Sian Phillips and Judi Belli held a ten shot lead with five ends to play. Fortunes were then reversed and their opponents Mary Evans and Anne Watkins held a one shot lead with the final bowl of the game to be bowled. An excellent bowl from Sian Phillips secured one shot to send the game into an extra deciding end. Mary Evans and Anne Watkins won the title by 21 shots to 20 with a bowl from Mary Evans deserving of victory.

The Mixed Pairs produced a similar story when Matthew Vale and Judi Belli held an eight shot lead over Sian Phillips and Peter Hopkins. This was gradually reduced and eventually Sian Phillips and Peter Hopkins took the lead. Matthew Vale and Judi Belli then scored the one shot required to tie the game on the final end. Once again a deciding end was played and this resulted in victory for Matthew Vale and Judi Belli, again by 21 shots to 20.

Matthew Smith established a substantial lead over his opponent Gerald Parry in the Men’s Novices Shield. Fortunes were then reversed in the second half of the game with Gerald Parry reducing the deficit. However, he could never totally reduce his opponents lead and Matthew Smith went on to victory, and the title, by 21 shots to 11.

Paul Beaumont and John Vale contested the final of the Men’s Veterans trophy. Paul Beaumont gained the upper hand from the start and established a nine shot lead at the eleventh end. He then maintained this advantage to take the title by 21 shots to 12.

The Men’s handicap was played with Bill Belli facing last year’s club champion Anthony Moriarty. Bill belli got off to an excellent start and established a six shot lead by the twelfth end. Anthony Moriarty gradually reduced this lead and then scored six shots on the final three ends to record a victory by 21 shots to 14.

The Men’s Championship was played between Robert Poynter and Peter Hopkins, who was contesting his third title of the day. Although Peter Hopkins bowled very well, Robert Poynter produced a superb display of bowling to counteract any advantage gained by Peter Hopkins. This enabled Robert Poynter to win the Club Championship by 21 shots to 7.

In the Ladies Championship Anne McCarthy gained the early advantage and established a six shot lead by the eighth end. Her opponent Mary Evans then began to reduce the deficit until scores were level with five ends to play. Mary Evans then scored seven shots and conceded only two to win the Championship by 21 shots to 15.

Following the finals a barbecue was enjoyed by all members of the club to round off an excellent day.

During the week, Abergavenny GBL team played their final league game of the season. Although they lost the game, they managed to secure four points by winning on two rinks. This enabled them to finish sixth in the league which was an excellent result in view of the loss of most of the games at the start of the season.