Finch clinches prestigious title (From Wirral Globe)

Finch clinches prestigious title

2:38pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Sport By Bill Atkinson

TOP news of the week must be the incredible win by Gladstone's John Finch in British Crown Green Champion of Champions event on Saturday, at the Waterloo Hotel in Blackpool, one of the most prestigious trophies in the game.

After a succession of excellent results, Finch came up against Simon Coupe, arguably the top player in the game, in the final.

Though initially going 0-8 down and then 3-11 down Finch held his nerve and he won a thoroughly deserved victory 21-18.

Mention must also be made of Danny Barwise who plays for Kings 2000 who also reached the semi-final.

On the following day it was the turn of the ladies and there was yet more success for our local players as Lindsey Gorman reached the final of the Ladies Champion of Champion only being beaten in the final by Katrina Earl who revelled in the very wet conditions. All three players did Wirral proud. Well done.

The Heswall Pairs Tournament was completed on Sunday afternoon and this saw more success for local players.

After a tremendous final the winners were the West Kirby Victoria pairing of Mathew Gilmore and Anthony Thompson who beat Carl and John Bonatti from Mold.

Results:

Semi-finals: M Gilmore and A Thompson 21, N Hughes and G Faulkner 16; C and J Bonatti 21, W Speed and P Boydell 10.

Final: Gilmore and Thompson 21, Bonatti and Bonatti 20.

The Winter Flyers Tournaments restarted in Birkenhead Park last Sunday, September 23, when the winner was Tixall's Mick Andrews who defeated Ritchie Marshall of Our Lady’s in the final.

This Sunday was forecast to be very wet but in the event the rain held off.

Taking advantage of the benign conditions Hoylake Central's Tommy Walker played very well throughout the morning beating Nick Woodward in the quarters before being too good for Upton's Roy Abernathy in the semi-final.

In the final against Upton, Victory Hall's John Cosgrove, Walker maintained his form and after taking an early lead managed to hold on and he ran out a 21-15 winner.

Results:

Quarter-finals: J Cosgrove 21, T Howell 19; J Harrison 21, N Thornton 20; T Walker 21, N Woodward 12; R Abernathy 21, R Marshall 16.

Semi-finals: Cosgrove 21, Thornton 20; Walker 21, Abernathy 08.

Final: Walker 21, Cosgrove 15.

The Richard Evans Memorial 31-up tournament should have finished last Friday but the event has been badly affected by the recent very wet weather and the final stages will now be played next Thursday and Friday evenings.

The Birkenhead and Wirral Afternoon Section leagues have also been affected by the rain and the final placings in some of the divisions will not be decided until cancelled games have been completed.