West bowls over big field

GRANVILLE WEST stormed to the top prize at the hugely-popular Slattery D'cor Bowl event at the Royal Guernsey. West scored 43 Stableford points to win by two from Stan Baker.

The winner's score converted to a 77 gross, net 63.

He opened with a five, but followed it with a par four at the second and a birdie at the short third.

A six at the ninth took him out in 40 shots, but the 14 handicap was even more consistent on the inward half with two pars at 10 and 11 being followed by a pair of threes.

A bogey six at the long 14th was not a problem and three fours in the final four holes ensured him of victory.

Baker finished his round with a birdie two at the last and he pipped Jim Devlin on countback.

Arthur Pugh led a handful of players on the 40 mark, they also including Craig Shorto, the leading junior.

For once, Bobby Eggo, the defending champion, failed to get among the three scratch prizes.

That top honour went to island senior Rainer Schimek for his 71 gross.

A long list of prizes were presented by special guest Mike Barnard, the former Portsmouth professional footballer and Hampshire county cricketer.

Barnard is one of just three Englishman still alive to have chalked up 200 county championship matches and 100 First Division (now Premiership) football matches, the other two being Ted Hemsley and Willie Watson.

Before a horrendous coach crash while on a cricket tour in Germany ' he broke his neck and suffered serious head injuries ' the bowling all-rounder with six first-class centuries to his name, including tons against Australia, Pakistan and India, helped Hampshire to their first county championship success, in 1961.

He played 116 league games for Pompey in the mid-50s when they were one of the top sides in the country. They finished third in 1954-55.

Barnard regrets it is no longer possible for a sportsman to combine professional cricket and football careers.

'You can't do it any more simply because the seasons overlap too much,' said Barnard.

'In my days cricketers reported back on 1 April and footballers reported back on 1 August. They over-lapped only a month at each end,' he added.

Barnard, now 70, still broadcasts on Hampshire cricket for hospital radio, having worked as a BBC commentator for many years.

He is also a part-time drug tester.