Jersey’s father and daughter pairing Thomas and Chloe Greechan started the day brilliantly, by clinching the mixed pairs title, before Scott Baxter secured the men’s singles crown and Guernsey’s Alsion Merrien won the women’s trophy.
The Greechans, who have been in fine form all tournament, completed a hugely memorable week by defeating Irish pair Chloe Watson and John McCullough in a dramatic final at the Grainville Indoor Stadium on Saturday morning.
Having lost the opening set 7-5, the Jersey duo bounced back to win the second in emphatic fashion, 11-2. Following a nervy all-or-nothing tie-break it was skip Thomas Greechan who held his nerve to draw the winning bowl.
‘It’s feels amazing to have won but it’s made a lot more special winning it with Chloe,’ said the Jersey skip.
‘To win it with your 14-year-old daughter makes it unbelievable.’
Chloe Greechan added: ‘It’s just such a good feeling. I’m over the moon, I didn’t quite expect it but it’s all over now and I can say I’m a world champion at the age of 14-years-old.’
Having started the first set poorly, the Jersey pairing trailed 6-1 after five ends. Despite battling back well, the opening set was always beyond them but their rejuvenation set them up perfectly for the start of the second set.
Sure enough, with the wind in their sails and the vocal support of a busy Jersey Indoor Bowling Association clubhouse, the father and daughter partnership amassed an 8-1 lead of their own after five ends before closing out the second set to send the match to a tie-break.
With just three bowls remaining in the match, Thomas Greechan drew his attempt to within six inches of the jack to hold shot, but a fine effort from Ireland skip John McCullough disturbed the head.
With the final delivery of what had already been an astonishing encounter, Thomas Greechan drew his bowl again to within six inches of the jack to the delight of the Jersey supporters.
Jersey’s Baxter, who admitted he never even dreamed of reaching the showdown, let alone claiming the title, beat Scotland’s Mike Stepney in the men’s final – again getting the better of his opponent on a tie-break.
The Jersey representative, who moved to the Island last year from his native Scotland, won the first set 9-6 but, having held a 5-1 lead in the second, he allowed Stepney to battle back and win 9-5.
Just as Greechan had managed earlier in the day, however, Baxter held his nerve in the tie-break to claim the world title.
Baxter said: ‘It’s hard to put into words just now … I think it may take a day or two to sink in but I played well and felt comfortable in the final.’
Meanwhile, Guernsey’s Alison Merrien beat Scotland’s Leane Fuyre 7-8, 11-2, 1-0 to win the women’s title.
