Following on from the county’s best ever showing in the National Championships, there was further evidence of the county’s increasing ability to compete at a national level when two of the county’s club teams put in their best ever performances in the National Club Championships.

Woolhope and Ross each had a team in the 16 club finals held in Torquay and both teams competed in round robin groups with some of the country’s top club teams, most of them boasting several England team players. Despite some satisfying victories, neither team managed to qualify for the main knockout competition and both entered the plate competition.

After wins in the quarter finals, the two teams met at the semi-final stage and, in a reversal of this season’s general fortunes, county league and cup winners Woolhope found their rivals in good form and Ross won all disciplines to progress to the plate final.

The final proved to be a tight affair against a Somerset club but, despite winning two of the four disciplines, Ross were squeezed out by a mere two shots overall in a thrilling finale. Both teams had just cause to be well satisfied with their weekend’s bowling and enhanced the county’s reputation in the sport significantly.

The curtain came down on the short mat bowls season with the county association’s annual Presentation Evening held at the Larruperz Centre in Ross. Presided over by county chairman Ian Park, just under 100 members saw presentations made to winners of the county’s various leagues and competitions, as well as a special Achievement Award made to Ross’s Les Williams who has stepped down as secretary and captain of the Ross Short Mat team after a 25-year term during which he also served on the county committee for several years and represented club and county at all levels.

The trophies had been organised, also for the final time before stepping down, by Terry Darrington and members were served a sumptuous buffet supper, provided by the Larruperz team; Sue Stannard, Rita Hancock, Heather Foulkes and Fran Jones.

Competition winners:

County Singles - Joe Loveys; County Pairs - Terry Darrington and Rita Hancock; County Triples - John Mills, Shirley and Becci Cox; County Fours - Dean Rudman, Mike Conway, Terry Griffiths, Rita Hancock; County Mixed Fours - Shirley and Becci Cox, Anthony and Dominic Rogers; National Qualifier Singles - Shaun Jones; National Qualifier Pairs - Ian Roe and Ian Park; National Qualifier Triples - Ian Roe, Pam & Ian Park; National Qualifier Fours - Mike Conway, Mark Cinderey, David Millington Jones, Anthony Rogers; National Qualifier Mixed Fours - Dominic Rogers, John Mills, Shirley and Becci Cox; National Qualifier Under 18 - Dominic Rogers; National Qualifier Over 55 Pairs - Terry Darrington and Rita Hancock; Winter League Division 1 - Woolhope A; Winter League Division 2 - Gorsley Chapel; Summer League - Woolhope 1; Bromyard Trophy Club Triples - Aston Ingham – Mike Conway, Terry Darrington, Rita Hancock; Macmillan Cancer Support Trophy - Linda Lewis, Luke Rawlings, Hazel and Tony Vitale; HSMBA Achievement Award - Les Williams; LEH Team of Ten Two Counties Trophy - Woolhope.