Thornton keeps his cool to earn Over-60s success in Westgate winter opener

There were 24 entrants in the main competition on a cool and cloudy day but fortunately one with no rain.

The main competition was played off scratch throughout and a consolation Tea & Biscuits (T&B) was also played with 5 on the card to ensure a timely finish.

In the first round Alan Boland (Whitby) won the first game 21-11 against Judith Andrews (North Cliff) and this score was repeated wham Tom Muckley beat Hunmanby clubmate Michelle Chamberlain.

Thornton had a closer game against Sue Purcell (Whitby) but went through 21-17 to face Harry Old who won a second all-Hunmanby game against Geoff Oldham 21-12.

Larry Dixon then won an all-Westgate game against Dave Dexter for a game against Jennie Allen (Hunmanby) who eliminated Pauline Allison (Borough) 21-13.

The final pair of games in the round saw Tim Purcell scrape through 21-20 against Borough’s Ronnie Noble and Geoff Price (Dukes Park) cruise through 21-5 against David Hill (North Cliff).

The second round opened with Jack Richardson (Hunmanby) winning 21-13 against David Muir (Eastfield) to face another Eastfield player, Ashley Brunton-Douglas who won 21-12 against Tony Allen (Hunmanby).

Dave Clarke (Dukes Park) had a good 21-19 win against Ian Richardson (Robin Hood’s Bay) to face Alan Landers who won 21-14 against Chits Dobson (Dukes Park).

In the bottom half of the draw Muckley went through with a 21-19 win against Boland to face Thornton who just made it through 21-19 against Old. Jennie Allen had a big 21-7 win over Dixon for a game against Price who beat Tim Purcell 21-15.

Jack Richardson had his second win against an Eastfield player beating Brunton-Douglas 21-18 while Landers won 21-13 against Clarke in the other half of the draw Thornton ended Muckley’s run with a 21-16 win to face Price who beat Jennie Allen 21-17.

Landers proceeded to the final with a 21-12 win against Richardson and Thornton joined him beating Price 21-16.

The final was ultimately a very close affair although each bowler had periods of dominance.

Thornton took the first 3 ends for a 5-0 lead only for Landers to level the scores. Thornton then surged to a 12-5 lead after 11 ends before Landers fought back to trail 15-12 after 19 ends.

Thornton then won 3 ends to stand a point from winning at 20-12 after 22 ends but as is often the case that score proved elusive as Landers reeled off 6 winning ends to level the scores at 20-20 after 28 ends before Thornton managed to win an end for a 21-20 win.

There were 16 entrants in the T&B drawn pairs.

Tony Allen & Dave Dexter won the first game 21-19 against Pauline Allison & Pam Moment (North Cliff) and Ronnie Noble (Borough) & Tony Gallacher (Westgate) won 21-17 against Dave Moment (North Cliff) & Judith Andrews.

Geoff Oldham & David Hill beat Sue Purcell & Malcom Naylor (North Cliff) 21-9 to face Ian Richardson & Pat Gallacher (Westgate) who had a 21-18 win over Michelle Chamberlain & Laurie Silver (Westgate).

Allen & Dexter had another 21-19 win to eliminate Noble & Pat Gallacher while Richardson & Pat Gallacher joined them in the final with a 21-20 win over Oldham & Hill.

The final was rather a one-sided affair with Allen & Dexter beating Richardson & Pat Gallacher 21-11.

There is no Over-60s on Friday but there is an Open Singles on Sunday at Westgate.

The start time is 9am, entry is on the day and bowlers are asked to be present by 8.55am to enable the draw to be made for a prompt start.

Depending on entry numbers there will be a consolation T&B drawn pairs competition for first game losers and late arrivals.

Anyone wishing to enter the T&B only should be there by 11am.