THE ALGARVE Bowling Championship Finals took place at Alvor Bowling Club last weekend. The green played extremely well and the organisation and success of the event was a credit to the Alvor club and to the League Management Committee, who had worked so hard to inaugurate and run these popular competitions.
The pairs final took place on Saturday morning between Alan Clarke and Paul Johnson from Parque da Floresta (PDF) and John and Christina Lasky from the Alvor club. The game was extremely closely contested and was all square at about halfway. John and Christina then took the advantage, winning four consecutive ends to establish a gap that Alan and Paul were unable to close. An excellent game played in good spirit, with the Lasky’s running out worthy winners by 20 shots to 13 and becoming the first Algarve Pairs Champions.
This was followed in the afternoon by the singles final. Paul Johnson from PDF stepped out to play David Burbage from Club Praia D’Oura. Paul, determined to make up for missing out in the pairs, established an early advantage which he never surrendered and eventually romped home by 21-10, despite a valiant struggle by David, who took time to settle on an unfamiliar green.
On the Sunday afternoon, the triples final was played between PDF’s Paul Johnson, Sheila Rapley and Ken Catherall (subbing for the unfortunate John Watts who had a back problem), and John and Christina Lasky, teaming up with John Gilbert to make a strong Alvor triple. A very close game ended with a victory for Alvor by 17 shots to 12.
There were engraved commemorative trophies for the winners and the losing finalists, in addition to a main trophy for each event. Credit must go to all on the management committee who helped to make these events so successful.
For information on where you can play bowls in the Algarve, contact the league secretary, Jan McGlynn, on 289 315 326. Whether you are an experienced bowler or a beginner, she will give you full details of your nearest club and how to become involved.
