BRENDA Bowyer missed out on the double when Southend Ladies’ Open Bowling Tournament reached its climax.

The independent bowler reached the finals of the Ladies’ Pairs and the Singles competitions.

That forced a change in the schedule with the Mixed Pairs and Singles in the morning followed by the Ladies’ Pairs in the afternoon.

Bowyer took the Singles honours for the first time but was defeated in the Ladies’ Pairs at Southend’s Priory Park.

The Singles between Jill Leiberman (Essex County) and Bowyer was extremely good. Both are very experienced bowlers and the game was very close all through. On the fifth end the score was 4/4, on the 10th end it was 8/6 to Leiberman but Bowyer fought and on the 15th end it was 12/12, on the 17th end 14/14. But Bowyer picked up a three on the 18th end and then another the on the next end bringing the score to 20/14. On the 19th Leiberman’s wood hit the jack and she scored one and then a two on the next end, making Bowyer work hard for the single shot she wanted to win. But Bowyer was not to be denied and won 21/17 after 22 ends. She had never won the Singles before but did win the Ladies Pairs in 2001 with partner Mary Poole.

The Mixed Pairs between Pat Taylor and Terry Hughes (Elm Park) and Jan and John Adams (Greenways/Essex County) resulted in a one-sided game. This was in spite of Pat and Terry winning against some very good pairs on their way through the rounds, including last year’s winners Hart/Hart (Stock). The Adams made a good start with a three on the first end but Taylor and Hughes were stuck on six for eight ends and the the score was 20/6 on the 14th end. The Elm Park pairing scored another two but on the 18th end with a score of 26/8 to the Adams, Taylor and Hughes conceded. Jan and John Adams have won the Mixed Pairs twice before in 2002 and 2012.

Bowyer bid for the her second silverware in the Ladies Pairs in the afternoon, partnering Runwell’s Dee Huggins against Pam Thompson and Jenny Kirby (Prittlewell Ladies/Acle).

The match was exciting and some excellent bowling from all four ladies made it exciting for spectators.

There was not much between the pairs for the first few ends when the score was 6/4 to Huggins and Bowyer.

But on the seventh end Huggins and Bowyer scored a five making the total 11/4 to them.

But Thompson and Kirby won the next five ends to take the lead at 14/11 . But Huggins and Bowyer hit back by winning the next four ends, some of which had to be measured by the umpire, and the score was 16 all. They levelled again on the 21st end to make it 19 all with again the umpire being called on to measure for shot, forcing an extra end. Thompson and Kirby won on the 22nd end 20/19 with a superb wood from Kirby which nestled against the jack. The two skips dominated this game right to the end and the umpire was called on several times to measure the shot.

Thompson and Kirby have won the Ladies Pairs twice before in 2010 and 2011.

“The tournament has been a great success this year with beautiful weather and a great atmosphere and the bowling has been of a very high standard,” said tournament spokesman Daphne McNulty.

The trophies will be presented by Southend’s deputy mayor Councillor Andrew Moring and his wife Louise at Wednesday, September 24, at Saxon Hall, in Aviation Way, Southend, when bowlers, friends, including gentlemen are all welcome.

Tournament sponsors T Cribb & Sons, Funeral Directors, will be represented by Joe Cribb – the great great grandson of the founder of the company – and his partner Emma.