GRAHAM Shadwell has won a bronze medal competing in the prestigious Atlantic Games being staged in Paphos, Cyprus, writes DAVE EATON.

Together with Devon’s Louis Ridout, the Trowbridge player finished third in the men’s pairs championship to claim a bronze medal for England.

But they had to battle hard to claim a medal in the pairs section of the 2015 Atlantic Games which also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2016 World Championships being staged in Christchurch, New Zealand next November and early December.

Shadwell and Ridout enjoyed mixed fortunes in group one of the pairs.

On day one they lost to Scotland 19-17 dropping a five and a single on the last two ends but bounced back with a 15-12 win over Zimbabwe.

The following day they thrashed Isle of Man 32-6 but then suffered a shock 18-15 loss to Kenya.

Day four saw them beat Cyprus 27-17, Argentina 23-10 but lose out to Spain 18-14.

This meant they had to beat South Africa in their final group game to pip them for third place on shots difference which they did with a 17-12 win.

Scotland won group one and were fast tracked along with Ireland, the group two winners, into the semi-finals while Spain, England, Jersey and Israel went into an open draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

England drew Spain again in the quarters but gained revenge for their 18-14 group loss to them with a last gasp 15-14 success thanks to Shadwell after the teams were tied 14-14 after 17 ends.

The Trowbridge bowler delivered a wonder wood when lying one down with his last bowl to chip the jack to by Ridout’s wood to collect shot for a 15-14 England win and book a semi-final spot against Scotland.

But Ridout and Shadwell lost 19-13 in the semi-final to distinguished duo Scotland’s Paul Foster MBE and Alex Marshall MBE while in the other semi-final Ireland beat Israel 20-7.

Ireland’s Gary Kelly and Ian McLure, who were runners up when this event was last staged at Paphos, Cyprus four years ago, went one better this time around, coming from behind to lead 9-8 on the 11th end.

Then back-to-back trebles on the 14th and 15th ends enabled them to stay ahead, and run-out well-deserved winners over Scotland 18-12.

England also won a silver in the ladies triples and bronze in both the ladies pairs and men’s triples.

After a rest day on Sunday (today) the action switches to the men’s and ladies singles and fours events.

Shadwell is back in action again this week at number three in the fours along with Ridout at lead and Berkshire duo Andrew Knapper (two) and Robert Newman at skip while Jamie Walker plays in the singles.

They have been drawn in group one of the fours along with Wales, Scotland, Kenya, Guernsey, Jersey, Namibia and Turkey.

Their first two goals will be to finish in the top five in the group to secure a place for England in next year’s world championships in New Zealand in the fours then a top three spot to reach the play-offs for a fours medal.

The finals in the men’s and ladies’ singles and fours will be staged next Sunday, December 13.