Francis Drake Bowls Club

2026 Finals Weekend

Rain did NOT stop play

So Finals Weekend arrived with the excitement of the participants tempered by concerns about the dire weather forecast. In the event, play started on time and, although conditions were not easy, with bowls needing to be cleaned and dried at the end of every end, the green played well, owing much to the hard preparatory work put in by Adrian.

It was very disappointing that the two ladies’ matches - The Ladie's Championship and the President’s Cup - could not be played due to an injury to Sue Hastings, meaning that these events were awarded by default to her scheduled opponent, Yvonne Mavin.
However, the ladies still made their presence felt by providing lunches and refreshments throughout both days and organising a raffle with a wonderful hamper as prize, won by Colin Smith (all round to his place for lunch!)

The first match to be played was the Mixed Pairs, this being a repeat of last year’s final when Tim Deacon and John Park defeated Rob Warnes and Dave Fricker. In this re-match Tim and John got off to a roaring start, leading 9-1 after 5 ends. However, a 6 on end 8 put Rob and Dave into the lead for the first time. With the score at 13-12 Rob and Dave were holding 5 shots when Tim came in with a brilliant last wood to claim shot and tie the game at 13-13. However, Dave played 3 faultless ends of leading to enable his team to take 13 shots and run out winners 26-13.

In the afternoon the Silver Fox appeared again to take on Mark Gingell in the Centenary Cup. Never a lover of wet conditions, Mark struggled initially and allowed Dave to establish an 8-1 lead, before taking 6 shots in the final 2 ends to just lose 8-7 in the first set. However, the wily Fox was relentless in the second set and, despite a brief rally by Mark in ends 3 and 4, Dave ran out the winner by 2 sets to nil.

In the Men’s 3 Woods, Mark Judge, who had had an excellent campaign, reaching the semi-finals of all 4 competitions he entered, played the title-holder, Tim Deacon. After taking an early 2 point lead, Mark struggled to contain Tim’s consistent play and an 11-4 lead was established. Mark then rallied and took 5 shots in 2 ends to be only 2 shots adrift, only for Tim to stretch out again and, despite a 2 by Mark in end 16 to get within 3 shots again, Tim held his nerve and won the match 15-11.

On Sunday the Gardiner Cup featured Fred Main against Steve Hayes, both vying to get their name on a trophy for the first time. Steve played himself into an early 7-1 lead before Fred pulled himself back into contention by end 12 with only 1 shot separating the pair. Steve then went on a good run of ends taking 8 shots to Fred’s 2 to set up a 20-11 lead with the winning post very much in sight. However, Fred was having none of it and took 7 shots in 2 ends to come back to only 2 behind, before Steve closed the game out with a a winning shot on end 22. A good close game - well done to Steve on your first title and better luck again next season, Fred.

It was a shame that Sylvie Anderson could not take part as planned in this competition, and we all wish her a speedy recovery from illness.

In the Men’s Championship there was a repeat of the 2024 final between Tim Deacon and Rob Warnes. Tim raced into a 6-1 lead before Rob pulled it back to level, only to see Tim go ahead again, before levelling again. The game swung backwards and forwards until Rob had a good run of ends to establish a 19-14 lead. In end 22 Rob was sitting holding a match-winning 3 shots, only to see Tim produce a brilliant match-saving last wood to take 4 shots and bring himself back to only a point down. However, Rob saw out the last 2 ends to win a good close match 22-18.

In the final match of the weekend the Silver Fox came out his lair for a third time to face relative newcomer Mark Judge in the 100 up. This proved to be probably the best match of the finals. Mark’s storming start was soon pulled back by Dave who then stretched away with 2 ends of 9 points and another of 8 soon after. However, Mark gritted his teeth and came right back to be only 89-91 behind at the end of end 18. The players shared the last 2 ends 10 points each, enabling Dave to win a great match 101-99. Bad luck, Mark, but your time will come.

All in all a very enjoyable and successful weekend. Thanks to all those who helped out during the competitions - Adrian for his work on the green, the people who volunteered to mark throughout the qualifying matches, those who marked on the day, those who helped changing the scoreboards, those who helped set up the green, those who helped with refreshments and organisation of prizes etc. and anyone else who deserves a mention but has been forgotten.

Let’s do it all again next year. 

Rob Warnes

All photos, by Keith Ward, in the gallery here