Chris Dobson wins last Singles Merit of 2025 at Dukes Park

There were 28 entrants in the main competition which was up on the 21 last week.

The weather was chilly but fine.

The main competition games were played with three on the card. It was also possible, in part due to the relatively low entry and in part to the fact that Dukes Park have two greens, to run a consolation Tea & Biscuits (T&B) competition for first game losers.

This was played as a Drawn Pairs with, initially, five on the card although the final was played off scratch as there was plenty of time in hand.

The first round saw Chris Dobson (Dukes Park) crush Derek Dale (Bridlington Bay) 21-6 to face Geoff Watson (Whitby) who won 21-9 against Allison Roe (North Cliff).

Paul Morgan (Whitby) had a predictably tougher challenge to beat another home bowler, Geoff Price 21-17 while Larry Dixon defeated Katie Gates (Dukes Park) 21-15.

Gary Thornton (Borough) was well ahead against Sue Purcell (Whitby) before she came back only to lose 21-17. Thornton then faced David Wright (Westgate) who beat tony Allen (Hunmanby) 21-10.

David Hill (North Cliff) had a comfortable, 21-9, win against Mel Dale (Bridlington Bay) and this was also the score when Jennie Allen (Hunmanby) knocked Mary Kenworthy (Westgate) out.

David Knights (Sheffield) had a very good win, 21-15, against home bowler Kevin Gates and, as is often the case this score was replicated when Tim Purcell (Whitby) beat Anthony Clarke (Westgate).

The round was completed when Denise Dobson (Dukes Park) had a 21-17 win over Bernard Chalk (Westgate) and Alan Landers crushed his North Cliff clubmate Scott Wardman 21-8.

The second round opened with Ian Richardson (North Cliff) cruising through 21-6 against David Muir (Eastfield) to face Barrie Watson (Borough) who put Mally Kay (North Cliff) out 21-14.

Chris Dobson just scraped through 21-20 against Geoff Watson to face Morgan who had a comfortable 21-8 win against Dixon.

In the bottom half of the draw Thornton crushed Wright 21-5 while Jennie Allen did almost as well in winning 21-9 against Hill. Finally in this round Knights won 21-17 against Tim Purcell while Landers had a big, 21-7, win against Denise Dobson.

The first quarter-final was very close with Barrie Watson beating Richardson 21-20 to face Chris Dobson who won 21-13 against Morgan who appeared to have had a temporary loss of form.

In the other half Thornton won 21-14 against Jennie Allen while Knights had a fine 21-14 win against the in-form Landers.

The first semi-final saw Dobson win comfortably against Watson by 21-10 but Thornton was pushed hard by Knights before going through to the final 21-20.

Dobson took an early commanding lead in the final winning the first nine ends to lead 15-3 before Thornton won the next four ends to pull the deficit back to 15-8.

Dobson then won three of the next four ends to lead 19-9 only for Thornton to win the next three ends to make it 19-14.

Dobson then got his act back together and scored a two on end 21 to win 21-14.

There were 14 entries in the T&B and in the first round Mary Kenworthy & Anthony Clarke won 21-10 against Bernard Chalk & Allison Roe.

The strong pairing of Geoff & Scott Wardman beat Sue Purcell & Tony Allen 21-7 while Derek Dale & David Muir started strongly against Mally Kay & Mel Dale but were pegged back before winning 21-15.

In the first semi-final a home pairing of late entrants, Phil Rippingale & Les Boyles won 21-15 against Kenworthy & Clarke while Price & Wardman had a comfortable 21-8 win against Dale & Muir.

The final in some ways was a mirror of the main competition with Price & Wardman opening up a 14-0 led after six ends before Rippingale & Boyles scored a three.

A “full house” of four put Price & Wardman 18-3 up before Rippingale & Boyles took the next three ends to make it 18-8.

Price & Wardman then took the next two ends to win 21-8.

This coming Sunday Whitby will host the first Open Singles of 2026, weather and green permitting.

As usual entry is on the day with the draw being made at 9am.

There will also be a Drawn Pairs T&B for first game losers and “late” arrivals provided the weather and light permit.

To ensure entry for this it is advisable to arrive no later than 11am.