Local sport: Chronicle Cup bowls

Dwayre books place in finals

TWO former champions and two of the competition’s organisers are through to the finals of the 2009 Oldham Evening Chronicle Handicap.

Tonge’s Mark Dwayre, the winner in 2004, and Chadderton Cot’s Alan Jackson, champion in 1972 and 1975, both qualified at Nimble Nook.

And competition committee man Bob Nisbet defeated reigning champion Alan Hodson at Royton on his way to the last eight while tournament chairman Keith McHugh, the runner-up two years ago, went through at the chief expense of three-times champion Steve Copeland.

Nimble Nook saw some excellent bowling and Dwayre led the way, defeating Darren Mountford (North Chadderton) 21-18 in his opening game before fending off Paul Roberts (Springhead) 21-17 and booking his place in the finals at North Chadderton on Saturday, July 11, with a 21-11 victory over George Shaw (Springbank).

Shaw had progressed with a 21-10 win against Stuart Bentley (North Chadderton) and 21-7 success against R Kelly (Hollinwood).

Jackson produced a super display which saw him defeat Jim Mountford (North Chadderton) 21-15, Alan Bidwell (Springbank) 21-19 and Barbara Cooper (Royton) 21-14.

Barbara, who received a first-round bye, had beaten North Chadderton’s Phil Wakeling to move into the last 16.

Over at Royton, the plaudits went to Nisbet (Nimble Nook), who saw off Steve McHugh (Hopwood) 21-14 before ousting defending champion Hodson 21-13.

Having gone so far, Nisbet was in no mood to let slip a finals place and bowled excellently to beat Llew Roberts (Springbank) 21-12.

The other half of the draw saw Keith McHugh progress with a 21-11 success against Springbank’s Wilf McDermott and 21-13 defeat of Alf Smallwood (Nimble Nook).

That set up a last-16 clash with Copeland - who had seen off last year’s beaten finalist Peter Fielding (Syke) 21-9 and Star’s Len Kewley 21-17 - and it was McHugh (Hopwood) who came out on top 21-15, some telling early strikes paving the way for victory.




THE draw for the finals was made by president John Lord and has thrown up some fascinating ties: Alan Jackson v Paul Heap; Peter Craig v Bob Nisbet; Nicky Brooks v Darren Griffiths; Mark Dwayre v Keith McHugh.