LEIGH & DISTRICT
BOWLSWITHIN
The 2019 Event
2019 drew its entries from 22 competitions. There were double qualifications from Ronnie Blackledge and Joe Brown. With three absentees (Helen Howcroft, Darren Allsop and John Hayes) there was a field of 16 bowlers. With a perfect 16 in the draw the day started with Ronnie Blackledge seeing off double qualifier Jow Brown very easily 21-12 and set Ronnie's tone for the day. Ian Pendlebury cruised to a 21-10 win over one of the favourites Steve Nelson and Lee Geenhalgh pulled off a surprise win over in form Steve Hitchen. Pam Hodgetts had a very close game with Tony Battersby with Tony taking an 18-13 lead. Pam changed tactics and just to prove that longer marks hold no fear for her ran out 21-18 bowling Tony in the corners. Carol Day Lost out to Malc Edwardson 21-18 and Carole Parkes lost to the ever present Cash McCaul 21-11. Current holder Ian Inman couldn't cope with John Platt's 19 meter marks and the short marks made for a short game with John winning 21-12. The game of the round was Margaret Cowburn versus Andrew Godfrey. Margaret lay game on three consecutive ends only for Andrew to rescue the game and eventually edge her out 21-20.
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The quarter finals saw old timer Ronnie Blackledge up against the very consistent Ian Pendlebury. Ronnie just mauled the block all the game forcing Ian to strike constantly. Unfortunately for Ian finesse won out over brute force and put Ronnie in the semi final 21-9. Lee Greenhalgh seemed to court lady luck throughout his game with Pam Hodgetts with all the knocks going in his favour much to Pam's demise and her exit at 18-21. Malc Edwardson could not cope with the consistency of John McCaul which saw Cash sailing through to the semis 21-5. John Platt tried his best to shake off Andrew Godfrey but whatever John tried Andrew seemed to have a solution. Each of them led well with the block but neither could hold on to it for long. Andrew running out eventual winner 21-19.
Andrew continued his good form into the semi-final beating John McCaul 21- 8. John once again could not add this trophy to his impressive list of bowling honours. Youth versus experience saw Lee Greenhalgh battle bravely against Ronnie Blackledge but the old warrior came up trumps 21-17. The on form Ronnie was now heading to the final against another competitior seriously younger than him.
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The final saw some excellent bowling with the game swinging to and fro up to 14 across. Neither player able to hold the block for more than two ends. Unfortunately for Andrew, Ronnie settled on a mark across the middle of the green from the Sandersons Croft side and clocked up the last seven points to see him become the 2019 Champion of Champions
