Singles and fours British titles for Guernsey bowlers

Thursday 14 March 2024

Alison Merrien has won her seventh British singles title in what was a successful weekend for the Channel Island indoor bowlers.

Competing in The British Isles Indoor Bowls Council’s Championships, Merrien was also part of a winning women’s four alongside Rose Ogier, Catherine Bonsall, and Shirley Petit.

Jersey’s Thomas Grechan was the Channel Islands’ representative in the men’s singles, and he took that title, while Ross Davis and Luke Le Sueur came away with the men’s doubles crown.

Merrien faced Scotland’s five time winner Julie Forrest in the final in Chelmsford.

It wasn’t until the fifth end that she troubled the scoreboard, at which point she was already five shots down.

But taking three on the sixth and adding a single on the seventh drew Merrien level.

The game remained tight with never any more than two shots in it until Merrien took three on the 20th end to create a 16-13 advantage.

While Forrest came back again with two shots, another three from Merrien on the 22nd end created the decisive gap and she went on to win 21-16.

The Ladies Four earlier in the day saw the Guernsey quartet also behind early on as they faced the Welsh.

They trailed 8-1 after five ends, but taking four on the next end and two after that brought them right back into contention.

It was a tense affair from then on, with the teams level at 15-all after 19 ends. 

Guernsey took a single on the 20th and another single on the 21st to secure victory 17-15.