James wins under-18 event on home soil (From Stroud News and Journal)

James wins under-18 event on home soil

Gloucestershire Under-18 Open Singles tournament

THE second under-18 Gloucestershire open singles was held at the Nailsworth Mills Bowling Club on July 14 and one of their younger members James Gardiner used the familiar territory to record a victory on his home soil.

There were 16 entries from throughout Glos who attended the tournament at the Mills. The weather for the event was glorious and made it a pleasure to bowl.

During the day there was some excellent bowling and some of the heads would have put some of the senior players to shame.

After playing five games each two finalists emerged, Christopher Davies aged 15 from Coleford BC and James Gardiner aged 14 from Nailsworth Mills BC.

As neither finalist had lost a game this promised a good final and the spectators were not to be disappointed.

The final started with Christopher taking three shots on the first end.

James, not to be outdone, took the next three ends. At six ends the game was all square at five shots each.

The game was nip and tuck all the way with neither player getting away.

Again on the 11th end the game was all square with the score at nine shots all.

After another nail-biting 11 ends the score was 20 shots each on the 23rd.

There was a deep silence at the final end as a measure was needed to decide the game.

Gardiner won the measure to become the winner of this very exciting tournament.

With the quality of bowling shown in this tournament the future looks bright for all bowls in Gloucestershire.