MIKE BRUCE narrowly missed out on a hat-trick of titles as the 43rd York Open Bowls Tournament reached a climax.

Bruce lifted the mixed pairs crown in tandem with Helen Walker and then won the men’s singles final, only to fall short in the men’s pairs with Alan Close.

Bruce and Walker were 15-12 victors over John and Pauline Cooper in the mixed pairs final at Clarence Gardens.

An amazing performance in the men’s singles final saw Bruce nullify the threat of 1998 and 2004 winner Gary Bunce to win 21-6.

However, holders Scott Burrell and Josh Cahill ended Bruce’s treble hopes with a 25-19 victory in a nip and tuck men’s pairs final.

Bruce and three-time winner Close led 11-6 and then 19-13, but were then blown away by their young opponents.

Brenda Benson staved off a comeback by 2006 champion Sandra Grantham to take the ladies singles crown 22-14.

In the last four, Grantham had eased to a 21-9 win over Carol Williams, while Benson needed a four, a two and a one in the last four ends to triumph 21-16 over Judy Abel.

Hayley MacDonald and Sue Kirkpatrick cruised to a 26-7 victory in the ladies pairs final against Pauline Armitage and F Davies.

The winners only reached the final after a stunning fight-back in their semi-final against England Under-25s international Zoe Eagles and Helen Walker.

Eagles and Walker led 19-9 with three ends to play, But MacDonald and Kirkpatrick picked up a four, a two and a five to snatch the win.

The junior singles saw mixed pairs partners Laura Clarke and Scott Burrell go head-to-head, with Burrell prevailing 17-10 to win the title for a fourth time in five years.

Tournament secretary Graham Brooke said: “It’s been a brilliant event. Everything went very well and the weather was kind to us.

“Some of the finals were a bit disappointing, but everybody enjoyed it and hopefully they will all come back next year.”