THE final session of the 2023 Channel Islands indoor bowls finals may have been dominated by one-sided scorelines, but edge-of-the-seat action was certainly not lacking elsewhere, as Jersey claimed overall bragging rights.
The hosts would end the weekend with seven of the 11 available titles in their possession, including a ladies’ fours crown that was earned in a remarkable fashion.
Facing their Guernsey counterparts at Grainville, Fiona Archibald, Carolyn Stanley, Diane Canavan and Suzanne Job chalked up five shots on the final end to overturn a 24-20 deficit and claim victory from the jaws of defeat.
Elsewhere, Michael Rive and Scott Ruderham bounced back from 8-1 down to claim the men’s pairs title 23-15 – at Ian Merrien and Tom Bonsall’s expense – while Chloe Greechan and Megan Kivlin finished 19-18 up in the ladies’ pairs showdown, having been 9-1 down after five ends.
Rive and Greechan, who both lost in the triples, would also go on to claim the men’s singles and ladies’ under-25s singles titles respectively, to earn a place at the British Isles Indoor Bowls Council Championships in Scotland in March.
Rive beat Merrien 21-7 and Greechan ended 21-2 up, against Nicole Le Noury.
‘Saturday wasn’t our day,’ Greechan said, discussing her triples defeat alongside her mother, Lindsey, and Kivlin. ‘The three of us couldn’t find it, we have no complaints about that one.
‘We came out a lot stronger in the pairs and got ourselves into a real tussle, but managed to get it on the last end. Then in the U25 singles, I always felt like my first two were close. That put Nicole under pressure and I could then add with my third and fourth. I got a good lead and then managed to pull away.’
On her British Championships hopes, Greechan added: ‘I lost in the U25 singles final last year, so I’m looking to go one further this time and win it.’
Rive, who finished 16-14 down in Saturday’s men’s triples final, alongside Ross Davis and Maurice Andrieux, said: ‘I’m happy with how it went in the singles and pairs. We didn’t deserve to lose the triples … I thought we were the much better team. But I made up for it [on Sunday]. In pairs we managed the game really well and, in the singles, I don’t think anyone would have beaten me, the way I was playing. I’m happy with that.’
Former world champion Alison Merrien – winner of the ladies’ singles and triples crowns – is set to compete in the World Championships from tomorrow. The Sarnian beat Lindsey Greechan 21-10 in the CI singles final, following a mini revival from the Caesarean, from 18-3 to 18-10.
She said: ‘Two out of four is not too bad and it was a good competition before I go away, to get into the mindset and get ready.
‘I’ve been playing Lindsey for many years and she’s certainly not an easy opponent. It was probably not her best game today but I was in better form in the singles. I just had to keep digging in there to get through.’
2023 Channel Islands finals
Men’s singles: Michael Rive beat Ian Merrien 21-7.Ladies’ singles: Lindsey Greechan lost to Alison Merrien 21-10.U25 men’s singles: Tyler Le Moine lst Bradley Le Noury 21-3.Ladies’ U25 singles: Chloe Greechan bt Nicole le Noury 21-2.Men’s pairs: M Rive/Scott Ruderham bt I Merrien/Tom Bonsall 23-15.Ladies’ Pairs: C Greechan/Megan Kivlin bt A Merrien/Shirley Petit 19-18.Men’s triples: Ross Davis/M Rive/Maurice Andrieux lst Gary Pitchou/ Mike Le Noury/Steve Le Noury 16-14. Ladies’ triples: L Greechan/C Greechan/M Kivlin lst A Merrien/S Petit/Catherine Snell 23-8.Men’s fours: Cyril Renouf/Alan Shaw/Derek Boswell/David Ahier bt Ben Harvey/Dave King/Dave Jeffrey/S Le Noury 23-15.Ladies’ fours: Fiona Archibald/Carolyn Stanley/Diane Canavan/Suzanne Job bt A Merrien/S Petit/Rose Ogier/C Snell 25-24.Men’s veterans fours: Angus McKinnon/Alex Stewart/Roddy MacDonald/Roger Smith bt D King/Mick Hullock/Keith de la Mare/M Le Noury 29-22.
*Jersey players first
