The final stages of the club handicapped singles competition provided the finale to Ross Bowling Club’s winter short mat bowls season.

The final of the singles competition was a match-up between the previous year’s county singles finalists but not before each had to negotiate a tricky semi-final. Ian Park, three times county singles champion, met Leo Hughes, last year’s losing finalist, in his semi-final and after 10 of the 15 ends the game was tied but Park then pulled away with a couple of threes and a four to win with an end to spare.

Ian Roe came up against Peter Wright, this year’s surprise package, who was playing his first season of short mat bowls with a 6 handicap. Wright had used this handicap well throughout the competition, playing impressive bowls to keep lower handicapped opponents at bay in the early stages of matches and never allowed them to achieve parity, let alone get ahead of him.

In the semi-final, however, Roe won the first 4 ends to overhaul his handicap deficit before Wright had scored and he never let his lead slip despite Wright finding his composure later in the game to keep the game tight and round off a memorable first season with a solid performance.

The final saw Ian Park dominate early on as Roe struggled to find the pace of the mat but Park’s lead never got above three shots and as Roe settled down he started to claw back the deficit. A see-saw battle then ensued as first one and then the other led, before Roe took three consecutive ends to establish a five shot lead which proved too large a deficit for Park to claw back and Roe took his first club singles title.

Club president, John Perks presented the awards for all of the club competitions which had run over the winter season. The competition winners were:

Singles: Ian Roe

Evening Triples: Jillian Malsom, Maurice Leake, Ian Roe

Afternoon Pairs: Ian Stephenson, Ian Park

Afternoon Australian Pairs: Derek Griffiths, Ian Roe

Afternoon Triples (1): Pauline Mills, Betty Aubrey, David Millington Jones

Afternoon Triples (2): John Churchill, Rob Mann, Les Williams.

After two very successful seasons in county competitions, this year has been disappointing for Ross players, with the only final appearance resulting in a runners-up spot in the Mixed Fours for Elaine George, Ian Roe, Pam & Ian Park. Five Ross players – Shaun Jones, Kate Williams, Ian Roe, Pam and Ian Park - did qualify to represent Herefordshire in the National Finals in two disciplines.

The Ross A team finished in runners-up spot in the county league, once again behind rivals Woolhope, and Ross also lost to Woolhope in the final of the LEH Herefordshire / Gloucestershire club knockout competition.

The end of the season also marked the end of an era as Les Williams, after serving as club short mat secretary and captain for 25 years, decided it was time to step down from the helm. Les has represented Ross and Herefordshire at short mat bowls at the highest level over that time, including numerous appearances in the National Finals, as well as doing more than anyone to promote and support the short mat game within the Ross club so, although he will continue to play, his leadership and guidance will be missed.