Disability Bowls England held the 9th Masters Singles Tournament at Gedling IBC, Nottingham.
23rd & 24th November 2013.
Top bowlers from four different disability bowls groups played in the elite 16-person event. The groups represented were BWBA (for wheelchair bowlers), CPSport (for bowlers with cerebral palsy, strokes and head injury) VIBE (visually impaired) and EALABA (for amputee’s and other disabilities). Each disability group nominates 4 top bowlers, they are then drawn into 4 pools consisting of one bowler from each disability group. They play a round robin in their pool, the winners of each pool determine the semi-finalists.
Sadly Lea Davis the defending Champion was unable to compete this year, but there was no lack of talent in the competition with competitors coming from as far North, South, East and West of the country and many points in between.
This year the semi-finals saw Bob Love, Birmingham (EALABA) matched up against Paul Hawkes , London, (VIBE) and David Walker ,Leeds ( CP Sport) take on Ray Kirk, Nottingham.
Both Bob Love and David Walker had very convincing wins over their opponents to reach the final.
David won the first two ends but by the 11th end Bob had a good lead of 14 points to 4, but then came the Walker ‘come back’. By the 17th end the score was 14 – 13, then Bob dug deep and took the next three ends making the score 18 – 13 but David never gives up, he then took a two followed by a one, the score now being 18 – 16, sadly for David the bell rang to signal the end of the game, on the 22nd end. Bob probably sighing with relief, it was a long hard game.
Well done Bob on your win, what a terrific game of bowls!
Congratulations to both players for wonderful display of bowling, each player demonstrating that they were both worthy ‘Masters’!
This year the trophies were presented by Mo Monkton and Edna Bessell EIBA England selectors for the women’s Under 25’s national team.
They were well impressed by the standard of the bowling over the weekend.
It was a great weekend, enjoyed by all who participated and watched.
A ‘big thank you‘ to the Gedling IBC members who helped over the weekend, they were, as always, brilliant!
Margaret Smith
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