Ellis scoops double success

GARY ELLIS

GARY Ellis had a weekend to remember, clinching two of the biggest prizes in bowls to collect a cool £3,100.

The Nimble Nook and Tonge star saw off a top-class field in the finals of the Grange Classic in Stockport on Saturday night.

Ellis clinched the top prize of £1,600 after beating Merseyside's Robbie Fitzpatrick 21-18 in an excellent final.

He had survived a 21-20 nailbiter against Shropshire's Callum Wraight in the last 16, and followed that narrow win with a 21-14 defeat of Failsworth’s Lee Lawton and an identical semi-final return against Derbyshire’s Andrew Spragg.

Former Oldhamer Graeme Wilson, the season’s most successful player, was a hot favourite for the Grange title, but went down 21-18 to Fitzpatrick in the quarter-finals.

Ellis followed up his victory in Stockport by coming out on top in the Johnstone Recruitment Invitation Classic 32 at Hawcoat Park, Barrow, yesterday.

After beating Hawcoat greensman Roy Moxham 21-17 in the quarter-finals, Ellis swept aside top Kendal player Ian Nicholson 21-9 in the semis.

And he ensured another hefty pay-out of £1,500 when he defeated Blackpool’s Tommy King 21-17 in the final.

With the last 64 of the prestigious Waterloo Handicap in Blackpool less than a fortnight away, Ellis has clearly hit form just at the right time to mount a determined defence of the title he won for the second time last year.