WELLINGTON Bowling Club have held ten outdoor bowling competitions throughout this summer, with all the finals being held last weekend.

Trevor Jenkins arranged, organised and oversaw all the competitions which have offered opportunities for all members to enjoy competing on the club's outdoor green. In all Trevor listed more than 250 entries to the ten competitions.

The first five competition finals were held last Saturday afternoon. Kathy Alford and Angie Moore had battled their way through to the final of the Ladies Two-Wood Competition. Both ladies played well on rink 2 which is notoriously tricky but Angie got to grips with it first and won the game and the competition by 17 shots to 7.

Thirty-eight members entered the Men's Championship Singles, so it was no surprise that the finalists were two of the best male bowlers at the club.

Phil Ellis and Nick Channon came face to face in the final on a very hot Saturday afternoon. As expected, both bowlers played well but it was Phil Ellis who bowled more consistently and pulled ahead to win the match 17 shots to 7.

Thirty-six entered the Men’s Two-Wood Competition so the two finalists, Julian Street and Martin Speakmanhad had to work hard to get to the final. It was extremely close from the beginning. After eight ends they were level pegging on 6 shots each. After 20ends and with only one more end to play, Julian led by one shot, 13 – 12 but in that last end Martin managed to win the all important 2 shots to win the end and the game 14 shots to 13.

The club is very pleased that so many new members have joined this year so a New Members Competition had been arranged and 14 entered. The finalists were Andy Dart and Darren Sparks. Both have already proved themselves as extremely good bowlers. Andy set off at pace and by the sixth end was 7 – 3 up but Darren fought back hard to catch up and overtake to win the match 21 shots to 11.

For the many spectators who came to watch, probably the most exciting that afternoon was the Men's Pairs Final. Paul Kelly and Dave Bridger took on Graham Brown and Alan Every. Graham and Alan set off at pace and took a small lead. After eight ends they were one shot up, 8 shots to 7.

They continued to hold a slight lead in the next six ends but with only three more ends to play Graham and Alan were three shots to the good.

The spectators saw some brilliant bowling by both teams but despite Paul and Dave trying everything they knew to catch up it was Graham Brown and Alan Every who pinched the match 19 shots to 13.

The following day five finals were due to be played but unfortunately one of them had to be abandoned.

Christine Willcocks and Sally Waygood had each fought their way through to the final of the Ladies Championship but unfortunately Christine was not able to play on that day so she conceded the match.

The Open Championship Final was a closely fought battle between two very capable bowlers, Nick Channon and Robert Higgs.

The match was a game of two halves. Robert settled first and took a small lead but by the tenth end they were all square on 7 shots apiece.

Then the tide began to turn and Nick Channon pulled away a bit at a time to win the match 21 shots to 18.

The Men’s Handicap was another closely fought affair between Julian Street and Rod Troake.

There was very little between them all through the game but Julian Street won overall by 22 shots to 17.

The Ladies Handicap also proved to be a very closely fought battle between Marguerite Nichols and Debbie Lane.

Debbie started off the better of the two and by the seventh end she led 7 shots to 6 but Marguerite soon got into her stride and moved slightly ahead.

After 14 ends she led by three shots 14 – 11 but Debbie could not keep pace in the end-game and Marguerite Nichols went on to win the match and competition 21 – 11.

In the Amy Stanton Mixed Pairs Competition Graham Brown and Maggie Milton came up against husband and wife team Mike and Gill Groves.

There was some very fine bowling by all four players and after 17 ends, and with just one end to play, Mike and Gill led by just two shots, 17 – 15.

In the last end, Graham and Maggie were holding three shots when Mike came to the mat and bowled down a real beauty which ended up tight on the jack to take the end and the match by 18 shots to 15.

Competition Secretary Trevor Jenkins wishes to thank everyone who took part or who helped in any way to make this competition such a success.