GRAHAM TUCKER ended a 21-year wait when he finally became Rayleigh Bowls Club's men’s champion on Sunday.

The club stalwart from Hullbridge, who was junior champion in his first season at the club in 1993, had lost his two previous championship finals but hit top form to beat defending champion Emlyn Clarke 21-13.

Denisa Kralova retained her ladies’ championship title, withstanding an early burst from 2012 champion Pat Bickford to triumph 23-10.

Victory marked the start of a special week for Denisa, a 32-year-old from the Czech Republic as she marries Rayleigh bowler Steve Hallam today.

Rayleigh’s strength in depth was emphasised by the two champions suffering defeat in earlier finals. Kralova lost the ladies’ handicap final 22-16 to Maggie Graham, while Tucker was one of several victims for Keith Vaughan, who won their men’s handicap final 21-17.

Vaughan, an indoor specialist in just his second season on grass, ended a busy weekend with four trophies. His exhausting schedule – five matches in 33 hours – included two epic encounters with David Birch. Vaughan had the upper hand in the 4-3-2-1 but Birch returned a few hours later to prevent a Vaughan clean sweep with a 21-15 success in the Jim Clare Trophy final.

The Davey family scored a double, Hilary Davey beating Suzanne Geach 21-19 in the Junior to win a singles final at the third attempt, while husband John beat Alan Blakesley 21-14 to take the Veterans’ crown.

MEN’S: Championship: Graham Tucker bt Emlyn Clarke 21-13; Junior: Keith Vaughan bt Steve Hallam 21-17; Handicap: Keith Vaughan bt Graham Tucker 21-17; 4-3-2-1: Keith Vaughan bt David Birch 101-89; Veterans: John Davey bt Alan Blakesley 21-14; Two-wood: Ray Cooper bt Colin Young 15-14; Club Pairs: John Davey, Graham Tucker bt John Chittock, Keith Vaughan 25-16; Open Pairs: David Barnes, Keith Vaughan bt John Davey, Kevin Sadler 19-16.

LADIES: Championship: Denisa Kralova bt Pat Bickford 23-10; Junior: Hilary Davey bt Suzanne Geach 21-19; Handicap: Maggie Graham bt Denisa Kralova 22-16; 4-3-2-1: Denisa Kralova bt Wendy Jolley 106-74; Pairs: Cathy Rummell, Val Webber bt June Hayes, Linda Stringer 24-5.

MIXED: Jim Clare Trophy: David Birch bt Keith Vaughan 21-15; Willcocks Triples: Bill Bickford, Sheila Campling, David Birch bt Sheila White, Wendy Jolley, Graham Tucker 30-17; Long/short triples: Kay Mullaly, Rose Bennett, Ray Cooper bt John Jolley, Sandra Attwood, Peter Bennett 30-8; Mixed Pairs: Pat Cooper, Ray Cooper bt Denisa Kralova, Colin Young 28-12; Novice Pairs: Barbara Chapman, Brian Curson bt Ken Johnson, Mick Higgs 21-15; Novice Singles: Nina Harvey bt Ken Johnson 21-17.

 

CLOSE CALL FOR SOUTH BENFLEET AND CANVEY BOWLS CLUB

IT was a case of so near yet so far for bowlers from South Benfleet & Canvey BC in the final of a regional triples competition.

James Fuge, Tony Fuge and Jim Druce lost on an extra end in the final of the London & Southern Counties Bowling Association Triples competition.

The extra end agony against Buckinghamshire's Ivor Heath club came after Druce rallied the troops to force the further end after they trailed 17-11 with four ends to play.

They levelled at 17-17 and, in a tense final end, were pipped 18-17 after the Ivor Heath skip got within a foot of the jack with his first delivery.

S&&C CLUB FINALS WEEKEND RESULTS:  Ladies Handicap: S Wood 23 V Oaks 8.  Men’s Handicap: F Howard 21 D Dale 14. Handicap Championship: F Howard 22 S Wood 12.  Ladies’ Pairs: C Cracknell & L Langton Blows 24  J Howard & P Keep 22.  Diamond Jubilee Ladies’ Pairs: C Lillis & J McBrearty 26  J Newell & D Goodwin 18. Veterans’ Singles: C Carter 22 B Leatham 20.  Ladies’ Championship: S Wood 21 N Hyde 10.  Men’s Championship: J Fuge 22 G Bone 8. Two Woods Singles: K Wood 17 J Docherty 4.  Mixed Pairs: K Hall & J O’Connor 22 C Lillis & J Fuge 19.  Ted Lunt Pairs: L Newton & J Druce bt S Ramsey & K Wood 10.  Arthur Cup:  J Fuge 24 D Kehoe 10.  Champion Of Champions: S Wood 21  J Fuge 14.  Men’s Pairs: B Jones &  J Druce 22 F Howard & D Scruby 11.