Ashley Daykin captured the British Crown Green Senior Merit title amid emotional scenes at Cleckheaton Sports to become All-England champion.

The 50-year-old from Netherton Con is one of the most popular and talented bowlers on the circuit – not to mention a highly-respected Yorkshire player over many years – but after his 21-20 victory over Warwick & Worcester’s Ant Bracken in the showpiece he beamed: “It doesn’t get any better than this - it’s the highlight of my career.”

Holmfirth-based Daykin’s success will be broadcast to 20 countries and there were tears as his parents, John and Sue, and his wife Lisa were greenside among and army of supporters to celebrate the victory, which qualifies him for the Champion of Champions at Blackpool’s famous Waterloo Hotel.

“It all started for me last week when I won the Nursery at Stockport and then I went with my mum and dad on holiday to the Fleetwood Festival, where I won the Strawberry Gardens competition on Thursday night,” explained the man who won Huddersfield’s Summer Handicap title back in June.

“I came back on Friday feeling good and in the middle of a purple patch, all geared up for the All-England, and I can’t tell you what it was like to win because I don’t think I could ever feel like that again.

“The crowd was brilliant and people were all over the green celebrating when I won, my mates were all there and my mum and dad were crying. I was very emotional myself because it’s just a fantastic thing.

“There are a lot of top bowlers who never even get to an All-England final, so to actually win it is just the best thing ever.”

Daykin, who runs his own joinery business, had a close call in the very first round, beating Shropshire’s Spencer Clarke 21-20, and he then toppled Robert Eaton from Cheshire 21-16 to move off the back green and onto his more favoured surface at the M62 venue.

Another Warwick & Worcester bowler, Chris Lambert was defeated 21-10 in the third round before his friend from South Yorkshire, Jack Clarke, was overcome 21-18.

Daykin expected to be facing Cheshire’s Glynn Cookson in the last four, but he lost to Nigel Iliff of Derbyshire.

By then, Daykin was in top form and Iliff couldn’t cope with the Netherton player’s accuracy, going down 21-4.

“I had a scare in the first round, having been 20-12 up against Spencer and ending up all-but, but he struck and missed and I was through,” said Daykin, who collected £1,500 and the trophy.

“My main objective was to get off the back green, because I don’t play that very often, and I did that by beating Robert and then played a fairly controlled performance against Chris Lambert, who played well.

“I like the other green and have done well there in the past, so it was good to come through against a friend in Jack Clarke, when I played a really good wood to win on my last end.

“Even though some people felt I had been off the green too long at that stage, I was playing really well by the semi-final against Nigel, who I didn’t really know, and I came through pretty well.”

Daykin, the only Yorkshire bowler past the third round – Canalside’s Adam Douglas fell at that stage against Cheshire’s Steve Morrey – says he is looking forward to watching the TV coverage of the final against Bracken.

“It was a great match right from the first end, and I can’t wait to watch it back,” said Daykin, who beat possibly the strongest field ever assembled for a BCGBA Senior Merit final.

“He played a 6in bowl while I was two feet short. Ant then played another toucher and I could see about only 2in of the bowl because mine was in the way, but I thought I just had to go for it and struck.

“I just missed mine to perfection and ended up with one on and, the next thing I know I’ve gone out to 15-5 up.

“Unfortunately I played a bad lead and let him back in and was 20-19 down when I went into the bottom corner, on a mark I’m quite happy with – three-quarter corners.

“He bowled six inches and then nowhere, but I was on a road and then next thing people are all over the place and I’ve won!”

Daykin celebrated with his friends in Holmfirth, but he wasn’t the only one with something to smile about.

“A woman came up to me at the end and asked my what I wanted to drink,” he explained. “When I asked her why, she said she’d had £50 on me at 14/1, so she was £700 up and the drinks were on her!

“The support really was fantastic and, like I said, I don’t think I will ever experience anything like that again. It was amazing.”

Canalside member Dave Cowsill was beaten 21-10 in the second round by Merseyside’s Stephen Glover, while Lower Hopton’s two-time winner Graeme Wilson went out in the first round, 21-13, to Paul Busby of Staffordshire.

Huddersfield Merit winner Andy Cairns fell in the second round to Iliff, while Netherton’s Rob Wiltshire from Penistone went out at the same stage, beaten by eventual finalist Bracken.

Third round: Jack Clarke (South Yorkshire) 21 Liam Griffin (Yorkshire) 11, Chris Lambert (Warwick & Worcester) 10 Ashley Daykin (Yorkshire) 21, Darren Plenderleith (North Midlands) 6 Nigel Iliff (Derbyshire) 21, Paul Busby (Staffordshire) 13 Glynn Cookson (Cheshire) 21, Simon Coupe (North Lancs & Fylde) 18 Ross Dunkley (Warwick & Worcester) 21, Adam Douglas (Yorkshire) 11 Steve Morrey (Cheshire) 21, Gary Ellis (Greater Manchester) 21 Liam Howard (Cumbria) 9, Stephen Glover (Merseyside) 19 Ant Bracken (Warwick & Worcester) 21.

Quarter-finals: Clarke 18 Daykin 21, Iliff 21 Glynn Cookson 20, Dunkley 18 Steve Morrey 21, Ellis 14 Bracken 21.

Semi-finals: Daykin 21 Iliff 4, Morrey 14 Bracken 21.

Final: Daykin 21 Bracken 20.

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