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ENGLISH INDOOR BOWLING ASSOCIATION
David Cornwell House, Bowling Green, Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 0DA | |
Tel.: 01664 - 481900 Fax: 01664 - 481901 |
D.N.Brown e-mail: indoorbowl@aol.com S.A.Rodwell e-mail: sar@eiba.co.uk | |
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![]() Warner Holidays Champion of Champions Finals 1999/2000 ![]() | ||
Over 200 spectators enjoyed an excellent display of Singles play during the Final Stages of the Championship, held at Warners Gunton Hall, near Lowestoft. Each Player had qualified by winning their Club Singles Competition and had played several preliminary rounds, which had started back in October. The Final was contested by two former England Internationals - Bill Hobart of Boston IBC (Lincs.) and Graham Standley of Longmeadow IBC (Whitchurch, Hants.), with Bill winning 21 - 17, in a game of conversion shots. In the 8th end, Graham played a running wood, which took out an excellent draw shot by Bill, to take a 4 and make the scores level at 8 -8. In the 14th end, it was Bills turn to take 2 after lying 2 down. Again in the 15th end, Bill Hobart played into the head when he was 3 down, reducing the count to a measure, only for Graham to play onto Bill's wood to again hold 3. As if this was not enough, Bill then proceeded to play a further conversion to take 3 shots when standing 2 shots down. Prior to the Final, the spirit of sportsmanship was epitomised by the two Finalists dining together for Lunch. The Trophies were presented by John Fulcher (President EIBA) and Richard West (Warners Holidays). The Winner received £1000, plus a Holiday to the value of £600 and the Runner-Up received £500, plus a Holiday to the value of £400. In the First Round, Peter Hobday of Victory IBC (Portsmouth) and Graham Standley had a real tussle. Standley eventually winning 21 - 19 on the 28th end, having twice seen Hobday draw shot to very close heads in previous ends. In the same Round, Bill Hobart also had to work hard against Eric Gooch of Beccles IBC (Suffolk), who had at one time led 15 - 9. Eric twice drew shot whilst being game down, only for Bill to finally draw shot with his last wood on the 29th end. The 1999 Champion, Mark Royal of Mid-Suffolk IBC (Stowmarket) battled hard in his First Round game to retain his title, only for Paul Vamvacopoulos of Wey Valley IBC (Guildford) to pull away and win 21 - 13. In the Quarter Finals, former England International Martyn Sekjer of Cyphers IBC (Beckenham,Kent), had to battle hard to overcome the challenge of David Fox of Foxhill IBC (Aylesbury, Bucks.), eventually winning 21 - 18 on the 27th end. Both Semi-Finals were well contested. Bill Hobart beat David Gildersleve (20-16) - when lying three down, which would have made the game level at 19-19; Bill Hobart played an excellent running wood to trail the jack for shot and lead 20-16. David had been attempting to reach the Final for a second time, having qualified for the final stages of this Championship in three out of the last four years and reached the Final in 1997/8. In the second Semi-Final, two ex-England Internationals battled it out with Graham Standley beating Martyn Sekjer 21-17 in 26 ends of play. | ||
IBC = Indoor Bowling Club | ![]() |
March 20, 2000 |
For further information, please contact any of the following Officers who will be pleased to assist you. | ||
Secretary D N Brown |
Deputy Secretary / Press Officer S A Rodwell |
National Competitions Officer A D Ward |