THE finals of the Ideal Standard/Persimmon Homes York Bowling Association took place on Clarence Gardens and John Emmerson (Poppleton Road WMC) took two of the titles.

Emmerson defeated Tex Stevens 21-9 in the singles and then joined Mick Birkley in the pairs to win 26-8 against Barry Cooper and Ray Bycroft (Osbaldwick).

In recent years the consolation singles has helped several bowlers emerge as leading singles players and this year Peter Witherwick (Heworth Cons) beat Dave Dale (West Park) 21-17 in the final and looks set to be a contender for the main title next year.

Five shots scored by Harry Rhodes, Ron Newton, Gary Bunce (Haxby Road) on the 16th end of their match cost the Ryders, Keith with sons Nigel and Keith, the Triples final, going down 17-15.

After trailing 18-9 at 14 ends Peter Thorpe, Ben Clayton, Gordon Hill and Les Jackson (Heworth Cons) were only two shots behind at the last end of the fours final, but were unable to make up the difference and lost 20-17 to John Anderson, Jake McLaren, Bruce Blackburn and Arthur Hattee (Osbaldwick).

Ian McKenzie, John Headley and Kath Pepper's defence of the Dunnington Mixed Triples title ended in the final, losing 8-7 to Frank Maxwell, with Barry and Maureen Walker.

Some 36 triples spent the weekend competing in a round robin competition and rinks skipped by Carol Instone, Phil Reeves, Trevor Johnson, Ron Kirkpatrick, Gordon Storey and Ian Willingham emerged to make up the quarter finalists.

Yorkshire County Women's Bowling Association will be well represented in the Ladies' Over 55 National Finals at Stoke Bowling Club, Coventry on September 9 and 10.

The County Champions Anita Haw and Joyce Chelin (Bert Keech) in the pairs and Maureen Walker (Clarence Gardens) in the singles, have beaten Lincolnshire and Lancashire champions to qualify for the last eight.

The round against Lancashire was played at Eggborough Power Station. Haw and Chelin beat the Counsell sisters, of Bolton, 28-12 and Walker had a 21-5 victory over M Adams, of Heaton Park.

The rearranged Bert Keech two-wood singles competition took place on Bank Holiday Monday and Paul Mooring successfully defended his title, beating Ian Farrar (Clifton) in the final.

He is only the third bowler since the competition started in 1948 to win in consecutive years; the others were Bill Gillis 1949-50 and John Stroughair 1981-2.

Jim Bone (South Bank) has dominated Club and Institute competitions for several years and it continued in the John Smith's Triples which he won along with Phil Reeves and Dennis Haw, beating J Annette, D Wheatley and P Smith (St Clements) in the final.

G Mackie, J Smith and N Mallen (Holgate) beat A Thompson's Burton Lane rink in the Plate final.

In the Vets' Pairs R Howland/K Robinson (Huntington) beat K Ryder/R Ashton (Tang Hall) 18-17. Jim Bone appears again in the Vets' Triples KO Final with D Haw and M Dewhirst beating S Allison, G Smith, J Caulfield (St Clements).

John Emmerson and Mick Birkley added the C&I pairs title to the YABA win, and Bone completed a hat-trick with a comfortable singles win against Barry Walker (Tang Hall).

Veterans wishing to take part in the C&I Two Wood Singles competition, to be held at Clarence Gardens on Wednesday, September 6 (10am) should note that the draw will be made on the day.