Victorious for Jersey in the Channel Islands finals played in Guernsey last weekend were Lindsey Greechan and John Lowery in the ladies’ and men’s under-25 singles and Lowery, Thomas Greechan, Alan Shaw and teenager Jamie MacDonald in the men’s fours.The weekend belonged to the Sarnians with the home team’s bowlers taking seven of the ten titles at stake over the two days of play at the Guernsey Bowls Stadium.
Star performer was Guernsey’s Alison Merrien who won the ladies’ singles, pairs, triples and fours titles.The CI winners gained their places in the British Isles championships.
the men who will play in Perth, Scotland, between 7 and 13 March and while the ladies play in Llanelli, Wales, between 14 and 18 March.Although Guernsey took the lion’s share of the silverware Jersey players gave good accounts of themselves in the majority of the games.Jersey’s Allan Quémard, who was beaten in the men’s singles 21-18 by Nicky Donaldson, said: ‘Playing at home is a huge advantage because everyone is used to playing on their own carpet.
Team-wise a lot of the matches were very close, several went to an extra end and there was only a few points between winning and losing.’Personally I didn’t play well.
At this level you have to be at the top of your game but my first bowl was never quite near enough and it left room for my opponent to move in and take the advantage.’If I could have kept the pressure on him a bit more I may have gone on to win but losing 21-18 was certainly not a heavy defeat.’Thomas Greechan, who play in three finals, and John Lowery were involved in an exiting match against Donaldson and Neil Mollet.
Guernsey led 7-5 after six ends and then at 19-11 it looked all over only for the Jersey pair to pull back four points before eventually losing 19-16.Greechan continued his hectic schedule in the triples with Jamie MacDonald and Michael Cochrane.
Again Donaldson and Mollet were the opposition along with Darren Setters.It was 8-8 after eight ends before Jersey pulled away to lead 15-11.
Guernsey replied to take the score to 16-all and they then scored a one to claim the title by a single shot.It was third time lucky for Greechan, playing in the fours with MacDonald, Lowery and Alan Shaw against Mick Le Ber, Garry Collins, Craig Dorey and Dave Trebert.Jersey trailed 14-7 but the collected a great score of six shots on the 16th to claw back most of the deficit.
They then scored a series of shots to emerge victors 20-17.Lowery earned his second place at the British Isles championships by winning the men’s U25 singles.
Eager to take revenge on Daniel de la Mare, Lowery raced into a 6-0 lead.
De la Haye got back to trail 9-7 only for Lowery to continue to bowl well to win in style 19-11.Lindsey Greechan will be Jersey’s only representative in Wales after the former World U25 champion won the ladies’ U25 title 21-15 against Lianna Bichard.
Greechan fought hard to win and after being 11-all after 14 ends she drew on her experience and determination to win.Alison Merrien was in outstanding form to prevent Jersey winning any of the ladies’ titles.Jersey Alison Birch had an excellent 27-end singles game with the Sarnian.
It was nip and tuck all the way.
After being 6-6 at eight ends Merrien led 11-10 after 15.Birch then collected a three and a four to lead 17-3.
Merrien got back to 19-all after 24 ends and on the last three ends the Sarnian was drawing to a pin and forcing Birch to play weight shots Merrien ran out victor 21-19.Sue Dingle and Jean Jones were not allowed to settle by Merrien and Bichard in the pairs final which the Sarnians won 28-13.Merrien, Bichard and Pam Bichard won a one-sided triples final 23-7 against Gina Le Long, Brenda Foord and Lindsey Greechan while the Jersey trio teamed up with Gaynor Thomas to just lose out in the fours final, 19-17, to Merrien, the Bichards and Eunice Trebert.The Jersey quartet pulled back to level at 16-all after 18 ends after trailing 13-8.
Guernsey went on to win 19-17 following scores of one and two.Jersey players named first.Ladies’ triples: G Le Long, B Foord, L Greechan 7; A Merrien, L Bichard, P Bichard 23.Ladies’ fours: G Le Long, B Foord, L Greechan, G Thomas 17; A Merrien, L Bichard, E Trébert 19.Men’s fours: T Greechan, J Lowery, A Shaw, J Macdonald 20; D Trébert, C Dorey, G Collins, M Le Ber 17.Men’s singles: A Quémard 18; N Donaldson 21.Men’s triples: T Greechan, M Cochrane, J Macdonald 16; N Donaldson, D Setters, N Mollet.Ladies’ pairs: S Dingle, J Jones 13; A Merrien, L Bichard 28.Men’s under 25s: J Lowery 21; D de la Mare 11.Ladies’ under 25s: L Greechan 21; L Bichard 15.Ladies’ singles: A Birch 19; A Merrien 21.Men’s pairs: J Lowery, T Greechan 16; N Donaldson, N Mollet 19.
