Mick Higgins and Michael Sweeney were festive winners at the Griffin Bowling Club.
Higgins won the Boxing Day Competition sponsored by Alan Pogson of Abacus Stone Sales, beating Andy Cairns 21-15 in the final, and dedicated his victory to friend and former Marsh United bowler Alan Thompson, who passed away on December 19.
Sweeney won the Sixteen sponsored by Strait Kutz Hairdressing of Marsden, taking the showpiece 21-14 against Ross Mallinson despite everyone taking part having to combat a couple of inches of snow and ice on the green surface.
On Boxing Day, Higgins had a slight lead, 10-7 at the 10th end in the final before Cairns got back to just one behind.
Higgins then had a six break and, at the 18th end, he led 17-10.
Cairns scored another five, but Higgins got the four needed and gained a well-deserved win, having played well in all his qualifying games.
Club president Alan Hirst thanked all those who supported the event, Mark and Lesley Wood for supplying refreshments, the two greenkeepers, Mark Richardson and Peter Kain, and all the helpers.
Hirst commented on the high standard of play in the final and then presented the prizes with £120 and the trophy to Higgins.
In response, Higgins thanked everyone involved in organising the event and told everyone of his desire to dedicate the win to Thompson.
First round: Mark Allman 20 Brian Dyson 21, Tony Marren 9 Graham Sigsworth 21, Ross Mallinson 14 Don Rae 21, John Abbott 9 Craig Gant 21, Peter Kain 21 Richard Punshon 11, Peter Hopkinson 13 Liam Fallas 21, Roy Sutton 11 Andy Cairns 21, Steve Parkin 13 Roger Crowther 21, Barry Tinker 10 Mick Higgins 21, Dennis Tattersley 13 Mark Bramall 21, Terry Brook 21 Steve Hirst 11, Andy Smith 6 Jack Dyson 21, Mark Wood 21 Kieran O’Prey 8, Alan Hirst 8 Paul Bowes 21, Gary Siswick 16 Ray Whitwam 21, Paul Ingleby 19 Mark Richardson 21.
Second round: B Dyson 14 Sigsworth 21, Rae 12 Gant 21, Kain 21 Fallas 16, Cairns 21 Crowther 9, Higgins 21 Bramall 20, Brook 19 J Dyson 21, Wood 5 Bowes 21, Whitwam 21 Richardson 8.
Quarter-finals: Sigsworth 21 Gant 12, Kain 20 Cairns 21, Higgins 21 Dyson 10, Bowes 15 Whitwam 21.
Semi-finals: Sigsworth 18 Cairns 21, Higgins 21 Whitwam 14.
Final: Higgins 21 Cairns 15.
In the Sixteen, there were some unexpected results due to snow and ice on the green, making it very difficult to reach and contend with the uneven surface.
The most significant was 1/20 hotshot Andy Cairns losing to Geoff Price, who is in his first season at the Griffin.
Eventual winner Sweeney, also in his first season, out-threw all his opponents except in the final, when Mallinson was leading 7-1 and (at the 17th end) 12-7.
Sweeney then got in and scored 14 while Mallinson managed only another two singles.
It was a well-deserved win for Sweeney and both finalists were congratulated for excellent performances under difficult conditions.
First round: Craig Gant 21 Brian Dyson 14, Alec Byrnes 21 Frank Greenwood 8, Liam Fallas 18 Gary Siswick 21, Harry Ellis 13 Ross Mallinson 21, Mick Higgins 21 Mark Sykes 19, Michael Sweeney 21 Mark Wood 18, Andy Cairns 17 Geoff Price 21, Paul Ingleby 5 Duncan Reeves 21.
Quarter-finals; Gant 21 Byrnes 4, Siswick 10 Mallinson 21, Higgins 16 Sweeney 21, Price 3 Reeves 21.
Semi-finals: Gant 16 Mallinson 21, Sweeney 21 Reeves 10.
Final: Mallinson 14 Sweeney 21.
This coming Sunday’s Sixteen is sponsored by Mark Allman and starts at 11am.
Draw: (with odds in brackets) Mark Allman (6) v Roy Sutton (9/2), Andy Smith (16) v George Fellows (33), Don Rae (8) v Barry Gibson (14), Peter Hopkinson (33) Mark Richardson (10), Jack Dyson (6/4) v Dennis Tattersley (33), Danny Radcliffe (12) v Steve Parkin (20), Terry Brook (4) v Barry Tinker (20), Richard Punshon (25) v John Abbott.
