Parliament Hill Bowls Club held its in-house championships over the weekend
THERE was a serene search for silverware over the weekend as members of Parliament Hill Bowls Club gathered at their green on Hampstead Heath for the finals of their annual in-house championships.
Wearing black armbands, the players held a minute’s silence before the action started, as a mark of respect for Queen Elizabeth II.
The highlight of the end-of-season event unfolded on Sunday when a battle between the boroughs saw Camden’s Richard Caylor overcome Islington’s Pete Dowland in a thrilling 100-up final.
In the race to 100 points, bowlers are awarded four points for the bowl nearest the jack; three points for the next closest, and so forth. Taking 20 ends to find a winner, “one of the best matches of the weekend” saw Caylor eventually carve out a 103-97 victory.
There was little time to enjoy his triumph, however, as less than 45 minutes later Caylor was back on the green beating Richard Lynch from Holborn 22-11 to win the men’s singles final.
The success capped an all-conquering campaign for Caylor, who also toppled Highgate’s Ben Torrens 21-10 in the mixed open final on Saturday. It meant that he recorded a double treble – winning all three of Parliament Hill’s most prestigious trophies for the second season in a row.
Richard Caylor capped an all-conquering season
Admitting the success makes him a marked man, Caylor said he “was there to be shot down”, adding: “It’s always nice to win.
“Sunday was challenging, to play such a close final against Pete, and then, after a quick turnaround, play again in the men’s singles final wasn’t easy.
“But you just have to get on with it. It all turned out well in the end.”
Parliament Hill’s bowlers will now take a well-earned rest before the outdoor season starts again in April. Club president Brian Presley is hoping that the surge of interest they received after a certain summer showpiece will continue in the spring.
“We found that after the Commonwealth Games we had a lot of people getting in touch because they’d seen lawn bowls being played on TV. We had a lot of interest after that,” he said.
“You often find that most of the people who come to bowls have played another sport, like golf for example – but it’s not essential.
“We will show you how to play. You also don’t have to compete – you can just come along and enjoy your own relaxed game.”
To find out more about joining the club, visit www.parliamenthillbowlsclub.wordpress.com
