Dominic McVittie recently represented England at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in Aberdeen.
McVittie earned his place to play at the event after winning the national singles title last season.
He played in the singles event and was joined by Solihull’s Emily Kernick in the mixed pairs.
Starting with the singles, McVittie had mixed fortunes in the group phase with wins against France (21-0, 18-1), Jamaica (20-0, 13-3), Cyprus (12-1, 10-2), USA (8-2, 13-2) and Hungary (13-1, 14-1), but lost against New Zealand (4-6, 11-6, 0-5) and Wales (6-3, 3-7, 2-3).
This meant he finished third in the group and was required to book his place in the knockout rounds with a playoff win against the Isle of Man (6-9, 8-1, 6-0).
In the quarter final, McVittie hit top form as he beat multiple world bowls tour champion, Stewart Anderson from Scotland (9-4, 6-3).
In the semi-final, McVittie played Ross Owen from Wales who had already beaten him in the group phase earlier in the week, and in the final of the British Isles singles only a month ago.
McVittie showed his class as he won in straight sets (6-2, 5-3) and booked his place in the final where he played 19-year-old Jack McShane from Australia.
Unfortunately, McVittie found the Aussie in top form as McShane won in straight sets (4-9, 2-7) and McVittie picked up the silver medal.
England’s representative in the ladies’ singles Kernick also lost in the final against Scotland’s Sophie McGrouther.
In the mixed pairs, Kernick and McVittie topped their group with wins against Macau China (8-3, 12-1), Ireland (5-5, 7-5), Jersey (5-10, 9-6, 8-0) and Japan (8-4, 17-0).
In the quarter final, they played exceptionally well to beat Australia’s Kelsey Cottrell and Jack McShane (9-2, 7-5) before a tense semi-final match where they beat Scotland’s Claire and Stewart Anderson on the last end of the tie break (2-7, 6-5, 3-2).
In the final, the pair played Lauren Gowen and Ross Owen from Wales.
The crowd was not disappointed and spectators were treated to an epic match.The first set was drawn 6-6 which meant that unless there was another drawn set, the championship would be decided over the next seven ends.
Kernick and McVittie had their backs against the walls as they were 5-2 behind playing the last end.
However, they played a good end and with his last bowl, McVittie played a bowl to make four shots, which has sent the bowls social media world crazy.
This saw them win the match 6-6, 6-5 and win the world indoor mixed pairs championship.
This is also a championship that McVittie’s clubmates Annie Dunham and Martin Spencer won back in 2017.
Speaking to McVittie upon his return from the championships, he said: “What a week it was, and it ended with a gold and silver medal which I never imagined I would ever achieve. A childhood dream come true!”
*Well done to all of the club competition winners over the last two weeks!
Men’s singles – Dan Mills beat Nick Wilkie.
Men’s pairs – Ian Harwood and James Teesdale beat Kevin Ekins and Jordan Philpott.
Men’s triples – Mike Taylor, Chris Warboys and Gavin Staite beat Phil Everett, John Selwyn and Alan Tokley.
Men’s fours – Harry Mycock, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie beat Ian Stafford, Gavin Staite, Terry Windsor and David Nunney.
Ladies’ singles – Danielle Wild beat Chelsea Spencer.
Ladies’ pairs – Jessica Butters and Chelsea Spencer beat Betty Deaton (sub for Jan Sinclair) and Maisie Belding.
Ladies’ triples – Jessica Butters, Ruby Philpott and Chelsea Spencer beat Sue Slayven, Carly Morris and Hazel Tokley.
Ladies’ fours – Jenny Wakefield, June Angus, Paula Lawson and Pauline Day beat Jessica Butters, Ruby Mycock, Ruby Philpott and Chelsea Spencer.
Ladies’ drawn pairs – Pam Hill and Hazel Tokley.
Mixed pairs – Petrine Ault (sub for Jean Patterson) and Dominic McVittie beat Tracy and Jordan Philpott.
Mixed fours – Tracy Philpott (sub for Jean Patterson), Ruby Mycock, Harry Mycock and Dominic McVittie beat Bill Hodges, Maggie Wheatley, Trish Stafford and Ian Stafford.
Rabbits singles – Ian Harwood beat Max Butters.
Over 60s singles – Nigel Eagle beat Martin Simpson.
101 singles – Dan Mills beat Graham Smith.
101 pairs – Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey beat Ben Sharp and Aidan Brickles.
Family pairs – Tracy and Jordan Philpott beat Julie and Graham Hicks.
Veteran pairs – Paul Turner and Martin Simpson beat Chris Warboys and Gavin Staite.
Under 25 singles – Max Butters beat Nathan Puttrell.
Junior singles – Jack Wells beat Jessica Butters.
Junior pairs – Jessica Butters and Aidan Brickles beat Danny Griggs and Max Butters.
Junior triples – Jessica Butters, Dylan Creamer and Max Butters beat Cooper Wells, Elliott Lattimer and Aidan Brickles.
Junior fours – Danny Griggs, Dylan Creamer, Oscar Butters and Aidan Brickles beat Cooper Wells, Freddie Knapp, Jessica Butters and Max Butters.
Quintet – Chelsea Spencer, Cliff Lattimer, Jessica Butters, Paul Turner and Tom Wicks.
