ECBA Carpet Bowls Festival 2025
Monday 28th to Friday 2nd May

RINKS The 27 teams divided up into 5 groups (three of 5 and two of 6), with each team playing 4 games. From each group the top three teams would qualify for the knockout stages, along with the best 4th placed team. Those 16 qualifiers would then be ranked, with the best team pitted against the 16th best, 2nd against 15th, etc, so although qualification would be relatively easy, there was an incentive to do as well as possible. Group 1 Sutton-Knox-Wingfield-Joy took the group, winning all 4 games, Cook-Hearn-Smith won 3 games, and Webster-Hibberd-Smith-Heal were through with 2 wins. Group 2 Edmead-McNeil-Parrish-Myall won all their games, Ballinger-Iskett-Marshall won 3 out of 4, and Long-Reeve were third on 2 wins. Group 3 Templeton-Meldrum-Clarke took maximum points, Collins-Chamberlain-Fisher lost once, and 2 wins for Bollins-O’Brien-Brock saw them through in third. Group 4 The wins were spread around in Group 4, with no one winning all their games. Goodrich-Hobbs-Jolly and MacLean-Martin-Kelly-Foley both won 3, Cousins-Clemmet-Newling won 2 games for 3rd place, and Thompson-McCabe-McGahan were the best 4th placed team, on 2 wins. Group 5 Wilson-Laydon-Campbell had 4 very comfortable wins, second place went to the Norwegian team of Johansen-Einarson-Buhler-Bekke, who only lost once, and the final spot went to Frost-Runnacles, who won 2 and lost 2. Knockout Rounds Round 1 Despite ranking the teams after the group games, a lot of the results went against form. Wilson-Laydon-Campbell's game went as might have been expected, winning 14-2 against Webster-Hibberd-Smith-Heal. But No.2 seeds Templeton-Meldrum-Clarke were edged out 5-6 by Frost-Runnacles. Edmead-McNeil-Parrish-Myall (3) were beaten 6-3 by Thompson-McCable-McGahan (14). Sutton-Knox-Wingfield-Joy (4) narrowly fell to Bollins-O-Brien-Brock (13), 7-5. Cousins-Clemmet-Newling (12) ran away to a 12-2 victory over Cook-Hearn-Smith (5). More in line with the form book, Goodrich-Hobbs-Jolly (6) beat Long-Reeve (11) 11-5. But Collins-Chamberlain-Fisher (7) lost out to Ballinger-Iskett-Marshall (10) 3-6. And finally, Johansen-Einarson-Buhler-Bekke (8) didn’t get much of a look-in against MacLean-Martin-Kelly-Foley (9), losing 12-1, although they had done extremely well, and were very please to have made it this far. Quarter Finals All four games turned out to be close affairs. Wilson-Laydon-Campbell (1) against MacLean-Martin-Kelly-Foley (9) needed an extra end to settle the game, which went in favour of the lower seeded team, 9-7. Cousins-Clemmet-Newling (12) ran out to a 7-0 lead after 3 ends, against Bollins-O-Brien-Brock (13), fending off a comeback to also win 9-7. Goodrich-Hobbs-Jolly (6) against Thompson-McCable-McGahan (14) also needed an extra end, which ended in a 5-4 win for Goodrich-Hobbs-Jolly. And Frost-Runnacles (15) overcame a 6-0 deficit to Ballinger-Iskett-Marshall (10), to win 8-7. Semi-Finals After a series of close-run games in the previous round, the ones involving the last four, were all very clear-cut, and were clearly headed that way from the first end, which saw both winning team start off with a 4. Goodrich-Hobbs-Jolly (6) finished their game off an end early, with a 14-1 win over Frost-Runnacles (15). And Cousins-Clemmet-Newling (12) were never in any danger as they beat MacLean-Martin-Kelly-Foley (9) 10-2 Final Paul & Sue Cousins, David Clemmet & Angela Newling v Neil Jolly, Ally Hobbs and Sally & Jim Goodrich At 4-2 to Goodrich-Hobbs-Jolly, after 4 ends, it looked like the game was going to be nip and tuck, but the 5th end saw them pick up a 5, after which the result was in little doubt. The game went into the final end at 9-4. Cousins-Clemmet-Newling would need at least a 5 to keep the game going, and while the end produced a 6, it wasn’t to them, as Neil took out the shot wood with his last, to go from one down to half a dozen up, and win the game 15-4, making it the 4th win for this particular Rink, and Neil’s 7th Rinks title.

