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HARLOW CROWNS A GREAT 2006 by winning the 2nd Gala Leisure 'Masters' 

Considering it was Greg Harlow who came up with the idea of staging a series of Grand Masters challenge tournaments under the banner of the English Bowls Players Association, he must have been highly delighted with the way 2006 ended.
After beating the England indoor singles champion Paul Coleman, 7-4, 8-2, in the final of the Gala Leisure EBPA Grand Masters at Bournemouth on the penultimate day of the year, Greg said:
"That crowns a great year for me, and sets me up nicely for my challenge for the WBT world indoor singles title at Potters next month, when I will be hoping to hit the ground running!"
In January, 2006, Harlow lost to his old friend Mervyn King in the world final, but, in February, was still able to claim the accolade of world number one. In November, he created a record when he lifted the International Open title at Sheffield for the third year running.

Harlow opened with a comfortable straight sets win over Graham Ayres, but dropped a set against Mike Grimsdale on his way to the last sixteen. In the event he must have been pleased to scrape home, 10-4, 4-9, 2-1.
Beating John O'Donnell from the local club, he dropped another set against Gary Fountain in the quarter finals, when he lost two back-to-back maximum counts at the start of the second set, before winning, 10-3, 1-11, 2-0.
He was not to drop another set. Reaching the final with a 9-3, 10-2 win over 19yr old Ben Paulley, who plays for the Dolphin club at Poole, he scored a full house in both sets against Paul Coleman to win the title.

Coleman, who had just heard that he had been selected to make his indoor international debut at Thornaby in March, swept into the semi finals without dropping a set, but was glad to get past Neil Smith, 7-2, 1-9, 2-1.
It was a dream final, the world's number one taking on the reigning England champion, and, apart from the Greg's two maximum counts, the bowling was as close as everyone anticipated.

Carol Ashby, the EBPA secretary, was the only woman to clinch a place in the quarter finals, while 13yr old Scott Fountain - brother of Gary - won a couple of games, and three wheelchair bowlers accounted themselves well.
On the Friday evening, just two days short of New Year's Eve, the EBPA held a party. This innovation was welcomed by players and supporters, who enjoyed a relaxing time after their strenuous efforts on the green.

"All in all, another successful event," said tournament director Mike Stanley. "We have experienced some teething problems, but are confident that we are on to a winner, and are now looking forward to the third event, which is scheduled to be staged at Bournemouth at the end of April."

You can view a 14 minute video of the Final - just click ---> [EBPA/ Gala Leisure Final]

EBPA 'Gala Leisure' Grand Masters Series

Inaugural event at Bournemouth IBC

Friday to Sunday, 17-19 November, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

REPORT AND RESULTS – FROM DAVID RHYS JONES

BRODERICK IS FIRST WINNER

OF A GRAND MASTERS TITLE

Paul Broderick, an England star from Wellingborough, defeated Brighton’s junior international Stuart Holland in the final of the inaugural event of the EBPA Gala Leisure Grand Masters series at Bournemouth today (Sunday, 19 November).

  It was Broderick who ended the hopes of world number one Greg Harlow, from the City of Ely, in the last 16, but he struggled to get the better of the Sussex youngster, who won the first set, 7-5, and was 3-2 ahead in the second.

  Broderick scored a treble on the fifth end of the second set, and went on to win it, 6-4, but he faced a match lie on the sudden death third end in the tiebreak, before playing a perfect take-out for the match and the title.

  In the semi finals, Broderick beat Scott Edwards, who had earlier dashed the hopes of EBPA secretary Carol Ashby, the lone woman at the quarter final stage, while Holland reached the final with a win over Cornish star Duncan Hayne.

  John Applegate, one of Britain’s best wheelchair bowlers, demolished the hopes of another Cornishman, Ken Bellchambers, 14-0, 11-1, in the first round, then took the first set off Greg Harlow in the second round, before the world number one recovered to win, 4-6, 8-2, 2-1.

  “This was a great start to what we see as a brand new concept in singles play,” said tournament director Mike Stanley. “There has been tremendous interest in the event, and people are lining up to enter the next one, which will also be staged in Bournemouth, from December 28-30.”

  John O’Donnell, for the Bournemouth club, said: “We have thrown our weight behind this venture, which was the brainchild of world number one Greg Harlow, and are delighted that it went so well.”

