Page 36 - Summer Issue 2018 Final

Norfolk 1:Layout 1 30/05/2018 06:43 Page 1

Best is Best
36 Best is Best
Bob Carter & Norfolk star Gary Best won the ESMBA Open Sin-
gles to earn a place in the England team in the World Cham-
pionships in Sweden. In the final he faced Ben Pay and
despite leading 9-5 after nine ends Best found himself facing
a tense extra end play-off after a fightback from the Hamp-
shire bowler. But it was Best who came out on top to earn
himself a trip to Sweden after
displaying superb form during
the competition.
It was very nearly an all Nor-
folk final as Hempnall’s Neil Davidson
fought to the finish in the semi-finals
against Ben Pay before losing by just one shot. In the other semi-
final Gary Best beat Martin Simcock 9-4. The quarter-final stage saw
Gary Best beat Cheshire’s England international Adam Smith 11-1
while Davidson beat Malcolm Follis 10-8. With an England place at
stake the event attracted a strong line-up but the inclusion of a num-
ber of Swedish internationals has raised questions from some quar-
ters, particularly as they were not named in the line-up published on
the ESMBA website prior to the event. Singles Champion
The staging of the World Cup in Sweden has not been without Gary Best
controversy with the World Council meeting voting to stage the event there against the wishes of
Bowls Sweden. Certainly one question raised was if it was right that players not eligible to play in
the World Championships for England should be in a position to knock out eligible ESMBA mem-
bers in a competition where the winner earns a place in the England team in the Worlds. One
thing for certain is that over the years some puzzling decisions have been made, and continue to
be made, by the ruling body.

Norfolk Over 60’s win the East England Championship
Norfolk Over 60’s win the East England Championship

Norfolk Over 60’s won the East England Over 60’s League title with a 20-14 win at home to
Northants in their final match of the campaign. They began the match in a comfortable position at
the top of the table having won all their games this season and needed to score just seven points
to secure the league title which they achieved with ease.