Ellis wins cup as opponent hit by illness

Bowler Gary Ellis wins 'Champion of Champions'.

BOWLS: TONGE star Gary Ellis landed his fourth Osprey Waterloo Handicap title in Blackpool yesterday – but his victory had little to do with his skills.

Ellis’s opponent in the final, Birmingham’s Steve Freer, was unable to play after feeling unwell and suffering vision problems.

The 43-year-old player complained of being unable to see properly during his semi-final against Merseyside’s Andy Hayes, whom he led 13-8. He left the green for 15 minutes and returned to win 21-11.

But, after another break, Freer announced he was unable to play in the final, giving Ellis a walkover and the Waterloo’s first bye-winner in its 105-year history.

Waterloo manager Jimmy Parker said: “Steve told me: ‘I just can’t see. I can’t play’. The main thing is that he is all right. His health is more important than a game of bowls.”

It was a sentiment shared by Ellis, who said: “It’s unprecedented. I’ve never known this sort of thing happen before. I would have waited as long as possible to play the game. But if people who know him best say that he couldn’t carry on, I fully respect that decision. I just hope he’s all right.”

Freer went to hospital but was allowed home to Birmingham last night.

Meanwhile, Ellis, after taking his 17th major title is an astonishing season, is now only one Waterloo win behind Brian Duncan, the man widely regarded as crown green’s greatest-ever player.

Ellis said: “I never expected to win the Waterloo four times. Doing it once was fantastic, but now I’m in this position to have a chance to equal Brian’s record. It would be an honour for me to get up there with him.”


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