PAIRS There were 11 groups of 5 teams, although some last minute illness meant that 3 teams were sadly absent. The group winners would qualify for the last 16 automatically, and would be joined by the winners of 5 Preliminary Round games, played out between the 10 best runners-up. Preliminary Round All five games ended up being very close. David & Stephen Templeton just beat Ann MacLean & Bill Martin 6-5. Sue Parrish & Lisa Edmead also won by a single shot, over Shirley & Charlie Thompson (7-6), as did Phyllis Sutton & Rosemary Knox, 5-4 over Paul & Sue Cousins. Ann Butler & Michael Webb beat John & Lynda Jewers 7-5, and Peter Webster & Fran Hibberd took out Mick & Pete Cook 6-4. First Round Ian Clark & Ryan Meldrum (Group Winner), beat Chris & Shirley Tilbrook (Group Winner) 9-4. Having won by a shot in the previous round, Sue Parrish & Lisa Edmead (RU) lost by the same margin to David Foley & Catherine Kelly (W), 5-6. Martin Campbell & Stephen Wilson (W) were comfortable 9-2 winners over David & Stephen Templeton (RU). Phyllis Sutton & Rosemary Knox (RU) had another narrow win (7-6), this time over Patricia Clarke & Charley Newby (W). Stuart McNeil & Rob Myall (W) got the better of Paul Daniels & Val Game (W) 6-3. Peter Webster & Fran Hibberd (RU) eased their way to an 11-3 win over Bernie Nelson & Marion Martin (W). Jim Goodrich & Neil Jolly (W) beat Bill & Carole Reeve (W) 8-6, at it was the same score for Adam Wilson & Michael Laydon (W) over Ann Butler & Michael Webb (RU). Quarter Finals Martin Campbell & Stephen Wilson were never in trouble against Phyllis Sutton & Rosemary Knox, winning 11-3 with an end to spare, and it was a similar story for Stuart McNeil & Rob Myall, who beat Peter Webster & Fran Hibberd 11-1, also in 6 ends. Somewhat closer was the game between Jim Goodrich & Neil Jolly and Adam Wilson & Michael Laydon, at 9-7 to Jim & Neil, with their victory resting on the fours they picked up on ends 1 and 4. And closest of all was Ian Clark & Ryan Meldrum and David Foley & Catherine Kelly, all square going into the last end, David and Catherine came out 5-4 winners. Semi-Finals Like the Rinks Semi-Finals that had been played earlier in the day, the games between the last 4 in the Pairs were clear-cut results. David Foley & Catherine Kelly took a single on the first end against Martin Campbell & Stephen Wilson, but that was the last time they led, and Martin & Stephen took the game 8-3. Even more clear-cut was Stuart McNeil & Rob Myall against Jim Goodrich & Neil Jolly. Stuart and Rob didn’t win an end until the 6th, but which time they were 6-0 down, even then it was only a single, after which Neil & Jim closed the game out with a 4, to win 10-1. Final Martin Campbell & Stephen Wilson v Jim Goodrich & Neil Jolly As is fitting of a final, this was a suitably close affair. Martin & Stephen took one each on the first 2 ends, which was countered by Jim & Neil doing the same on the next 2, which they followed-up with a2 on the 5th, to take the lead for the first time in the game. Martin & Stephen chipped back one on the penultimate end, and on the last, squared it at 4-4, taking the game to an extra end. Stephen stood up their best wood, to take shot. All Neil could do was to turn that same wood over to see it sit next to the jack, and his last wood, to try and take it out, was just a little high, leaving Martin & Stephen 5-4 victors. It was a repeat victory for the pair that had won in 2023, and Martin’s fifth Pairs title.

