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32 WESSEX SHORT MAT HOLIDAY
WESSEX SHORT MAT HOLIDAY

The opening evening bowls drive was very close indeed.
At one time Brian Latham, Frank Jenkins & Margaret Den-
ham held a six shot lead but in losing four of the last six
ends this slipped away to a plus of three but this in the end
was enough to win the event.
The singles semi-finals consisted of two groups of
three players, with the group winners heading into the final.
In group 1 the opening game ended up as a 7 all draw be-
Singles Winner Raymond Deer tween Harry Ward & Jim Kirkup. Harry then lost the toss and
with finalist Brian Latham went straight into his second game with Brian Latham as
his opponent. Most unusually, this game also finished in a draw at 8 shots each. The third and
deciding game saw Jim Kirkup returning to play Brian Latham. This was a very tough decider but
in the end it was Brian who took a place in the final
with an 8 - 7 win.
Group two was somewhat easier and Val
Latham opened up with a 9 - 6 win over Maurice
Deans. Maurice then lost his second game 7 - 9 to
Raymond Deer, thus it was winner takes all in the
third game and in the end Raymond scored a 10 - 3
victory over Val, thus preventing a husband and wife
final. An extremely close match then ensued be-
tween Raymond & Brian Latham but a 2 - 1 - 1 fin-
ished gave Raymond a 9 - 7 Victory.
Both triples semi-finals proved to be straightfor-
ward matches. Jim Kirkup, Nan & Ken Peters con-
ceded a three on the opening end to Joan Northcott, Seated Triples Champions
Theresa Wade & Ray Deer but took the next five Jim Kirkup, Nan & Ken Peters with
ends for a 9 - 3 lead and eventually won 10 - 5. Gor- finalists Brian & Val Latham
don Denham, Val & Brian Latham also found them- and Gordon Denham
selves three down after two ends to Harry Ward, Paddy Jones & Gloria Jenkins but a 4 on end
five another on end seven and a finishing 3 gave them a 12 - 6 victory.
The final was a hard fought affair but a four to Jim Kirkup, Nan & Ken Peters on end three
gave them a 6 - 0 lead and was an important gap. Gordon Den-
ham, Val & Brian Latham then scored two two’s the close the
gap to 4 - 6 but two singles gave Jim, Nan & Ken an 8 - 6 lead
going into the last end. Gordon, Val & Brian tried hard but only
managed a two to go down 6 - 8.
In the first Pairs semi-final Nicky Trickett & Raymond Deer
won five ends, as did Harry Ward & Paddy Jones but two three’s
to Nicky & Raymond were only answered by two two’s leaving
Nicky & Raymond the victors by 9 - 7. The other semi was
much more decisive with Margaret & Gordon Denham opening
up with two three’s and although Val & Brian Latham won half
of the ends they were restricted to singles, leaving Margaret &
Gordon as 11 - 5 winners.
Seated Pairs Champions In the final a three to Nicky Trickett & Raymond Deer gave
Gordon & Margaret Denham them an 8 - 5 lead. Margaret & Gordon replied with a three of
with finalist Nicky Trickett their own and both pairs went into the last end all-square at 8
and Raymond Deer all and once again a three was scored by Margaret & Gordon
Denham to give them an 11 - 3 victory.