County Successes for Resolven Club

This year, once more, bowlers from various clubs have been battling through several rounds on many different Greens to compete in the Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours to reach the Annual West Glamorgan County Finals held at Brynhyfryd Bowls Club, Neath. The Semi-Finals were held on Thursday 11 July and the Finals on Friday 12 July 2024.

Resolven Bowls Club were represented in as many as five of the tournament sections this year.

The Resolven fours were through from the early rounds to the Semi-Final where they put up a good fight against the Briton Ferry Steel Bowls Club four.

On the right the Resolven Rink of four – Nigel Davies, Brandon Evans, Simon Ace and Stephen Allen
Nigel. as ‘Lead’ delivering his bowl
Stephen, as ‘Skip’ chalks a ‘toucher’ (A delivered bowl that has touched the jack)

In the Under 25 tournament, 16 year old Regan Ace played an excellent Semi-Final game against Matthew Thorne, Briton Ferry Steel Combine BC to get through to the Final the following day.

A little later Regan joined his Father, Simon in the Open Pairs against J Flynn and E Thomas, Pontrhydyfen.

Regan ‘reads’ the ‘head’ before suggesting a shot to be played by Simon

In his first full season of playing lawn bowls with Resolven Bowls Club, Regan was outstanding and his experienced opposite number, Jamie Flynn later commented that he “had no chance against him”. The photo’ shows Regan’s bowls on one end during the game. Needless to say that Simon and Regan Ace were successful in their bid to get into the final.

It was a busy day on the Brynhyfryd green for Resolven Bowls Club members because Andrew Hopkins and Stephen Allen were also successful in their pairs match against Mike Brain and Rhys Colwill, Briton Ferry Steel Combine BC. Which meant that the Pairs final would be an all Resolven game.

Stephen also won his Open Singles Semi-Final match against Geoff Mellor, Skewen to also play in Friday’s Open Singles Final.

Stephen {Stevie} needing 1 more shot to win the game.

~

Friday – Finals Day

Regan Ace viewing ‘the head’ during the singles final with Stephen Allen playing Paul Champion in the background.

In the U25 County Singles final Regan gave another great display against a high quality opponent, Rhys Colwill, Briton Ferry Steel Combine. Final score 16 – 21. Rhys Colwill and the County runner-up Regan will be competing in the Welsh Championship at Llandrindod Wells between 9 and 19 August 2024.

A bowl delivery from Regan in the Under 25 Singles final.

From April at the start of the outdoor bowls 2024 season individual West Glamorgan clubs have also been playing what is called a Double 4’s tournament. Two teams of four players play against a club with one team playing home and one team away. No communication is to be made between the teams until all the ends have been completed. In this tournament Resolven Bowls Club (RBC) have been successful many times. The final of this Double 4’s is played on the one bowling green at the end of the last day of the County Finals.

This year RBC played Dunvant BC in the final.

Steven Gall, Lionel Stock, Shaun Kelly and Martin Addis on Rink 1
For RBC on Rink 6 were Nigel Davies, Aeron Humphries, Tony Gregg and Simon Williams

After18 ends of play Resolven beat Dunvant BC by 15 shots to become 2024 County Double 4’s Champions.

Back Row Lt to Rt: Steven Gall, Shaun Kelly, Aeron Humphries, Nigel Davies

Front Row: Martin Addis, Tony Gregg, Lionel Stock, Simon Williams

The Final of the Open Pairs between Regan Ace, Simon Ace and Andrew Hopkins, Stephen Allen was being played at the same time as the Double 4’s therefore Resolven BC had 12 bowlers on the Brynhyfryd green simultaneously.

Simon and Regan Ace pondering over ‘the percentage shot’. Stephen & Andrew wait patiently.
Simon and Andrew

Lt: Stephen and Regan with Tony Gregg and Simon Williams, part of the Double 4’s in the background, on the adjacent rink.

.

.

.

.

After 18 ends and an excellent match Stephen and Andrew become the 2024 WGCBA Champions and they will be playing in the Welsh Championship Finals at Llandrindod Wells as will the runners up, Simon and Regan.

Stephen Allen and Andrew Hopkins WGCBA Open Pairs Champions 2024

A little earlier Stephen Allen also successfully defended his Open Singles title against Paul Champion, Mount Pleasant BC.

After a tense few minutes and a difficult measure for the Umpire and marker, Paul congratulated Stephen on winning 21 – 15 and again becoming the Open Singles Champion. He is only the 5th player in the history of the West Glamorgan County finals who has retained the Open Singles title.

.

Stephen Allen County Open Singles Champion 2024

Congratulations to RBC members for a very successful 2024 West Glamorgan County Bowls Association tournament. It was good to see that Resolven Bowls Club was so well represented in the County Finals at Brynhyfryd.

Resolven BC can be very proud of their achievements so far this year.
Well done to all concerned!

~ ~ ~ ~

/by