15/09/2026
Here is a report on our Club Competitions Finals Weekend 2026, followed by the Competition Sheets, as maintained throughout the season by our Competitions Secretary, Keith Northwood.
Saturday 12th September
Yardstick
John Galsworthy, Roger Broadley and Angela Goman-Smith (JFA) vs Lee McKay, Richard Thorpe and Jennifer Goddard (LRJ).
In the early stages of the game the scores were evenly shared, and the lead changed hands four times in the first six ends, the score at the halfway stage being 17-15 shots in favour of JRA.
In the second half of the game, however, JRA outscored their opponents on all but one end, but LRJ stayed within arms reach all the way.
Despite a win for LRJ on the final end of the match, JRA finished winners by 37-29 shots.
Two Wood Singles
Clive Jackson vs Stewart Adams
Marker: David Killington
Clive went ahead from the start in his speciality game, and after five ends led by 6-1 shots. He went on to win the next five ends, and now led by 13-1 shots. Stewart pulled back three shots on the following two ends, but a two for Clive on end thirteen put the match beyond Stewart, mathematically, and Clive won by 15-4 shots.
Ladies’ Pairs
Jan Northwood and Joyce Hood (JJ) vs Lee McKay and Jacqui Ward (LJ)
The first three ends went the way of Lee and Jacqui, and although Jan and Joyce won five of the next seven ends, a six on the seventh end for Lee and Jacqui kept their noses in front, and they led by 13-10 shots after ten ends. The following seven ends saw Lee and Jacqui stretch their lead to 19-12 shots, and so the match went to the final end. Jan and Joyce were able to pick up only a single shot, however, so Lee and Jacqui finished winners by 19-13 shots.
Millennium Trophy
David Killington vs Richard Thorpe
Marker: Freda Green
David made a strong start, taking a four on the first end, and followed that up with another seven winning ends, before Richard landed his first winning end, giving David a 17-1 lead after nine ends. Two single-shot winning ends for David were followed by a single-shot winning end for Richard, and the score stood at 19-2 shots. The following end saw David pick up the two shots needed to win by 21-2 shots.
Novice Singles
Marilyn Penman vs John New
Marker: John Vincent
John went into an early lead, winning four of the first five ends, and led by 9-1 shots. The next four ends went Marilyn’s way, though, and she now trailed by only 6-9 shots. The next eleven ends were evenly shared, and after twenty ends, John’s lead was 17-14 shots.
A two for John on the next end, followed by a three saw him home by 22-14 shots.
Sunday 13th September
Men’s Pairs
Winston Matthews and John New vs Stewart Adams and David Killington
A roaring start for Winston and John saw them race into a 4-0 shots lead after three ends. A reply of three for Stewart and David on the following end was met with two single-shot winning ends for Winston and John, who now led by 6-3 shots. Four ends in a row for Stewart and David turned the match on its head, and they now led by 14-6 shots after ten ends. Four of the next five ends also went the way of Stewart and David, and they now led by 23-7 shots after fifteen ends. A three for Winston and John on the following end kept the match alive, but Stewart and David put the match beyond the reach of their opponents, mathematically, on end seventeen, to win by 25-10 shots.
Mike’s Mug
Angela Goman-Smith vs Graham Mellor
Marker: Jan Northwood
Four shots on each of the first two ends for Angela set the tone for this match, and after five ends Angela was 10-1 shots ahead. Graham was not going to take it lying down, though, and scored a two and a four of his own on the next two ends to now trail by only 7-10 shots. Three two-shot winning ends for Angela now gave her back the advantage, at 16-7 shots, and a single for Graham, followed by another two for Angela, brought her in sight of the finishing line, at 18-8 shots. Graham scored a single on end thirteen before a three for Angela on the following end gave her a 21-9 win.
Mixed Pairs
John Galsworthy and Linda Lacey vs Mike Newman and Val Goodman.
Mike and Val came out of the traps at a tremendous rate, winning the first five ends to lead by 13-0 shots. Nobody expected this to continue to be one-way traffic, though, and John and Linda duly won the next four ends to reduce the deficit to 8-13 shots. Mike and Val were unfazed by this setback, and went on to win the following four ends to now lead by 19-8 shots. A single shot to John and Linda was answered by a four from Mike and Val, and they now led by 23-9 shots.
Three shots from Mike and Val on end sixteen put the match beyond John and Linda, mathematically, with a final score of 26-9 shots to Mike and Val.
Ladies’ Singles
Lucinda Cranham vs Lee McKay
Marker: Pat Coster
Lee started with a three-shot winning end in this match, and after eight ends Lucinda had picked up only three singles, to trail by 3-8 shots. Lucinda then found her way, and won the next three ends, to lead by 9-8 shots. Lucinda’s comeback seemed only to spur Lee on to greater things, however, and she won every one of the following ends, with a ruthlessness and accuracy of shot that was very impressive indeed, and despite the high standard of Lucinda’s play, Lee was able to carve out the winning shots, the final score being 22-9 shots in Lee’s favour.
Men’s Singles
Stewart Adams vs David Killington
Marker: Mike Newman
Well, try as I might, there is no way I can find to put a positive spin on my performance in this match.
I’d love to blame the downpour we experienced throughout the match, but the simple truth is that Stewart handled the conditions, and I didn’t: it was the same for both of us.
There’s very little to say about the match that the scorecard doesn’t tell you; my only positive is that I limited Stewart to a single-shot winning end twice!
In the mere eight ends that the match lasted, Stewart scored three three-shot wins and two four-shot wins, which emphasises his superiority on the day, and he ran out a 21-0 shot winner.
I can only apologise to our spectators for not giving you the show you deserved.
Ann Hardy Trophy
John Galsworthy vs Sue Crofts
Sadly, Sue had to retire hurt from this Final, with a leg injury. We all extend our sympathies to Sue; John would certainly prefer to have played the match.
The grateful thanks of all our finalists go out to those of our clubmates and families who turned out this weekend to support them. We’d have very much liked to have seen more of you there, so if there is any way we can make Finals Weekend more attractive to you, please do drop me an email, at [email protected], to let me know.
We thank also the Markers and the Umpires (Keith Northwood, Clive Jackson and Don McDarmaid) for their services.
Most importantly, we once again thank Keith Northwood, not only for his organisation of our Finals Weekend, but also for his organisation of our Club Competitions at every stage throughout the season. Nobody does it better.
David Killington
Club President
Pyestock Bowls Club
