CI Bowls: Double joy for Lowery

CI Bowls: Double joy for Lowery

Lowery stormed the men’s singles on Saturday afternoon, beating Guernsey’s Nicky Donaldson 21-8.

Then, partnered by close friend Thomas Greechan, Lowery claimed his second title on Sunday morning, the pair beating Guernsey’s Steve and Michael Le Noury 33-15.

The Guernsey brothers were completely outclassed and taught a bowling lesson by their Jersey rivals.

Lowery and Greechan have now qualified for the British Isles Men’s Indoor Championships to be played in Belfast in March.

The newly-crowned singles and pairs champion could not hide his delight as he watched his favoured team Newcastle United overcome non-league minnows Yeading in the FA Cup later on Sunday – but if he is to achieve victory in the British Isles Championships he knows he will have to perform some giant-killing of his own.

But Lowery, a Heritage Classic Finalist in 2004, joked he had only one thing on his mind after his and partner Greechan’s outstanding victory – ‘the bar!’ Greechan (28), sporting a Celtic FC jersey, was grinning like a Cheshire cat after also enjoying a fantastic day.

‘It’s a double whammy for me ,’ he said in reference to his team’s victory against fierce rivals Rangers.

Aged 25 and 28, respectively, Lowery and Greechan are living proof that bowls is becoming popular among the younger generation in Jersey.

There was also success for Jersey’s female bowlers as 28-year-old Alison Camacho (formally Birch) won the ladies singles in a nail-biting encounter with Guernsey’s Alison Merrien.

Camacho eventually won an excruciatingly tense match 21-20 – the exact reverse of last year’s final result between the two.

Former World under-25s champion Lindsey Greechan (married to Thomas Greechan) won the ladies triples, partnered by her mother Gina Le Long and Mavis Le Marquand.

The trio beat Guernsey’s Carol Ingrouville, Gwen de la Mare and Shirley Petit by a comfortable margin, 20-10.

Jersey’s winners will now participate in the British Isles Ladies Indoor Championships in Prestwick, Scotland, in March.

Jersey’s ladies fours (Greechan, Le Long, Le Marquand and Gaynor Thomas) were narrowly beaten in a tie break, losing 18-17 to Guernsey’s Wilma Le Feuvre, Sally Paul, Shirley Petit and Gwen de la Mare.

Guernsey’s Lianna Bichard beat Lindsey Greechan in the Ladies under-25 singles, 22-14.

Jersey’s Carol Allen and Gaynor Thomas were beaten in the pairs by Alison Merrien and Lianna Bichard, 20-14.

Guernsey’s Nick Donaldson, Neal Mollet, Dennis Mollet and Michael Setters beat Jersey’s Gus McKinnon, Frank Hambly, Michael Cochrane and Alex Stewart 24-20 to advance in the men’s fours.

Guernsey also won the men’s triples as Paul Merrien, Daniel de la Mare and Alan Merrien beat Jersey’s Gus McKinnon, Derek Boswell and young Scott Ruderham 21-15.

Ruderham (16), in his first competition at this level, gained valuable experience although he lost to Guernsey’s de la Mare in the under-25 singles.

JIBA president Ken Swanton is keen to get more young people involved.

‘We’re always looking to get more yougsters involved in bowls’ he said, ‘it is a game for people of of all ages and getting more youngsters involved can only be good for the sport as a whole.’

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