Madeira bowlers, both men and ladies, have done well this past week in county competitions, writes Jenny Smith.

Courtney Seers has qualified for the national finals at Leamington. Playing with Shania Oliver (Plymouth City Bus), she beat R Leather and H Morfey 19-11 and then went on to win against Cassidy Lenton and Harriet Stevens (Kings) 25-9 in the Under 25s Pairs at Newton Abbott.

Two Madeira teams made it through to the section finals of the Bowls Devon Ladies Pairs. Dee Norman and Christine Macaulay had two excellent wins against Seaton and Madeira teams, but were disappointed to lose the closest of finals against Sue Evans and Carol Binmore of Honiton.

Having led throughout the game only to draw on the 21st end, they lost the extra end by one shot.

However, Jan Roberts and Angela Fish did well to win Section 3B finals, again against Honiton, for a place in the last 16 to be played at Topsham on July 9 with a 6.15pm start.

There was another disappointment for the ladies this week. Madeira B, the remaining home team in the Interclub competition, lost a closely fought round against Kingsbridge Park at Newton Abbott by seven shots.

For the men, there are individual successes in the County Triples with no less than four Madeira teams reaching the Section Two final.

The two winning teams which have qualified for the last 16 are Andy Lock, Graham Ellis and David Mears and Josh Hadfield, Craig Ralph and Aaron Southgate.

There have also been good results for the men in representative competitions.

The County Trophy on Tuesday was against Honiton, which resulted in a rink score of two-all. However, Madeira won with an overall score of 96 to 65 considerably helped by the top rink of A Lock, I Thomson J Wherlock and J Hadfield, who won by 34 shots to 10.

There was another successful encounter against Honiton in the County Top Club with J Wherlock winning the two-wood singles and J Hadfield winning the four wood singles.

Madeira teams were well up in the other three disciplines so Honiton conceded the game.

Madeira also fielded an EDL team against Heavitree on Thursday but were disappointed to lose by just two shots.

There have been a few much-enjoyed friendlies.

Ladies’ vice captain Mary Solway led a team to Chudleigh for the friendliest of welcomes and a very heavy loss of 101 to 66.

Mention should be made of Ian Sowden, skipping Dee Williams, Shirley Brown and Alan Porter who were the only wining rink (22-12).

On Thursday, Gelligaer touring team brought 20 players and nearly as many visitors to Madeira for a five rink friendly.

It was disappointing that the sun had a day off, but it was a most enjoyable match which Madeira won by three rinks to two and overall by 98-82.

Dave Moody, men’s captain, just pipped Jude Latta (ladies’ captain) to top rink honours. Dave skipped Pat Boman, Glynis Byrn and Chris Fox to a 20-12 win.

Men’s captain Dave Moody took four men’s triples to Budleigh Salterton, which Madeira did well to win by just two shots.

Most of the games were close, but Bob Finch who was skip to John Hopkins and Charles Darke, did much to achieve Madeira’s only winning rink of 19 shots to 8.

The Madeira ladies’ captain versus the lady vice captain’s (Mary Solway) match was played last Friday and enjoyed by all those who took part.

After some excellent bowling by both teams, captain Jude Latta’s team scored more shots, but she declared the contest to have finished as an honourable draw.

There was also a visit to Madeira by Blaina BC, who arrived with a five rink team of players and several more in their visiting party for what was a men-only meeting.

It turned out to be a close contest which ultimately went the way of the home team to the tune of a three rinks to two score with the shots advantage at the close of play being seven in favour of Madeira.

David Macaulay, playing with John Sweetman, Terry Dowrick and Danny Doran, skipped the home team rink with the best shot difference of plus seven.