An action packed weekend was guaranteed with the quality of the players entering the EALABA Drawn Pairs Championship 2025. Despite late withdrawal, twelve players congregated at Tamworth IBC.
From L to R:- Ryan Williams, Steven Smith, Rhys Milton, Daniel Humphreys, Barry Nicholson, John Rogers, Steven Nicholson, Chris Gray, Graham Arding, Colin Wagstaff, Gary Swift and Alex Comack.
By the time that matches finished on the first day, ready for the associations AGM, Chris Gray and partner Alex Comack were leading, undefeated with 9 points. The rest closely followed with everything to play for and almost anyone’s title, mathematically.
It has to be reported that during the first days morning session there was a fantastic display of leading by Graham Arding, with 3 and 4 bowls each end, being within a mats width of the jack. Exceptional!
The leaders, Chris and Alex, were held to a draw, by Daniel and Steve, in the first match of the second day. Two other teams picked up maximum points, and bringing John and Colin into second place within one point of the leaders. Next, and last matches, brought Chris/Alex into battle with John/Colin.
Matches over 75 minutes is not long and players need to be focussed. This started as a tight match with the lead swapping over the first few ends before Colin and John crept into the lead, running out 7-4 winners and EALABA Drawn Pairs Champions.
Fairly recently we reported the passing of one of EALABA’s original members, Ray Smith. In Ray’s honour, his son Neil and daughter in law Tina joined everyone for a two course Sunday lunch followed by a bowls spider. The money collected from a raffle and the spider were passed to Neil as a donation for Ray’s favourite charity – The Polio Foundation. The weekend concluded with Neil presenting the trophies to the finalist.
EALABA would like to thank all players, their families, supporters, helpers, Tamworth IBC and caterers Sticky Fingers.