Third title as Pitschou rewrites record books

GARY PITSCHOU has become the first male bowler to win the island title for three years running. In his fifth consecutive Elliott singles final, the outstanding Pitschou defeated Matt Le Ber 21 shots to 11 to complete a hat-trick of victories in the Guernsey Bowls Association's premier individual competition.

The champion never trailed against the talented 19-year-old although Le Ber showed a lot of fight to come back from an early 6-0 deficit to level things at 8-8 going to the ninth end.

But Pitschou quickly opened up a lead once more and finished things off in style with two successive three-point ends.

'I don't think the score reflected the game. It was a lot closer than 21-11 suggests,' he said.

'We got to 15-11 and I was holding three shots and Matt went to take out the jack and came close but just edged it so that put me 18-11 up.

'On the last end, I was holding three, again, but Matt drew his third wood in perfectly to hold shot. I then played my last wood onto his, moved his wood out of the head and also moved the jack slightly to hold four.

'He then played a drive with his last wood but he only took one out to leave me with the three to get me to 21.'

The pressure is now on for Pitschou to make it four in a row.

'When I first started playing, there was not really much pressure because when you play against different and new opposition, you have more incentive.

'That has changed now because others have the incentive when they play me and they up their game - they are trying their best to beat me.

Pitschou will play in the Champion of Champions competition in November in Australia, his reward for winning last year's singles title.

'Having played in Australia before, I know the greens will be a lot faster over there, but that is the challenge of outdoor bowls: you are playing against the green as well as your opponent.'

Meanwhile, in the Bell under-25 singles final, there was no consolation for Le Ber as the GBA chief executive, Garry Collins, also set a new record by taking the title for the third time.

In a pulsating match, Collins twice fought back from being five points down to win 21-19.

However, Le Ber was on the right end of a record-breaking triumph as he, Len Le Ber, Craig Dorey and Dave Trebert retained the Sandeman Fours trophy beating Sid Le Maitre, Roy Queripel, Ralph Deakin and Paul Merrien 27-20 in a good battle.

Le Ber junior was also successful in the Travers Pairs in which he partnered fellow teenager Dan de la Mare in a 26-11 victory over the experienced duo of Richard Nash and Derek Barlow.

The new island women's champion is Eunice Trebert as she beat Pam Harding in the du Putron singles final.

Trebert began the match well, taking a 4-1 lead after four ends, but Harding, who beat three-year long champion Alison Merrien in the semi-final, fought hard and had an 11-7 advantage going into the 15th end.

Her opponent, though, claimed the next three to restore a two-point lead and although things remained tight, Trebert took three on the last end to win 21-15 and seal her invitation, along with Pitschou, to New Zealand for the Champion of Champions competition in November 2005.

She also added the Woodhard Triples title to her CV when, along with Alison Merrien and Sally Paul, they overcame Pauline Leadbeater, Jackie Nicolle and Jo Rose in a thrilling match.

Merrien and co. had established a 19-7 lead with three ends remaining but Rose played some excellent bowls to claim eight shots over the remainder of the game, although it was not quite enough.

Merrien and her husband, Ian, were also winners in the Nicolle mixed pairs against Jean and Bernie Simon and other members of the Merrien family - Alan, Mike and Paul - had a good victory in the Tostevin triples.

'The weekend showed some excellent bowling, well done to all the winners and best wishes for the CI finals on Sunday 5 September,' said Collins.

As a result of the championships they have just won, Pitschou, de la Mare, Matt Le Ber, Len Le Ber, Dorey, Trebert, Paul, Mike and Alan Merrien and Collins will represent Guernsey at the British Isles Championships in Ireland next year.