Bowls Breakthough

by Michael Layzell

December 2009

Next February the Short Mat Bowls Championships for all of Wales are due to be held in Llandrindod Wells. On the weekend of November 28th/29th Monmouthshire held the local heats to determine which players and teams would qualify for the February national championships.

Devauden has on previous occasions had a team in the national finals (see 21 March 2007 and 13 March 2008 reports). However this year the club surpassed themselves by getting a fantastic total of six teams through to the Welsh Finals. Pictured below are some of the successful bowlers in the club strip sponsored by AMS Fleet Management and Broadhall Estates.

From L to R: Michael Pensom, Michael Layzell, Mike McCarthy, Ronnie Williams, John Phillips, Andrea Walker, Pete Williams and Phil McCarthy.

The teams who made it to the finals were:
Singles – John Phillips (Club Vice-Captain) AND Phil McCarthy (Club Captain).
Doubles – Phil McCarthy, Michael Layzell.
Triples – Michael Layzell, Andrea Walker, Michael Pensum.
Fours – Mike McCarthy, Pete Williams, Ronnie Williams, Andrea Walker AND
John Phillips, Roy Stanley, Phil McCarthy, Michael Pensom.

The local heats for the Nationals also serve as the Monmouthshire Championships. Although none of our players ended up as champions we had two runners up – John Phillips in the Singles and Phil McCarthy and Michael Layzell in the Doubles.

Well done to everyone concerned!

The Devauden Short Mat Bowls Club meets on Tuesday nights at 7.30pm at the Village Hall. If you are interested in joining do pop along for a chat and to see what we do.