Another world title for Merrien
SHE has done it again.
The WIBC world championships in Jersey turned out to be an unprecedented Channel Islands monopoly, with Guernsey's Ali Merrien winning the women's singles, Scott Baxter, from Jersey, lifting the men's singles, and Jersey's Greechan father-and-son duo, Thomas and Chloe, winning the mixed pairs.
It was not the first time that Merrien has taken this title – she last won it in 2009 – and, if it had not clashed so often with the rival code's World Cup in Australia, she might have won it more often – but her decision to stay in the northern hemisphere this time around certainly paid off.
Her march to the title was not exactly straightforward, and she had to show qualities of character as well as bowling skill before standing on the winner's podium.
In the final, Arbroath's Leanne Furye ground out an 8-7 win in the opening set.
A tight game seemed in prospect, but Merrien brought her 'A-game' to the table to win the second set, 11-1, and, although tiebreaks are always unpredictable, she returned a 7-8, 11-1, 1-0 scorecard.
More in Monday's Guernsey Press.
