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CHAIRMAN’S SHIELD 2012

Chairmans Shiels Winners 2012 John McGurk Margaret Eustace
A good turnout of 34 members and guests competed on Sunday for The Chairman’s Shield. This is a doubles competition, with the pairings being drawn out randomly. It was pleasing to see that all the Club’s teams were represented at this event.
There were some close games in the early rounds, most notably a 21-19 win for Phil Kitchen and John Stennett over Norman Parry and Ray Sutton and a 21-20 defeat for George Hitchmough and Chris James against Bill Nowell and Rita Stanley. After winning these tight games, both the winning pairs were to fall at the quarter-final stage. John and Phil were defeated 21-16 by Steve Mann and John Unsworth, while Bill and Rita lost 21-18 to Sue Andersen and Pat Miller, having looked likely winners at one stage.
The first semi-final saw Steve Mann and John Unsworth face Jim Huyton and Eileen Rawcliffe, who had enjoyed impressive wins against Richard Rawcliffe and Mavis Thompson (21-7) and Eileen Curtis and Mark Rowlinson (21-10). Despite losing two out of the first three ends, it was Steve and John who established a crucial lead of 16-10 by winning 7 consecutive ends. Although Jim and Eileen fought back with five singles it was Steve and John who went through to the final, winning 21-15. This was an impressive performance as Steve only joined the Club this week, having played in the Conservative Club’s President’s Trophy last Sunday.
The second semi-final saw Margaret Eustace and John McGurk get off to a flying start, scoring four at the first end but it was Sue Andersen and Pat Miller who were able to establish a lead of 16-13 with three successive 2s. At this stage, however, John and Margaret regained their earlier form and were able to score eight chalks in four ends to win through to the final 21-16.
The final was expected to be a close battle but the experienced pair of Margaret Eustace and John McGurk were able to continue in the form they had been displaying all afternoon, scoring five 2s and two 3s to take The Chairman’s Shield by a margin of 21-7.  The Club Chairman, Chris Harding, was on hand to make the presentations and congratulated all those involved in another successful competition at The Hesketh Arms.
FURTHER PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAYS EVENT CAN BE FOUND IN THE “GALLERY”