POLICE SPORTS UK 2008
This was the 6th year of the event and 40 competitors competed in the Mens
and Ladies Singles and Open doubles. A lot of work went in to the lane
preparation for the event and a competitive oil pattern was put down. It was
agreed that whilst scoring would be difficult it was fair and would reward
good bowling and that the conditions were the best they had been at
Potters. Despite being fewer games than last year, 28 200+ games were
bowled about 9% of the overall total up from 7% the previous year. The
format was slightly altered to give competitors to enjoy more of the facilities
on offer at Potters but it still meant a Tuesday night start for the singles
competitors.
Mens Singles
This year there were only 10 competitors, with each bowler having an initial 6
games, then a cut to the top 6 bowlers for a further 3 games. After this the
top 5 bowlers would compete in the step ladder finals.
After the first 6 games there were no surprises in store as all who expected
to qualify did so. The question was who would be the unlucky 6th bowler to
miss the step ladder final. It came down to two previous finalists and Roger
Smith edged out Alan Hanafin by 8 pins. The leading qualifier was Steve
Howat who went straight into the final and awaited the step ladder outcome
to see who his opponent would be.
In the first of the step ladder matches Arthur McKell knocked out Roger 180
v166.
The next match saw Arthur take on Tom Walsh, last year’s winner. Tom edged
out Arthur in a low scoring match 167 v 160.
Tom then took on Clive Knowles for the right to meet Steve Howat in the
final. In another low scoring game Tom beat Clive 170 v 132.
The final between Steve and Tom was a much closer game. There were few
mistakes and it was the last frame before it was decided with Tom holding his
nerve to retain his title 191 v 181.
Winner : Tom Walsh – West Yorkshire Police – North East Region
Runner Up : Steve Howat – Strathclyde – Scotland
Ladies Singles
There were 10 competitors in the ladies event which followed the same
format as the Mens competition.
From the outset Carol Barter led the way determined to retain her title and
make it three in a row. Again there were no real surprises after the first 6
games and it was Julia Thomas, last year’s finalist who failed to make the
step ladder. Carol Barter was the leading qualifier and awaited her
challenger.
In the first match Gill Taylor beat Julie Eason 152 v 132 and went onto play
Carol Gerrard in the next match. Gill again triumphed 166 v 138. Gill then
took on Joanne Green for the right to meet Carol in the final and in a close
game Joanne edged out Gill 143 v 134.
In the final it was another case of the winner making few errors and Joanne
took the title 197 v 166.
Winner: Joanne Green – Kent – South East
Runner Up: Carol Barter – Lancashire – North West
Open Doubles
There were 10 teams competing in this event and the format had slightly
changed, with only 5 qualifying games before a cut was made to the top 6
teams. The leading pinfall team would then play the 6th placed team, 2 nd
plays 5th and 3rd plays 4th.
The winner of each match over two games would go through to the step
ladder final and the highest pinfall “lucky loser” in the 3 matches would also
go through.
After the initial 5 games there was only one surprise in that Fife had sneaked
through in 6th place and would now play the Metropolitan police for a place
in the step ladder.
The step ladder qualification matches did not throw up any shocks; however
in the battle for “lucky loser” Fife pipped Strathclyde by 5 pins to make the
step ladder.
In an all Scotland play off Fife (Eddie Cartmel / John Turley) continued their
good form by beating Strathclyde ( Bill McVake / Dougie Campbell) 329 v 294
and now played for a chance to meet the Met in the final.
However they met West Yorkshire (Tom Walsh / Carol Gerrard) and this
proved a match too far losing out 308 v 292.
In a highly anticipated final it was the Metropolitan (Paul Hunt / Jim Kenny)
who edged out West Yorkshire in the final frame to win a close match 341 v
321
Winner: Paul Hunt / Jim Kenny – Metropolitan – Metropolitan
Runner Up: Tom Walsh / Carol Gerrard – West Yorkshire – North East
and Ladies Singles and Open doubles. A lot of work went in to the lane
preparation for the event and a competitive oil pattern was put down. It was
agreed that whilst scoring would be difficult it was fair and would reward
good bowling and that the conditions were the best they had been at
Potters. Despite being fewer games than last year, 28 200+ games were
bowled about 9% of the overall total up from 7% the previous year. The
format was slightly altered to give competitors to enjoy more of the facilities
on offer at Potters but it still meant a Tuesday night start for the singles
competitors.
Mens Singles
This year there were only 10 competitors, with each bowler having an initial 6
games, then a cut to the top 6 bowlers for a further 3 games. After this the
top 5 bowlers would compete in the step ladder finals.
After the first 6 games there were no surprises in store as all who expected
to qualify did so. The question was who would be the unlucky 6th bowler to
miss the step ladder final. It came down to two previous finalists and Roger
Smith edged out Alan Hanafin by 8 pins. The leading qualifier was Steve
Howat who went straight into the final and awaited the step ladder outcome
to see who his opponent would be.
In the first of the step ladder matches Arthur McKell knocked out Roger 180
v166.
The next match saw Arthur take on Tom Walsh, last year’s winner. Tom edged
out Arthur in a low scoring match 167 v 160.
Tom then took on Clive Knowles for the right to meet Steve Howat in the
final. In another low scoring game Tom beat Clive 170 v 132.
The final between Steve and Tom was a much closer game. There were few
mistakes and it was the last frame before it was decided with Tom holding his
nerve to retain his title 191 v 181.
Winner : Tom Walsh – West Yorkshire Police – North East Region
Runner Up : Steve Howat – Strathclyde – Scotland
Ladies Singles
There were 10 competitors in the ladies event which followed the same
format as the Mens competition.
From the outset Carol Barter led the way determined to retain her title and
make it three in a row. Again there were no real surprises after the first 6
games and it was Julia Thomas, last year’s finalist who failed to make the
step ladder. Carol Barter was the leading qualifier and awaited her
challenger.
In the first match Gill Taylor beat Julie Eason 152 v 132 and went onto play
Carol Gerrard in the next match. Gill again triumphed 166 v 138. Gill then
took on Joanne Green for the right to meet Carol in the final and in a close
game Joanne edged out Gill 143 v 134.
In the final it was another case of the winner making few errors and Joanne
took the title 197 v 166.
Winner: Joanne Green – Kent – South East
Runner Up: Carol Barter – Lancashire – North West
Open Doubles
There were 10 teams competing in this event and the format had slightly
changed, with only 5 qualifying games before a cut was made to the top 6
teams. The leading pinfall team would then play the 6th placed team, 2 nd
plays 5th and 3rd plays 4th.
The winner of each match over two games would go through to the step
ladder final and the highest pinfall “lucky loser” in the 3 matches would also
go through.
After the initial 5 games there was only one surprise in that Fife had sneaked
through in 6th place and would now play the Metropolitan police for a place
in the step ladder.
The step ladder qualification matches did not throw up any shocks; however
in the battle for “lucky loser” Fife pipped Strathclyde by 5 pins to make the
step ladder.
In an all Scotland play off Fife (Eddie Cartmel / John Turley) continued their
good form by beating Strathclyde ( Bill McVake / Dougie Campbell) 329 v 294
and now played for a chance to meet the Met in the final.
However they met West Yorkshire (Tom Walsh / Carol Gerrard) and this
proved a match too far losing out 308 v 292.
In a highly anticipated final it was the Metropolitan (Paul Hunt / Jim Kenny)
who edged out West Yorkshire in the final frame to win a close match 341 v
321
Winner: Paul Hunt / Jim Kenny – Metropolitan – Metropolitan
Runner Up: Tom Walsh / Carol Gerrard – West Yorkshire – North East
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