Page 24 - Autumn 2017

Page 24:Layout 1 15-Oct-17 2:12 PM Page 1

24 Dorset SMBA Open Weekend
Dorset SMBA Open Weekend
The Dorset Open once again proved to be an enormous success
with over 200 Short Mat Bowlers converging on The Dorset
Bowls Resort to compete in the two competitions over a week-
end. Many travelled a fair
distance with bowlers
from as far afield as
Wales, Norfolk and West Midlands along with teams
from more local counties vying to become champions
of Dorset.
Saturday saw the Dorset version of Australian
Pairs each bowler playing four woods where the Lead
plays Lead and Three and the Skip plays Two and
Skip.
42 Pairs entered and were drawn into 10 groups
with the group winners and runners up progressing to
the knock out stage. The Dorset Pairings of Lynn Dean Pairs Winners
and Brian Baker and Alex Kley and Sam Harvey Dominic Reed & Simon Willies
reached the Semi Finals but neither managed to reach
the final.
After a most competitive days bowling the Final was contested between Dom Reed
(Essex) and Chris Willies (West Midlands) who took on Callum Beale (Cornwall) and Vincent
Dornan (Gloucestershire), with Chris and Dom triumphant on the day. Dom Reed being the
first player to lift the trophy for
a second time as he won the
first Dorset Australian Pairs in
2013 with Jack Shepherd.
A plate was held for those un-
fortunate enough not to qualify
for the Main competition the
Final was a Somerset Dorset
affair with Dave Watson and
Craig Lyttle overcoming the Pairs Plate Winners
Dorset Pairing of Brian Smith and Mark Riley and winning
the Trophy for the second year in succession.
Pairs Runners-up Thirty Teams entered the 6th Dorset Open Fours competition
on the Sunday, they were drawn in 7 groups with the top two in each group plus best thirds
progressing to the knock out stages. The matches throughout the day proved to be very com-
petitive and extremely entertaining with the highest skill levels being constantly achieved.
After numerous close encounters and nail
biting last ends, which saw the three time winners
James Bucknall, Steve Puttock, Mark Wright and
Ben Pay from Hampshire eliminated in the Semi
Finals meaning a new team was destined to have
their names on the coveted trophy.
The final was an extremely close affair show-
ing Short Mat Bowls at its best with Nick Evans,
Tom Harris, Liz James and Ben Jackson from
Wales picking up a two on the last end to beat
Arwel Morgan and Chris Martin (both Wales), Dom
Reed (Essex) and Chris Willies (West Midlands). Open Fours Winners