Hat-trick of titles by Ford at Federation finals

She completed the treble in the triples with Suffling and Jan Want against Joan Robinson, who had earlier won the senior singles 21-4 against Fiona Richardson, Margaret King and Margaret Bloxham, the match being conceded at 26-9 with three ends remaining.

The one that got away for Ford came in the mixed rinks with Dolby and Warrington, where they were beaten 19-18 by holders Moira and John Holroyd, playing this time with Wayne Aspinall, Warrington trailing the jack for four on the last end with five required for an extra end.

Dolby, representing Blackstones, suffered mixed fortunes in both singles, beating county president Dick Noble 21-4 to retain the veterans category before crashing 21-3 to club colleague Warrington in the open version.

Dolby and Warrington joined forces with Earl to retain the triples, defeating Michael Jeapes, Neil Wright and Roger Martin 23-11.

Earl’s other title came in the mixed pairs with heavily pregnant partner Katie Bailey, a dramatic last end 18-17 victory over Cliff Watson and Liz Hext, recovering from 13-4 down to snatch the spoils with a double on the 21st and final end when trailing 17-16.

There was also a last end thriller in the men’s pairs, where Stephen Harris, who had dashed back from Wales after featuring in England’s successful senior indoor squad, and Blackstones team-mate Wayne Morris pipped Chris Ballard and Earl 17-15, Harris drawing shot with the last bowl to prevent an extra end.

Earlier Harris had retained the under 25 open singles title with a 21-5 defeat of ten-year-old schoolboy Ollie Jeapes, who impressed the spectators with the quality of his bowls against the England international.