Ross Bowling Club Short Mat Bowling 2016-17
The year began with an unsuccessful defence of the County Summer League competition,
Ross 1 being drawn in a tough Larks division and finishing runners-up to eventual
competition winners Woolhope. Ross 2 finished 4th in Swallows division.
The club once again ran a full programme of competitions across the winter season,
culminating in the climax of the club singles competition and an awards presentation
and buffet supper.
The singles competition looked for a long time as if it could produce an unexpected
result but, in the end, Tony Vitale made it 4 wins in 5 years. Tony’s semi-final
against Rob George was neck and neck throughout, the match only being decided by
a strong final end from the defending champion. In the other semi-final, this year’s
surprise performer, Leo Hughes, overcame Les Williams for the second time in this
year’s competition to take his place in the final. Leo continued his strong form
into the final and after 10 of the 15 ends he had a narrow lead but Tony then found
his best form and reeled off 4 straight ends to take the match with an end to spare
and make another successful title defence.
Club president John Perks presented the awards to the competition winners:
Singles Tony Vitale
Evening Triples Ali Roe, Gwen Lambert, Ian Park
Afternoon Pairs John Churchill, Harold Aubrey
Afternoon Australian Pairs Sue Stephenson, Les Williams
Afternoon Triples (1) Lyn Cole, Sue Dix, Les Williams
Afternoon Triples (2) Derek Griffiths, Bernard Glover, George Marshall
Ross players had another very successful season at county level. Ian Park became
the first player to win the county singles title three times and the club successfully
defended their county titles in Triples (Ali & Ian Roe, Ian Park), Mixed Fours (Elaine
George, Ian Roe, Pam & Ian Park) and Bromyard Triples Challenge (Elaine George, Dave
Watkins, Les Williams). They also had losing finalists in the Singles (Ian Roe),
Triples (Elaine George, Dave Watkins & Les Williams), Fours (Elaine & Rob George,
Dave Watkins & Les Williams) and Mixed Fours (Ali Roe, Dave Watkins, Kate Williams
& Les Williams). The team of Ali & Ian Roe, Les Williams and Dave Watkins won the
Macmillan Charity tournament for the second time.
Ross players qualified in all 5 senior disciplines to represent Herefordshire in
the National Finals. The full list of qualifiers, with their position in the national
finals, was:
Singles Ian Roe Last
32
Pairs Ian Park & Tony Vitale Last
32
Triples Ali & Ian Roe, Ian Park Qualifying
group
Fours Ian Roe & Ian Park (with Dominic & Anthony Rogers) Qualifying
group
Mixed Fours Ali & Ian Roe, Pam & Ian Park Last
16
The ‘A’ team had to settle for runners-up spot in Division 1 of the County Winter
League, won once again by Woolhope A but the ‘B’ team should be promoted, finishing
runners-up in Division 2 after leading the division for long periods. The ‘C’ team
finished 6th in Division 2. Ross reached the final of the LEH Team of Ten competition
for the first time in 6 years but were defeated by Woolhope in the final.
Ross entered a team in the National Top Club Championships for the first time and
qualified for the finals although the opposition there proved too strong for the
Ross team (George Marshall, Dave Watkins, Les Williams, Ian Roe, Kate Williams &
Ian Park) who won only 2 of their 16 games across the two days of competition.
Across the season 8 Ross players represented Herefordshire in the Inter County Championships.
