WELSH NEWS by Ceris Hewlings
November 2017 BOWLS INTERNATIONAL 11P
OPULAR Tenby Bowling
Club member John Roberts
achieved one of his bowls
dreams - winning Tenby’s coveted
Gold Cup.
The 43-year-old carpenter carved
out a 24-carat display of bowling at
the Sutton Street green to lift one
of the most sought-after cups in
Welsh bowls.
He’s the 20th Tenby member to
win the blue riband event in the 93
years since it was first contested.
Percy Howells Silver Bowl winner
in 2005 - the first time he had
entered the open week event -
John has featured in no fewer than
three Gold Cup semi-finals and two
quarter-finals in the 12 years since
then, but had never progressed to
the final... until 2017.
And his maiden victory was
achieved in fine style. The Welsh
indoor and outdoor international
produced a sparkling performance
to beat open week stalwart David
Weale of Presteigne, 21-16 in a
two-hour thrilling 19 end match.
It was a match worthy of the
occasion, the ding-dong struggle
keeping spectators on their toes.
“The Gold Cup win is ranked up
there in my career highlights,” said
John.
“The feeling of winning is like no
other, as you know that you have
played out of your skin to win it,
such is the quality of the field, as
well as the quality of players who
have won it previously.
“The tournament is one of theWWBA JUNIOR
AND SENIOR
INTERNATIONAL
SQUADS
SELECTED
Just weeks after the 2017 Home
Internationals, where Wales
finished third in both the junior
and senior series’, the Welsh
Women’s Bowling Association
have selected their 2018 squads
following separate trials.
Four new names appear in the
senior squad, Kelly Silcox (Blaina),
Lauren Selway (Gilfach Bargoed),
Kayleigh Morris (Llandrindod
Wells) and Mary Clare McCulloch.
They join Caroline Taylor,
Kathy Pearce, Emma Gittins,
Isabel Jones, Bryony Wilson
(all Berriew), Laura Daniels
(Brynhyfryd), Emma Woodcock
and Judith Wason (Cardiff),
Anwen Butten, Mel Thomas,
Carolyn James, Alis Butten (all
Lampeter), Jess Sims and Wendy
Price, (Llandrindod Wells), Sara
Marie Nicholls (Llandeilo), Kelly
Packwood (Pontyfelin), Bethan
Russ (Port Talbot), Steph and
Gemma Amos (Saundersfoot),
Yvonne Lloyd (Sully Sports), Ysie
White (Tenby). Marion Purcell
(Ynysddu).Non-travelling reserves:
Rhian Jones (Lampeter);
Hannah Hunt (Port Talbot).Manager:
Hazel Wilson (Berriew).Selected for the
Under 25 squad are:
Gemma Amos, Alis Butten,
Melissa Eskins, Naomi Evans,
Sophie Gittins, Lauren Gowen,
Chloe Jackson, Sara John-Davies,
Megan Jones, Anna Lawrence,
Jodie McCarthy, Alex Morgan,
Lauren Selway, Katie Thomas,
Melanie Thomas, Rhiannon
Weale, Ysie White, Rebecca
Williams.Non-travelling reserves:
Holly Bailey and Olivia Jackson.
Manager: Kathy Pearce.most respected and prestigious,
not just in Wales, but in the whole
of the British Isles, so to rise to the
top is just a fantastic feeling.
“Winning any open tournament
is fantastic, but the Gold Cup is
something really special.”
Special indeed. Not only did
John collect £1,000, but, more
importantly, his name will be
written in gold on the Tenby
Bowling Club honours board and
his photograph will hang on the
‘wall of fame.’
Among those is John’s late father-
in-law Ken Hewlings who was a
shock Gold Cup winner in 1990
when he won his first ever singles
competition so John’s victory was
particularly poignant for partner
Ceris and mother-in-law Winifred.
For most of the week, John was in
contention for the ‘dream double’.
He also enjoyed a successful run
in the Silver Bowl and was one of
three bowlers waking up hoping
to achieve that elite accolade on
finals day. Also in contention for
the same glory were David Weale
and Phil Lewis from Welshpool
who were the only competitors
out of over 70 unbeaten in the two
competitions!
John’s hopes of winning both
were dashed by Open Week
record holder and current Welsh
singles champion and British
Isles runner-up David Kingdon, of
Kidwelly, who knocked him out
of the Silver Bowl, on his way to
claiming his tenth Tenby title, while
David Weale eliminated Phil Lewis
in both events.Bowls is a funny old game as
after knocking out the same
person to reach the two finals
himself, within hours David too
discovered how cruel the sport is
when after being defeated in the
Gold final, he was also beaten in
the Silver Bowl by David Kingdon,
21-12.
One could not fail to feel sadness
for the 58-year-old Powys County
Council employee, who many
describe as the best Welsh player
never to have been capped with
16 Welsh titles and four British
Isles crowns under his belt, who
had played a colossal 14 games of
bowls in six days!
Winner of the Silver Bowl for the
fourth time and Gold victor on
six occasions, David Kingdon, 48,
added: “Winning the Silver Bowl
this year means a lot to me as not
only was it my tenth singles cup at
Tenby, but I got to share my friend,
John Roberts’s special moment
winning the Gold Cup. Special
mention too to David Weale on a
fantastic week of bowls this year
and of course Lynn Rafferty for
all her hard work organising the
event.”
The Five Arches Bowl, for
bowlers eliminated of both main
competitions, was won by Eliyr
Lloyd, of Tick Tock, who defeated
Tony Duckfield, of Swansea Vale,
21-13, in 20 ends.
Sponsored again by Molson
Coors, company representative
Claire Thompson presented
the trophies, while tournament
organiser, Lynn Rafferty, presented
the prize-money.TENBY GOLD CUP
David Kingdon (Silver Bowl),
John Roberts (Gold Cup), Eilir
Lloyd (Five Arches Cup)11-13-BI_WELSHNEWS_Nov17_cc.indd 11 12/10/2017 14: