Heathrow

Its 2023 and the first edition of the newly branded Public Services Tenpin Tour rolled into the Airport Bowl on the 3rd of February. These events were previously for Police bowlers only, but have now been opened up to all emergency services and public sector staff.

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46 bowlers took to the lanes for a handicap doubles event. The top 23 bowlers by average were randomly paired with lower average bowlers and away we went for six games. There were some interesting partnerships and it was great to see the return of some old friends who hadn’t been able to compete for a few years. The event also saw some new blood in the Met’ team and Chris Hignet showed his class by finishing just 10 pins behind last year’s order of merit winner Will Line after the first six games.

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Those first six games counted towards the separate Police Order of Merit (OOM) competition which this year is split into scratch and handicap divisions, with no team or separate ladies classification. The top four scratch on the day were only separated by 21 pins, heading the table was Will Line (Sussex) on 1214 (202 avg.) followed by Chris Hignet (Met) 1204 (200), Tom Walsh (West Yorkshire) 1195 (199) and Jon Greengrass (Met) 1193 (198). Jon was helped by a 279 game which had its usual assortment of weird string strikes, which those of you who have bowled at the Airport will know well.

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The handicap OOM was won easily by the returning Chris Goodall from Thames Valley. Chris has been absent for a couple of years due to parenting duties and was clear winner with 1449 handicap pinfall. Jon Greengrass (Met) was second on 1373 and recently retired from Sussex Police Darren Grimes from Sussex with 1351.

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After the break, the top eight pairs took to the lanes for the next phase of the tournament, a three games set of handicap Baker doubles. The remainder of the entrants played a ‘plate’ competition which was again a three-game set of handicap Baker doubles. The winners of the plate event were the East Anglian pairing of Tom McLeod and Harry Scott with an impressive 712 set.

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Back to the to eight pairs and the quarter finals saw some close games.

·- Alan Hanafin (Met) and Chris Goodall (TVP) overcame Jordan Wilcoxon (Kent) and Paul Smith (TVP) 666 vs 641.

·- Darren Grimes (Sussex) and Steve Simmons (Kent) beat Steve Taylor (Kent) and Tom Walsh (WYP) 668 vs 591.

·- Tim Baxter (WYP) and Adam Mullins Kent) squeaked past Jon Greengrass (Met) and Richard Walker (Norfolk) 658 vs 655.

·- Dan Meaton (Met) and John Westgarth (WYP) were thumped by Henry Nice (Met) and Will Line (Sussex) 713 vs 639.

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The semi-final was a two-game affair which saw Grimes and Simmons overcome Hanafin and Goodall 421 to 390. The second semi was another win for Nice and Line 474 vs 426 over Baxter and Mullins.

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So onto the final and the first game was very even on scratch, with Nice and Line leading by two pins, but this was a handicap tournament and Grimes and Simmons had a 25 pin advantage. The second game was another scratch win for the Met and Sussex combo’, but Grimes and Simmons held their nerve to emerge as champions and a win by 30 pins. Congratulations to both of them on an excellent performance and the first winners of 2023.

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The next event will be held at Mansfield on 10th of March, entries from all emergency service and public sector bowlers welcome.

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Click for Full results