SINGLES While not everyone chooses to play in the Singles, there were more takers this year, with 78 players competing. The competition is played on a knockout basis, with a Preliminary Round to get us down to 64, and finally working our way down to the last 2. Quarter Finals Adam Wilson lost the first end to Marcus Whiting, but was ahead on the third, wrapping the game up with an end to spare, 7-2 ahead. Michael Webb led Jim Greaves from the start, winning the game 6-2. Neil Jolly went from 3-0 up against Nigel Bentley, to 4-3 down, before picking up a full house of 4 shots in the 6th, and finishing 8-4 up. The game between Lisa Edmead and Trond Bekke saw just one shot scored on each end, with a string of 5 ends won by Trond, from end 2 to end 6, securing him a 5-2 victory. Semi-Finals Michael Webb won the first 3 ends against Trond Bekke, but by only a shot on each, and that lead was completely wiped out as Trond took all 4 on the 4th end, followed by two 2s to win the game 8-3 with an end to spare. The second game was much closer, with Neil Jolly and Adam Wilson trading blows throughout. They were all square at 4-4 after 5 ends, at which point Neil picked up a 2, only for Adam to square the game again, on the 7th, requiring an extra end, which was tied, with one wood from each bowler touching the jack. And so an extremely rare second extra end was required, which went to Adam, giving him a 7-6 win. Final Adam Wilson v Trond Bekke In previous years, our Norwegian guests had tended to shy away from the Singles, but this year was different, with several choosing to compete. And so it was a phenomenal effort for Trond to make it to the final. It was a shame, that having comes so far, the pressure seemed to get to him. The first end saw Adam take all 4 shots, at which point the writing was immediately on the wall. A couple more singles to Adam, was followed by another 4, and one more on the 5th end, taking the score to 11-0, meant that the game was drawn to a close 2 ends early. It was a pity that the match was so one-sided, but Trond should be very proud of having got all the way to the final. The win for Adam means that he has now won each of the three Festival disciplines.

NORWAY RINKS Terje Ødegard, Eva Ødegard,Jorunn Wattum & Jens Olav Smestad were not able to qualify, but did not end up pointless, as they won one of their games. On the other hand, Arild Johansen, Gert Einarson, Cristian Bühler & Trond Bekke, won three game and lost just once, easily qualifying in second place in their group. Unfortunately they were soundly beaten in their First Round game, but simply qualifying was a huge step forward. PAIRS Cristian Bühler & Trond Bekke weren't able to win any games in their group. Arild Johansen & Gert Einarson won 2 games and lost 2, only just missing out on qualification by 5 shots. Terje & Eva Ødegard also did not win a game, but they came very close, losing one game by just a shot. And Jorunn Wattum & Jens Olav Smestad picked up 2 points, but that was down to threir opponents having withdrawn. SINGLES Although Cristian Buhler, Jens Olav Smestad and Gert Einarson were all knocked out in their first games, and there were wins for the other 3 Norwegians Singles players. Arild Johansen took a very impressive win over one of the favourites, in his first game, but was knocked out in the second round. And it was the same for Terje Ødegard, also knocked out in his second game. But the star of the show was Trond Bekke he won his first game 6-5, and won his second game with exactly the same score. His 3rd Round game saw him win 7-3, his Quarter Final was a 5-2 win, and the Semi-Final was won 8-3. Unfortunately the Final did not go so well, with the pressure of the situation perhaps getting to him, but it's a huge achievement for anyone to reach the final.

Many thanks to everyone who joined us, congratulations to all the winners, and we hope to see you all again next year.

You can view the entire week's results here. And videos of games here.