International class duelling was just one of the highlights of the York and District Indoor Bowls Club's end of season finals.
Reigning men's champion Stuart Bryan supplemented that crown by taking the under-25s' title and the Gordon Winters Trophy for the fifth time when the England Under-25 player beat England under-31 star Michelle Mooring 21-8.
Bryan though was on the losing side when he Norman Vause and Tony Bryan representing Ian Tindal's team were beaten in the triples 17-15 by the Ian Teasdale rink of Gordon Smith, Eric Hodgson and Dudley Williams. Smith clinched the game on an extra end.
The mixed triples final proved almost as nail-biting. After Malcolm Thompson, Ray Calpin and Pat Napier surged to 10-1 ahead they were clawed back before eventually beating Mick Corringham, Vera Walls and Fred Clayden 15-14.
Corringham gained consolation in the men's fours showdown as he Doug Mitchell, Brian Brigham and Steve Sanderson countered from 15-11 down to beat Mick Parker, Jack Brooks, Keith Tissyman and Frank Turner 24-20.
One of the most absorbing finals was the ladies fours where the Helen Walker quartet of Lynda Parker, Betty Elwood, Sue Tomlinson and Trish Harrison rushed to a 15-6 lead.
Opponents Linda Harrison, Dot Kennelly, Betty Richardson and Pat Napier - the 1998 winners - rallied strongly and gained the lead at 16-15. But the Walker rink steadied and despite a late flurry won 20-19.
There was anguish for Charlie Bateman, who was going for his third win in the mixed finals alongside Joyce Chelin, Cath Blease and Frank Turner. Trailing 10-2 to Tex Stevens, Lynda Parker, Clarice Johnston and Fred Clayden, Bateman's ranks nosed 15-13 in front. But the Stevens-led rivals recovered their poise notchoing a four and a two en route to a 19-17 success.
In the ladies' pairs Ena Neal's team of Melanie Brooke and Ann redhead were staring defeat in the face on the last wood to the Helen Walker duo of Trish Stevens and Pat Wilson. But then Brooke's last shot hit another wood which in turn moved the jack nearer her team's wood to clinch an 18-17 win.
The men's pairs crown went to the Charlie Bateman team of Paul Mooring and John Stroughair who beat Ray Calpin and Malcolm Thompson 26-8, while the ladies' triples crown was won by Carol Instone, Joan Jackson and Joyce Chelin 18-7 over Lynda Parker, Joan Botting and Jeanette Coulson.
Bill Hedison, Dennis Sanderson, Dave McCowan and Alwyn Johnson won the vets fours final for the second year running easily overcoming Lol Atkinson's team of Ray Baker, Terry Hague, Derek Stokoe and John Berridge 32-15.
Updated: 09:31 Thursday, April 26, 2001
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