Warwickshire Women retain trophy in annual match against county men
County women win battle of the sexes for second year in a row
Warwickshire Women's Bowling Association retained their Rose Bowl trophy title against the county's men.
The planned annual game had initially been cancelled due to the extreme heat, but not wishing to miss out on this competitive afternoon it was rearranged and hosted by Nuneaton Bowling Club.
Having won the previous year the Ladies were definitely up for the contest and eventually retained the trophy, narrowly winning by four shots 94-90.
Highest Winning Rink went to skip Pat Gagg with Jayne Henfrey (both Lillington), Christine Harding (Rugby Thornfield) and Diane Harvey (Warwick Boat Club) who started confidently and were 16-2 up at 10 ends before a slight flurry by the men gave them some encouragement, but the ladies went on to win 19-8.
Skip Pat Moore (Three Spires) with Ginny Burns (Warwick Boat Club), Brenda Batt (Snitterfield) and Gina Sharpe (Rugby Railway) started strongly and were 13-1 up before the opposition started to pull back to 13-11 by 10 ends. But the ladies were having none of it and went on to win 22-16.
Ann Harwood (Nuneaton) with Pippa Mace (Lillington), Vivienne Belt and Elspeth Summers (Stratford) also started well and were 12-4 up at 10 ends, but the men were determined and pulled back to leave the ladies winning by just five shots 17-12.
Vanessa Brazier (Rugby Railway) with Margaret Boldy (Wellesbourne), Celia Bellamy (Warwick Boat Club) and Linda Linney (Stratford) started well but then the opposition started to take control before the ladies pulled back to draw 8-8 at 10 ends and continued to score until the last few ends holding on to a slim 16-15 finish.
Maureen Edwards with Sigrid Thomas, Nicola Bradshaw and Pat Lowe (all Rugby Thornfield) started strongly and were 7-1 up, but the men were having none of it and retaliated eventually winning 17-11.
Jenny Corn with Donna Kerr (both Lillington), Joy Cooke (Sherwood Park) and Chris Cooke (Southam) were fairly evenly matched to start and level pegging at 12 ends before the men took over and left the ladies trailing 22-9.
After a lovely meal the Men’s County President, Graham O’Donohue presented the Rose Bowl Trophy to Ladies’ county president Vanessa Brazier.