Bronze medal a rich reward for Sarnians

GUERNSEY trio Paul Wakeham, Len Le Ber and Ian Merrien bagged a bronze medal in the Atlantic bowls championships at Ayr Northfield yesterday when they beat a Scottish triple skipped by the legendary Willie Wood, 13-12. 'I had given up all hope of a medal when the boys trailed 11-4 after 13 ends,' said team manager Paul Sargeant. 'But they scored a two and a four to bring them back into contention and played very well at the finish.'

He added: 'It's been such an exciting few days - I think I've lost my voice and my fingernails, but I'm just about hanging on to my hair.'

There was disappointment for Guernsey fans in the morning, when Wakeham, Le Ber and Merrien, who led Ireland

10-9 after 12 ends, saw the match slip away over the next five ends, when the Irish compiled a 2-3-1-1-1 sequence to win 17-10.

But the chance to take on Mark Kelsey, Ian McLean and Wood, Scotland's most famous bowler, revitalised the Guernsey trio after lunch - though it was not until the 14th end that they really started to fire on all cylinders.

'I have played against Willie before in the British championships and he is a quite remarkable player,' said Merrien.

'He's played for Scotland since 1966 and he is something of an icon up here - so it was very pleasing to finish on the winning side.'

Trailing 10-12 with only two ends left to play, Guernsey scored a single on the penultimate end and clinched victory - and took the lead for the first time - with a well-timed double on the 18th.

'I can't believe we've got a medal,' said Wakeham, who has enjoyed his first experience of bowls beyond the Le Quesne.

'It's like a dream - and the whole campaign has been a wonderful experience.'

Sargeant added: 'It's not just the bowls itself, it's the camaraderie between the different countries, and the experience of different cultures. We have enjoyed the company of people from many lands and have hit it off particularly well with the Canadians.'

Following the completion yesterday of the pairs and triples events, the five-strong teams from 13 countries will now re-group to challenge for singles and fours titles.

Matt Le Ber and Jackie Nicolle will carry Guernsey's hopes in the singles, while Garry Collins joins Wakeham, Le Ber and Merrien in the men's fours and Shirley Petit, Gwen de la Mare, Doreen Batiste and Wilma Le Feuvre line up in the women's fours.