BLH Finals Weekend 2025

Report by Dave Evans

One of the best singles games seen on our green kicked off a packed schedule of finals at Brimfield and Little Hereford bowls club.
Young gun Ashley Edwards against experienced county skip Jennie Cole was one up savour in the blue riband Arthur Edwards - and it did not disappoint.
Jennie soared into an 11-1 lead before Ashley adjusted to the pace and aced four shots to bring the score to 10-11.
Jennie replied in kind, an easy four giving her a slim advantage. Three touchers on a single end demonstrated the quality of this outstanding game. The best was yet to come, Jennie lying 20-18 for the match and Ashley drawing three shots onto the jack to take the match.
How to follow that? The John Collett triples certainly had its moments, Steve Stewart, Richard Powell and Brian Draper getting off to a flying start with a six on the first end.
Sue Kemp, Dave Evans and Eileen Powell dug deep and scored a five of their own on their way to a 9-6 lead.
A four on the 16th left Powell’s team needing five to win and a two followed by a three on the last gave them the game 21-20.
Earlier, the eight ends Cecil O’Boyle was also decided by a three, ensuring victory for Chris Robbins, Dave Ball and Eileen Powell over Val Wilkinson, Steve Stewart and Peter Bloomer.
A new competition graced the afternoon’s proceedings, Barbara Griffiths beating Bob Hughes in the Roebuck Cup two wood singles.
On an exceptional day of bowling, there was another tight finish in the Harry Millichamp 4 wood mixed pairs, Sue Kemp and Brian Zelin taking the honours 12-11 against Brian Draper and Eileen Powell.
In the Millennium singles, designed for less experienced players, Ashley Fawthrop
took an early lead against Ali Bloomer and never looked back, winning 21-10.
There was still time for a game of crown, Lyndon Barnes and Ashley Edwards coming through 21-18 against Dave Evans and Bob Hughes.
On to Sunday and hopes of playing through were dashed by a bout of heavy rain. It didn’t stop the Barnet Bowl getting underway though with some quality bowling on display from Ali Bloomer, Dave Ball, Dave Evans and Bob Hughes. Bloomer and Ball settled to it nicely after a slow start and ran out 14-10 winners.
The men’s singles was worth waiting for - club chairman, Peter Bloomer, up against nine times winner, Ashley Edwards.
Edwards would not be denied as he chased his 10th singles win and despite some accurate firing from Bloomer he came home 21-11.
It was closer in the ladies’ singles, Sue Kemp carved out a 17-11 lead but Jennie Cole was far from finished, bringing the score back to 17 across before finishing with a flourish to win 21-17.
Last game out on the Monday evening saw Sue Kemp and Dave Ball up against Ali Bloomer and Eileen Powell in the Albert Duval, Kemp and Ball taking the trophy 14-4.