Mark Royal wins Nigel Kettle Open Singles

Post date: Oct 4, 2015 9:09:10 AM

Stowmarket star wins a crackerjack final

In one of the most extraordinary games of bowls ever witnessed at Stamford, Stowmarket's world ranked star Mark Royal took the Nigel Kettle-sponsored Open singles title on Sunday night defeating Andrew Walters from Worcestershire, in a match which can only be described as 'crash, bang, wallop!'

Royal (40), a bowls equipment supplier from the Mid-Suffolk club, showed his gentle touch and drawing class throughout a gruelling day of competition which attracted an appreciative audience to the Exeter Gardens stadium. Walters, meanwhile, recently promoted to the England indoor international team, often used heavyweight tactics, combined with unerring drawing skill, to muscle his way into the final, which wasn't concluded until nearly midnight.

It was soon clear that Walters, a private hire driver from the Welford-on-Avon club, was determined to end a run of two defeats in Open singles finals at Barwell and Boston when he took the first set 9-1. But using his wide drawing Drakes Pride Professional bowls, Royal hit back to take the second 10-2 and force a three end tie break.

Then the fireworks started!

While Royal continued his touch and feel tactics to pile on the pressure, Walters took every opportunity to destroy heads against him with bullet-like drives on an otherwise deserted green, which in normal circumstances would have had health and safety experts apoplectic!

On at least three occasions jacks were blasted off the rink against the back wall and on another a red Royal bowl found itself on the walkway surrounding the playing surface, such was the ferocity of the 28-year-old's firing with his navy and white two-tone Aero bowls.

Finally, however, sanity prevailed and Royal, after the umpteenth use of the re-spot rule, claimed the £700 first prize from Anthea Kettle daughter of the generous tournament sponsor, whom at 92 years was not well enough to attend.

Said Royal: "I have been playing for 27 years and I've never played in a match as extraordinary as that."

He added that the club should be proud of its facility: "This is a great club, especially as it is run entirely by volunteers. I really enjoyed the speed of the carpet; it bowled really well."

Amy Stanton, the British Isles Under 25 singles champion, who flies to Israel this week to represent England in the European Outdoor Championships along with Rebecca Field, Alex Walsh and Spalding's Ashley Caress, revealed that her clubmate's spectacular draw and fire tactics are not unusual.

"Andrew practises a lot at his home club, firing with one bowl and drawing with the next alternately." However, she didn't say whether or not the other five rinks were being used simultaneously by more sedate league matches!

On the way to the final, Royal beat Will Bell (Lincoln), Brian Martin (Peterborough), Duncan Robinson (Nottingham) and Ron Flowers (Boston), while Walters accounted for clubmate Brian Lees, Shaun Langham (Alfreton), Russell Robinson (Erewash), Josh Grant (Nottingham) and Paul Maynard (Foxhill).

It was a tough baptism, into Open singles competition for many of the home club challengers, although Bob Warters managed to get through two rounds against Boston father and son, Rod and Jonathan West, before he was out-bowled by Peterborough's Nick Wilkie for a place in the quarter-finals.

Great credit must go to the organisation skills of Mike Ramsden and Keith Rippin, ably assisted by volunteer markers, scoreboard helpers and recorders Anita Edwards and Carol Warters. A raffle organised by Dave Hudson and Margaret Bloxham raised more than £125 for the juniors fund.

Results (Stamford IBC unless stated)

Saturday

First round: R Allam lost to S Whyers (Boston) 6-6, 5-7; T Barwell lost to N Eagle (Peterborough) 2-10,3-7, H Shipp (P'bro) bt B Orme 9-3,11-2; D Robinson (Notts) bt M Cullingworth) 9-7, 6-2; J Travis-Jenner bt J Holroyd 3-9,8-3, 2-0; S Suffling lost to R Flowers (Boston) 1-14, 4-8; B Warters bt R West (Boston) 9-4, 8-1; J Pitt (P'Boro) lost to J West (Boston) 5-12, 11-4, 0-2.

