Gildredge Park Bowls Club ladies team scored a stunning victory over Burgess Hill Bowls Club on Saturday 11th September to be crowned the Sussex County Top Club Champions. A large crowd of Gildredge supporters travelled to the neutral venue of Preston Bowls Club in Brighton to cheer on the team in a match over four rinks (singles, pairs, triples, and fours). Victory would go to the team with the majority rink score, but if the rinks were tied at two apiece then the total shot count would be used to seperate the teams.
A tense opening half saw the match finely balanced with Burgess Hill ahead on two rinks and Gildredge ahead on the other two. Ups and downs across the greens added up to Gildredge being narrowly ahead by five shots at the halfway point.
But the Gildredge team continued to press. On the triples a change in the mat helped the team of Ros Pickering, Mal Rossell and Carole Forge recover from a 12 shot deficit right back to just two down at the 18th end as Gildredge were pipped 19 to 21. The singles was tight throughout with Cathy Greenwood scoring well and losing only narrowly 18 to 21. Gill Seymour and Ellen Strevens were on top all the way through to run out pairs winners by 21 to 12. The fours of Helen Cunningham, Carol Heasman, Marilyn Doust and Jenny Townsend scarcely let their opponents see the jack and won by 25 to 6. The final overall score was two rinks to each team but the shot advantage to Gildredge by +23
Gildredge Park ladies team are now DOUBLE County winners. They won the national Top Club county zone (see Aug 14th blog for the full story). They have now added the County Top Club championship.
Team coach Denise Smith said "What a wonderful team spirit. The players supported each other with such a positive approach". Ros Pickering, team manager, added "This is our best result for years. I am so proud of our success and we hope to build on this in our competitons next year"
County President Gill Hill was in attendance. The formal trophy presentation will be at the Ladies County Lunch later in the year.
Jenny Townsend sends another one to the jack as the fours score a runaway victory on their rink.
Some of the many Gildredge supporters at the match. After the match, the team and supporters enjoyed a meal and a celebratory drink in the Preston clubhouse.
The ladies team are now looking forward to the Top Club Challange. This is a brand new match at Gildredge Bowls Club between the ladies' and the men's Top Club teams. The contest will be over several rinks with two and four wood singles, pairs, triples, and fours. Spectators are very welcome in what is sure to prove a friendly, yet keenly contested match. Insiders are tipping the ladies due to their recent form but the men are keen to finish the season with a victory and believe their class will be hard to beat. Come and watch the match on Saturday 25th September at 10.00 am.