  The Gala Leisure Grand Masters series offers competitive bowlers a rare chance to experience the format used by the World Bowls Tour for the PBA play-offs and for its own ranking events.

  It is open to members of the English Bowls Players Association (EBPA), which welcome applications from any bowler who regards himself or herself as competitive.  

ENGLISH BOWLS PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Gala Leisure Grand Masters at Bournemouth:-

First round:-

John Lopes bt John O'Donnell 4-8, 7-3, 2-1; Kevin Downs bye;

Carol Ashby bt Ben Staines 8-4, 13-5; Bill Jackson (not Billy!) bye;

Peter Ward bt Dave Ovett 7-2, 9-1; Scott Edwards bt Graham Reed 7-5, 3-9, 2-0;

Mike Grimsdale bt John Sherman 8-2, 7-5; Ollie Ovett bt Clive Bunford 6-3, 9-10, 2-0.

Greg Harlow bt Val Ayres 8-1, 6-4; John Appleton bt Ken Bellchambers 14-0, 11-1;

Tony Loveless bt Geo Ridgeon 7-2, 6-6; Paul Broderick bt Nick Jones 10-4, 7-6;

Gary Fountain bye; Steve Bain bye;

Matt Hyde bt Robert Palser 6-5, 7-6; Danny Denison bye.

Carl Fountain bye; Gordon Niven bt Graham Ayres 5-6, 10-1, 2-0;

Malcolm Jacobs bye; Debbie Stavrou bye;

John Bassett bt Peter Williams 13-0, 5-4; Tina Burgess bye;

John Page bt Laura Sutton 8-4, 5-5; Stuart Holland bye.

Peter Miles bt Chrissii Davies 6-4, 7-5; Duncan Hayne bye;

Charles Moore bye; Sandra Jones bye;

Simon Skelton bt John Frost 7-2, 10-1; Vicky Whitty w/o;

Rick Gallagher bt Stuart Wilkinson 4-3, 5-9, 2-1; Neil Smith bt Reg Birmingham 9-0, 8-3.

Second round:

Kevin Downs bt John Lopes 10-0, 6-5;

Carol Ashby bt Bill (not Billy) Jackson 6-4, 5-5;

Scott Edwards bt Peter Ward 6-5, 8-2;

Ollie Ovett bt Mike Grimsdale 8-3, 9-3;

Greg Harlow bt John Appleton 4-6, 8-2, 2-1;

Paul Broderick bt Tony Loveless 9-4, 7-1;

Steve Bain bt Gary Fountain 5-4, 5-3;

Matt Hyde bt Danny Denison 7-5, 5-5.

Gordon Niven bt Carl Fountain 3-6, 7-6, 2-1;

Malcolm Jacobs bt Debbie Stavrou 1-10, 6-3, 2-0;

John Bassett bt Tina Burgess 3-11, 4-3, 2-0;

Stuart Holland bt John Page 10-3, 6-6;

Duncan Hayne bt Peter Miles 3-7, 5-2, 2-1;

Sandra Jones bt Charles Moore 8-3, 8-2;

Simon Skelton bt Victoria Whitty 7-2, 8-2;

Neil Smith bt Rick Gallagher 7-2, 7-5.

Last 16:

Ashby bt Downs 8-5, 8-0;              Edwards bt Ovett 9-2, 5-4;

Broderick bt Harlow 7-4, 7-4;        Bain bt Hyde 7-3, 2-7, 2-0;

          Niven bt Jacobs 9-1, 5-6, 2-1;       Holland bt Bassett 7-2, 4-8, 2-1;

Hayne bt Jones 8-3, 13-0;             Smith bt Skelton 6-6, 7-2.

Quarter finals:

Edwards bt Ashby 8-5, 5-4;            Broderick bt Bain 4-3, 5-3;

   Holland bt Niven 5-4, 8-5;                Hayne bt Smith 4-9, 9-1, 2-1.

Semi finals: 

     Broderick bt Edwards 7-4, 7-7;        Holland bt Hayne 6-7, 9-0, 2-0.

Final: 

           Broderick bt Holland 5-7, 6-4, 2-1.  

Martyn Sekjer (centre) with (left) Paul Broderick

and Stuart Holland