Land of glory!

Green Final Bowls winner Steve Copeland (l) with runner-up Keith McHugh

STEVE Copeland wrote his name into the record books by winning the Green Final Bowling Handicap at Royton.

In winning for the fourth time he equalled the feat of the late Peter Craig. After beating competition chairman Keith McHugh (Hopwood) 21-13 in the final he said: “To win this for a fourth time and equal the record means a lot. What I really want now is to win it for a fifth time.”

Copeland, in top form of late and on a green he knows so well, was always going to be the man to beat on finals night.

He opened with a 21-14 defeat of home player John Ashton, flying out of the traps and always holding his rival at arm’s length. That set up a semi-final showdown with Greater Manchester team-mate Matt Gillies (Nimble Nook), who fought a rearguard action against Simon Cawley (Springbank) before edging home 21-19.

In the other half of the draw, Bob Carr (Springhead) made a fast start and was always in command during a 21-12 victory over another home green man, Keith Gledhill. McHugh received a bye.

Copeland made a second successive flying start against Gillies, who never stopped trying but succumbed 21-14. In the other semi-final, Carr led 5-2 against McHugh, but that was as good as it got for him as the Hopwood man won 21-12.

The final was expected to be another pillar-to-post success for Copeland, but McHugh had other ideas and led 10-5 following some accurate play in the corners.

But when Copeland beat a foot bowl over 50 yards, it gave him the springboard to push on. Using his green knowledge and tactics designed to make the most of his left-hand delivery, Copeland forced his rival into errors and two brilliant bowls at the final end clinched him the trophy and £200 top prize.

The trophy was presented to Copeland by Oldham Evening Chronicle company secretary Tony Mackin.

The event raised more than £300 for charity.