The final of the Co-op
erative Funeralcare International Open here at Blackpool Newton Hall this evening was full of twists, turns and surprising bowls between Scotland’s David Gourlay and England’s Jamie Chestney. It was Gourlay that started of well, taking 9 shots against Chestneys single in the first 6 ends then fortunes reversed as Gourlay seemed to lose the length and Chestney stepped in. Over the next 4 ends it was all Chestney as he powered back and took 8 shots and levelled the score at 9 all in the 10th. Gourlay gritted his teeth and held on to a double to take the first set 11-9.
Into the second set and it was Jamie who then struggled a little, but on a number of ends one has to say that Chestney’s luck did not hold as several times he played a perfect bowl but it just edged the wrong way. Gourlay suddenly found his weight and played superbly to go 10-3 up by the 8th end. Again Chestney’s bowls were good but not quite going his way and although he kept at it he could only manage a single and a double in ends 9 and 10 so it was Gourlay that took the second set and Championship with a final scoreline of 11-9, 10-6
David Gourlay with his trophy presented by Lesley Van Dyke (on the left) National Support Manager for the Co-operative Funeralcare and Andrea Chalice (on the right) Director for Partington Holidays