CITY of York Open Bowls Tournament is facing its last end without new blood to help organise the competition.

This year's tournament dodged the showers to come to a successful conclusion at the weekend and organisers have indicated the 2001 competition is certain to go ahead.

But tournament chairman Alec Hemenway said the future of the York Open is in very real danger.

"After an eight year stint, the management committee feel that they are unable to continue after next year," explained Hemenway.

"Therefore after 33 successful years, it now seems likely that the tournament has run into serious trouble.

"The tournament is certain to go ahead in July 2001 but, regretfully, unless new management is forthcoming this will be our 'last end'.

"This time we have come to the crunch and the tournament really is in danger."

On the final day of this year's competition, the mixed pairs were the last to finish due to Val and Kevin Fort being involved in no less than five semi-finals and finals.

The mixed pairs final was in doubt right to the last end with the Fort duo requiring a four to gain an extra end.

Already laying the shot and going for a trail of the jack for five, Kevin Fort missed out and the title went to worthy tournament newcomers R Haynes and K Calvert with the score at 16-14.

In the men's pairs final, Tim Winters and Roy Robinson could not maintain their good form of the semis and were beaten by local pair Arthur Dunbar and John Emmerson with the score at 20-15.

In the men's singles, Geoff Wright successfully defended his title, emerging victorious at 21-19 over Ken Lippett, who had won through to the final after some battling performances in previous rounds.

Scotland's Fiona Kerr clinched the ladies' singles title from Maureen Robinson, who made a tentative start in the final and could not make up the deficit with the final score 21-15.

York Open Bowls Tournament

Mixed Pairs semi-finals: F Clayden-B Love 14, R Haynes-K Calvert 17; K V Fort 22, R Calpin-M Elvidge 21.

Mixed Pairs Final: R Haynes-K Calvert 16, K V Fort 14.

Men's Pairs semi-finals: G Raper-K Thompson 14, A Dunbar J Emmerson 20; T Winter-R Robinson 23, J Backhouse-K Fort 12.

Men's Pairs final: A Dunbar-J Emmerson 20, T Winter-R Robinson 15.

Men's Singles semi-finals: K Lippett 21, G Brooke 19; J Darley, G Wright w/o.

Men's singles final: K Lippett 19, G Wright 21.

Ladies Singles semi-finals: F Kerr 21, M Thomas 4; M Robinson 21, D M Kay 15.

Ladies Singles final: M Robinson 15, F Kerr 21.

Ladies Pairs semi-finals: V Fort-B Thompson 22, L Harrison-J Clayton 14; M E and P Walker 30, J Walker-F Kerr 13.

Ladies Pairs final: M E and P Walker 24, V Fort-B Thompson 14.