Heat wave causes county bowls finals to expand as several stars seek to retain titles

Usually the 24 finals are crammed into a one-day timetable, but it has been decided to ease the congestion for players in multiple finals, especially in view of the current weather conditions, by playing them over two days.

Several players are seeking to retain titles, including Ollie Jeapes in the under 25 singles and the pairs with Owen Aspinall; Stephen Harris in the men's four-bowl singles and Susan Seed in the women's secretary singles.

Neil Wright has qualified for both the main men's singles finals, while Peter Brown, Tom Newman-Borrett and Steve Lander bid for both the triples titles, one of the finals against a rink including Brown's son Zack.

Graham Agger has won the last three senior singles titles, but this year it's down to younger brother Stuart to keep it in the family having qualified for the final at the first attempt.

Young Caitlin Dalliday, daughter of well-known Parkway player Paul, has qualified in three finals, including both major singles where she faces experienced pair Angela Cox and Elaine Upton, who are also bidding for hat-tricks.

The county winners qualify for the national finals being held at Skegness during the week of August 22-29.

ROUND-UP

Several local bowlers are making their presence felt in the area qualifying rounds for the Bowls England finals at Leamington next month.

Young Ollie Jeapes (Parkway), who recently won the British Isles under 18 singles crown, is on course to successfully defend the boys under 17 singles having reached the last 16.

Whittlesey Manor father and son Peter and Zack Brown are through to the last 32 of the family pairs, and Parkway's Trevor Collins and Tony Scarr are at the same stage in the over 60 pairs.

Hunts’ scheduled final fixture in this season's Middleton Cup at home to Herts was not played as it was a 'dead rubber' with Bucks having already qualified for the quarter-finals from the Central group.