LYME Regis Bowling Club capped the 66th edition of their Open Tournament by presenting four trophies on Finals Day.
Men’s and ladies’ singles titles plus pairs and triples crowns were decided on a dramatic day, following a goldmine of bowls.
Most of the earlier rounds were won reasonably comfortably with a couple of notable exceptions.
Eventual pairs winners Steve Pomeroy and Carl Stephens were two down with two ends remaining in the quarter-final and scored one on each of the last two ends for victory.
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Eventual finalist Paul Pomeroy and Carl Stephens were tied at 15-15 going into the last end of the singles second round but Pomeroy picked up one shot for the win.
Heading into Finals Day and the triples final, the Lyme Regis team of Barry Rattenbury, Nicky Driscoll, Barry Driscoll played Bridport’s Mike Craddock, Lyn Craddock and Chris Thorne.
Tied at 15-15 after 17 ends, Bridport prevailed with two on the last end to win the trophy.
In the pairs event, this was an all-Lyme final with Carl Stephens and Steve Pomeroy facing Karen Hofen and Tim Munro, the former duo winning 25-16 after 19 ends.
There was a fascinating battle in the men’s singles final as Lyme Regis father and son Steve and Paul Pomeroy did battle.
The lead changed hands several times until Steve took the lead for the last time on the 20th end at 17-15.
Going into the final end, Steve led 20-18 and picked up an additional shot on the 21st end to seal the victory.
There was an identical winning scoreline in the ladies’ singles final.
Last year’s runner-up Gill Hurst, from Romsey in Hampshire, played Sally Batt, from Avondale in Bristol, for the trophy.
Batt was down 20-16 after 20 ends but held off Hurst for three more ends before securing the final point she needed on the 23rd end to win 21-18.
Elsewhere, Lyme’s current club president and tournament secretary Susan Rowe, and assistant secretary Lesley Broom, are both retiring from organising the tournament.
Rowe said: “I have been involved for 16 years, Lesley for 15. We have enjoyed our time together and feel it’s time for a new team to take over.
“Initially it was feared that this would be the last tournament, then like buses, four people came forward to take over: Lyn and Kay Honey, Carl Stephens and Rom Hunt.
“They have some new ideas to hopefully encourage and increase participation. I wish them well.
“On another note when I first joined the committee, my first season was working with Carl’s father Ben, then Lesley took over from him.”
The tournament was opened by Rowe, wearing her other hat, who invited the Mayor Cllr David Ruffle and the Lady Mayoress Dolores Hollywood-Plant to deliver the first woods.
The singles preliminary round commenced shortly afterwards signalled by the traditional ringing of the bell.
Trophies were presented after the last final by Simon Wakely of main sponsors A J Wakely & Sons.
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