Photos - 2013 Hillingdon Finals Day

Finals Day Report - 2013

The Hillingdon finals at Rosedale Park were held under terrific conditions with a decent green and perfect warm weather. A bumper crowd of over 170 witnessed some of the best bowling of the year throughout an action packed day.

Karen at the rush

Harefield’s Karen Rushton took pride of place this year winning all three finals that she took part in. Firstly, the ladies triples which saw her and colleagues Sheila Cordingley and Phyllis Blakes come from behind to take an impressive win. Down 6-9 at half-time, the Harefield trio took two consecutive counts of five shots off the Linda Jackson Ladygate entry. The rest of the ends were shared evenly but the damage had been done; Harefield winning 24-13.

After a short break Karen was back on the green doing battle with Jean Matthews of Rosedale for the singles title. Storming into an early lead, Rushton led 11-4 and again 13-8, before Matthews really kicked into gear. Forcing every end to count Matthews clawed her way back to 15-15 after a mammoth 22 ends. Rushton showed grit once again to extend to a 22-17 win in an exciting match.

Rushton’s day was completed by a win in the mixed triples watched by a huge noisy crowd. Joined by husband Nigel and Myles Arnold they were involved in the finish of the day. Mike Hulbert’s Mill BC triple held a half-time lead 10-9 but contrived to lose a massive count of six which turned the game in Harefield’s favour. Mill fought back bravely to draw level after the penultimate end 15-15 before a single shot saw the silverware go into Harefield’s trophy cabinet.

Ciampini adds to his Hillingdon titles haul

Atillio Ciampini joined with Derek Reap to provide the Uxbridge club with their first trophy of the day. In the men’s pairs they scored two early counts of five shots which set up a good lead against Dennis Hodgkins and skipper Mick Kirby of Rosedale. Always in control, the Uxbridge pair ran out 26-17 winners with an end to spare.

The match of the day, The Open Championship, saw Ciampini up against Steve Skinner of the Ladygate club. Terrific early scoring by Ciampini meant an early lead 12-6 before Skinner found his length and fought back winning three consecutive ends which included a massive count of three shots. Ciampini’s lead had been cut to 12-11, but then it was his turn to win a few ends and extended again to lead 19-15. Skinner would not be denied and a run of four ends with counts of 1-2-2-1 saw him claim the major Hillingdon title for the first time.

Ciampini was called onto the green for a third time late on in the day. He joined Uxbridge team mates Don Hazelgrove and John Geeves for the men’s triples where Stan Driver’s Cowley team were in opposition. An early count of five shots put the Cowley men in the driving seat but Uxbridge then won five ends straight to take a 14-7 advantage. Try as they might, the Cowley trio could not get back on terms as Uxbridge ended up emphatic 21-10 victors.

Geeves had earlier played in the men’s singles final which was a well contested affair. Tony Waller held leads of 11-2 and 13-8 but, although he closed to within two shots at one stage Geeves succumbed 15-21 as Waller of Ladygate added to his Hillingdon title haul.

A game of two halves is an expression in another sport but the men’s over 60s title match was a game of three thirds. Ray Lee of Uxbridge led Dave Parrott of the host club 9-6, then Parrott won five ends on the spin to take a decisive 18-9 lead before a rallying Lee countered with four winning ends to be facing only a 15-18 deficit. Parrott stepped up yet again to take the title 21-15.

In an uncompetitive match the Fassnidge pair of Angela Martel and Mandy Simpson ran out 27-12 winners in the ladies’ pairs against Ladygate.

Ray Lee joined his Uxbridge partner Moira Steven for the mixed pairs later in the day. Starting brightly, they led 9-3 after seven ends against Anicea Skinner and Chris Harris from Ladygate. Ends were exchanged and the Uxbridge pair held an impressive, almost unassailable, 13-5 lead after 11 ends, but then the wheels came well and truly off. Skinner then showed husband Steve that there was more than one bowler in the family. The Ladygate pairing won nine of the next ten ends to win comfortably 20-14 in a real game of two halves.

Organiser, Dennis Hodgkins, said that the finals had been one of the best supported in years and the separate sets of fans from different clubs added to the atmosphere on the day. Rosedale can be proud that so many of its’ members, acting as volunteers, helped to fashion such a wonderful day.

PICTURES TO FOLLOW IN NEXT FEW DAYS - DH