Benalmadena Open Triples

A Major Success!

24th-28th February 2008- Benalmadena BC

Report & photos by Murray Johns

The entry for this year’s Tournament was comparable to 2007 but, on this occasion, it was run as a “knockout” as opposed to a “round-robin”.

The event was generously sponsored by FRANCISCO CAMERO S.L., a local business of Funeral Directors with Offices along the Coast from Malaga to Fuengirola, and the Club is extremely grateful for their support.

There were, inevitably, the usual upsets with many of the “fancied” Triples being beaten in earlier rounds but the emergence of the “less experienced” Bowlers as serious competitors was very encouraging.

The Santa Maria Team of Mick & Dot Clark, in partnership with Sheila Haig, accounted for two experienced Triples before losing to the eventual Winners in the Quarter Final. Also Amber Dineen and Julie Eddleston, playing with Bill Eddleston, won against experienced opposition before losing to the eventual losing Finalists by one shot in the Quarter Finals.   

There is always a strong “host Club” representation in the latter stages of any Tournament but Benalmadena fielded 6 of the 8 Quarter Finalists and 4 won through to the Semi-Finals. Mick Clark’s Triple was one to lose out on a Semi-Final spot, the other being Susan Walker, Peter Fry and Roy Wilkins who lost a close, and thrilling encounter, to Alan Turner, Lenny Dineen & Murray Johns 17-15.

This set up two intriguing Semi-Finals with the pre-Tournament favourites ( Michael Detheridge, Brian Todd & Paul Griffith ) being paired with Alan Turner’s Team and Jean Taylor, Mercedes Neilson & Mary Detheridge playing Kate Morris, Clive & Ann Montaut.

Lenny, Clive and Ann were all playing in their first Semi-Final at any level and, having performed exceptionally well in earlier Matches, they maintained their high level of performance to ensure there were two thrilling Matches for the large audience to enjoy.

Kate’s Team more than held their own over the first 8 ends but then conceded 7 shots on the next 2 ends to go 13-5 down. Although the Teams shared the next 8 ends Jean’s Triple won comfortably 17-10.

It was a similar story in the other Semi-Final where the early exchanges were lively and the “heads” changed with alarming regularity. The 10^th end changed everything with a 6 giving Mike’s Team a healthy 15-6 lead. With Paul always in close proximity to the Jack, and Brian finding his line and weight superbly, there was no way back for Alan, Lenny & Murray and they only many to score 4 shots over the next 6 ends.

Michael and Brian lost last year’s Final, with John Kelly as their No.2, to Doug Deakin, Christine Sims & Murray Johns who were then playing out of Mijas. Would history repeat itself with Paul playing with them?

The Final started in a similar vein to Mike’s Semi-Final with Jean’s Triple establishing a 7-6 lead after 8 ends. The spectators, favouring the “underdog” relished the prospects of an upset yet again but Jean, Mercedes and Mary dropped 13 shots on the next 3 ends and lost 7 in a row before winning the 16^th, and final end, to lose 25-9.

Their opponents bowled superbly and, as Murray Johns said in his summing up of the Tournament, they had “steam-rollered” their way through their opponents and only conceded 41 shots over their 5 Matches.

A superb performance from Michael, Brian & Paul with the only pressure being applied during the early stages of their last 2 Matches.

Prior to the presentation of Prizes by representatives of the Sponsors, Francisco Camero S.L., Murray Johns extended his thanks to the Players for their support, particularly on the Sunday morning when the weather was extremely unpleasant, and to the following :-

- Club Members for their support with the Catering & Refreshments

- To Susan Walker, Peter Brack & Tony Land for sharing the Umpiring

  responsibilities when he was unavailable

- To Clive & Ann Montaut for their continued support and commitment

- To Amber Dineen for co-ordinating the Raffle and to Phil Hall, and

  other Members, for their fantastic sales effort

Clive Montaut then thanked Salvador and Jo, representatives of Francisco Camero S.L., for their Company’s financial support and he hoped they would continue to work with the Club for the foreseeable future. He also expressed his thanks to Murray for his excellent co-ordination and organisation of the Tournament once again.

Jo then drew the Raffle Prizes before Cash Prizes were presented to the Finalists. Brian Todd, on behalf of the Players, thanked everyone at the Club for running a faultless Competition and endorsed the Chairman’s comments concerning the Competition Secretary’s role in making it an enjoyable one in which to participate.
 

Photo L to R: Brian Todd, Paul Griffith, Mike Detheridge, Joe & Salvador.

Photo L to R: Mercedes Neilson, Jean Taylor, Mary Detheridge, Joe & Salvador.

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