Second round: S Whyers bt Eagle 8-3, 7-1; D Robinson bt Shipp 7-5, 6-5, Warters bt J West 0-10, 5-3, 2-1, Flowers bt Travis-Jenner 7-4, 9-1.

Sunday

First round: D Harrison (Leicester) bt S Harris 7-4,3-9,2-1; M Dye lost to P Maynard (Foxhill) 0-13,2-8; C Ford lost to N Wilkie (P'bro) 7-5, 10-3 0-2; P Cherry (Spalding) lost to D Bristow (Sleaford) w/o; P Roberts (Sleaford) lost to B Martin (P'bro) 8-3, 6-8, 0-2; A Romaine lost to M Spencer (Spalding) 5-4,5-7, 0-2.

T Nunn (Horncastle) lost to L Gillett (Melton) 6-6,2-7, D Brown (Lincoln) bt D Noble (unattached) 11-1,11-0; J Hornsby (Risbygate) lost to J Pullen (Lincoln) 3-8, 4-4, D Dunbavin (City of Ely) lost to M Burdett (Coventry) 2-12,3-9; C Brereton (Welford) bt S Stoakes (Hornsea) 10-2, 8-0; R Robinson (Erewash) bt R Cutting (Mid Suffolk) 7-3, 6-6.

B Lees (Welford) bt P Johnson (Scunthorpe) 3-9, 6-1, 2-1; A Walters (Welford) bt S Langham (Alfreton) 8-2, 13-3; A Ware (City of Ely) lost to M Shepherd (Chipping Norton) 9-4, 2-11, 0-2; R Stoakes (Hornsea) lost to S Broome (Bromsgrove) 4-10, 7-4, 1-2. M Ramsden lost A Stanton (Welford) 0-11, 0-11; P Sharman (Carterton) bt S Benson (Leicester) 9-0, 1-9, 2-0.

C Tomlin (Spalding) lost to J Grant (Nottingham) 2-7, 5-3, 1-2; M Royal (Mid Suffolk) bt W Bell (Lincoln) 9-5, 4-6, 2-0; S Farrant (Huntingdon) lost to Ashley Clipston (Alfreton) 5-7, 6-5, 0-2; R Ackroyd (City of Ely) bt C Stoakes (Hornsea) 7-4, 2-8, 2-0.

Second round: R Robinson (Erewash) bt J Pullen (Lincoln) 8-2, 7-4; S Broome lost P Maynard 6-5, 4-9, 1-2; Stanton lost to Wilkie 7-7, 5-5, 0-2; Ryan Atkins bt Gillett 2-7, 6-4, 2-0; Harrison lost to Spencer 4-9, 6-9; Andy Clipston lost to Sharman 3-9, 4-8; B Lees lost to A Walters 9-5, 3-8, 0-2, D Bristow lost to M Shepherd 4-6, 5-5; Ackroyd lost to Brown 3-8, 4-8, Grant bt Brereton 9-4, 6-3, Ashley Clipston bt M Burdett 5-5, 6-6, 2-0; Royal bt Martin 5-6, 7-4, 2-0.

Third round: Whyers lost to Maynard 4-10, 2-10, Warters lost to Wilkie 1-6, 5-8; Flowers bt Sharman 6-4, 5-8, 2-0; Spencer lost to Grant 7-3, 2-7, 1-2; Brown bt Atkins 8-3, 3-8, 2-1; Walters bt R Robinson 6-4, 7-5; Ashley Clipston lost to Shepherd 7-2, 3-8, 1-2; D Robinson lost to Royal 1-6, 6-6.

Quarter-finals: Royal bt Shepherd 6-6, 8-2, Walters bt Grant 4-9, 8-4, 2-1; Brown lost to Maynard 3-9, 3-7, Flowers bt Wilkie 6-5, 5-6, 2-1.

Semi-finals: Royal bt Flowers 8-6, 11-0, Walters bt Maynard 5-5, 8-7.

Final: Royal bt Walters 1-9, 10-2, 2-1.