The annual Spalding Open on December 28 and 29 attracted some of the top bowlers in the country including the current men’s and women’s world champions, Mark Dawes and Katherine Rednall.
After several sessions of play at Spalding Indoor Bowls Club the last eight players standing were Rednall, senior internationals, Wayne Willgress from Norfolk and Rob Elmore from City of Ely, Dominic McVittie from Blackpool, Phil Last from Ipswich, Chris Rodgers from Melton Mowbray, along with Spalding’s very own internationals, Graham Smith and Stephen Harris, who beat world number six, Nicky Brett in the last 16.
Current men’s world champion, Dawes, was beaten by Norfolk’s world number 17, Willgress, also in the last 16.
Some top quality bowls saw the spectators on the edge of their seats as Rodgers edged past Harris on a tie break (5-6, 5-2, 2-0), Willgress beat Elmore in straight sets (6-1, 6-5), Rednall comfortably beat McVittie in straight sets (8-1, 7-1) and Smith narrowly beat Last on a tie break after two drawn sets (4-4, 7-7, 2-0).
Another live draw saw Rednall drawn against Willgress and Smith with Rodgers. Despite Rednall and
Rodgers winning the first set in each match, Willgress and Smith bounced back well to take the second set and take the momentum into the tie break, which were both decided on the final end.
Willgress edged past Rednall (4-6, 7-6, 2-1) while Smith edged past Rodgers in similar fashion (4-8, 9-4, 2-1).
With Spalding’s Smith matched up against world number 17, Willgress, the final was always destined to go the distance and the players did not disappoint the packed crowd.
Smith was clearly in top form after winning the Barwell Open, the week prior to Christmas and had taken that form into his home tournament.
However, Willgress struck first blood in the final as he took the first set 8-6.
Smith fought back well to take the second 10-1 and force a tie break.
At one end all in the tie break, Smith decided to give the jack away on the last end, which at the highest level, is often an advantage to have last bowl of the end.
Willgress bravely took the mat up and attempted to ditch the jack with his first bowl.
This proved to be a gamble worth taking as he got the jack clean, followed it into the ditch and sat six inches away, leaving Smith with little chance of retrieving the shot.
Willgress claimed the £800 first prize, the Bryan Thorold Memorial Spalding Open trophy and valuable ranking points towards the open singles circuit rankings from the Jet2Holidays sponsored event.
After losing in the final of the Durham Open and Spalding Open and winning the Barwell Open, Smith sits pretty at the top of the rankings and in a good position to qualify for the grand finals at Potters Leisure Resort in November 2019.
