THE tournament at Hoylake Central on Sunday was eventually won by Tixall's Jamie Fitzpatrick who beat Nick Burridge of Gladstone in the final.

The green at the Hoylake Club had been very well prepared and produced a high standard of bowling in a tournament which was played in an excellent spirit throughout the day.

In the quarter-finals Fitzpatrick was in top form as he beat Gladstone's Ray Lynch and he continued to impress as he defeated his team mate at Tixalls, Nigel Hughes, in the semi finals.

Burridge had beaten the last 'homester', Anita Richardson, in the quarter finals before he was just a little too consistent for Tixall's Anthony Thompson in the semis.

The final was close but Fitzpatrick always had the edge and he eventually claimed the top prize with a 21-17 win.

Results:

Quarter-finals: J. Fitzpatrick (Tixall) 21, R. Lynch (Gladstone) 13; N. Hughes (Tixall) 21, S.Raybould (Oxton) 11; A. Thompson (Tixall) 21, D. McDermott (Heswall RBL) 16; N. Burridge (Gladstone) 21, A. Richardson (Hoylake Central) 15.

Semi-finals: Fitzpatrick 21, Hughes 14; Burridge 21, Thompson 19; Final: Fitzpatrick 21, Burridge 17.

At the Winters Flyers, also on Sunday, it was Mike Havern of Gladstone who took the top prize in what was his first ever appearance at these Tournaments.

In the final he beat Port Sunlight Village and Works Nick Woodward who was beaten in the final for the second time in only his third visit to Birkenhead Park this year.

In the quarters Havern had a tremendous tussle with the the run-away leader at the top of the points table, Nick Andrews, only scraping through by the closest of margins.

He then had a somewhat easier win in the semis over Moreton RBL's Tony Ratcliffe who had also done well in his first visit of the year.

Woodward recorded a couple of excellent wins in his progress to the final; firstly over Hawksbury's Tommy Lowndes before he just got the better of the rapidly improving Neil Ross who plays at Levers.

Havern always dominated the final winning by a score of 21-16.

Results:

Quarter-finals: M. Havern (Gladstone) 21, M. Andrews (Tixall) 20; T. Ratcliffe (Moreton RBL) 21, M. Shiels (Liverpool) 10: N. Ross (Levers) 21, C. Upton (Port Sunlight V&W) 19; N. Woodward (Port Sunlight V&W) 21, T. Lowndes (Hawksbury) 17.

Semi-finals: Havern 21, Ratcliffe 11; Woodward 21, Ross 17. Final: Havern 21, Woodward 16.

I am very sad to report the death last week of Reg Armitage one of the real gentlemen of bowls.

He was a great help to me when I started playing bowls, always there with advice and encouragement.

Reg played most of his bowls at Hoylake Central and with the Afternoon Section at West Kirby Victoria.

He was also always there to give support to me when I became a fellow allotment holder in Hoylake.

The funeral will be at Landican on Monday, November 3 at 3.30pm and all are welcome at Hoylake Social Club afterwards.

It is also very sad to have to report the passing of Ronnie Orme from Liverpool who for many years was one of the stalwarts of the very successful Higher Tranmere Vets team, Our thoughts are with the family and friends of both Reg and Ronnie at this time.