KEITH Bailey came close to adding to his success at last season’s Chippenham’s North Wilts Open at last weekend’s Bournemouth event The Clarrie Dunbar player finished as runner-up in a initial field of 77 at the planetbowls.com event, writes DAVE EATON.
On the way to the final, Bailey eliminated Nick Revell (Five Rivers) 2-0, Martin Shepherd (Chipping Norton) 2-0, Denis Holborow (Westlecot) 2-1 on a tie breaker and then James Shillingford (Camberley) 2-0.
In the semi-final, he drew the first set 5-5 and won the second 9-2 to beat Neil Smith (Westlecot), third in last year’s planetbowls ranking list and runner-up in the 2013-14 Grand Prix final.
In a tight final, Bailey lost out to England international Louis Ridout (Torquay United) 7-5 and 8-6.
Clarrie Dunbar owner Brian Hawkins took out world number two Robert Paxton 6-4 and 4-4 but lost in round two to England international Katherine Rednall (Ipswich) 2-0.
Andy Colebrooke, winner of the Westlecot Open, lost his third game to Denis Holborow on a tie-breaker and Russell Francis went out in round two.
Bailey now turns his attention to the national championships where, together with Hawkins and John Freeman, they play Bob Johnson (Bristol) in the Area 30 final of the Over 50s men’s triples.
In the mixed pairs, he and wife Thelma face an Area 30 final against Bristol’s Ros Constant and her partner.
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