Husband and wife win side by side battles

WORLD number four Alison Merrien could consider it a job well done. Three Channel Islands indoor championship finals in 24 hours and three more titles secured. And to cap a fantastic weekend at the Hougue du Pommier Stadium for Guernsey's World Champion of Champions, husband Ian clinched the CI men's singles crown.

The Merriens trophy double was achieved side-by-side on the six-rink Guernsey mat and at the expense of Jersey's own first couple of bowls, the Greechans.

Ian was first to get the job done, a 21-9 winner over Tommy in 16 ends and within five minutes Alison had seen off Lyndsey 21-15 on the 21st.

But doesn't having your loved one fighting it out on the next rink, mess with your concentration?

Both Merriens confirmed yes it does.

'It does take a bit off in terms of concentration,' he added.

'I was always conscious of how she was doing and I had to give her a kick up the backside.'

Alison, however, refuted she was ever in trouble, although she did trail the Jersey champion 9-7 after 10 ends.

'I still felt I was on the top of my game,' she said.

Alison came through strongly over the second half of the match and three three-shot hauls in four ends turned the match in her favour.

Ian, in contrast, got off to a flyer, 9-1 up after four ends, but had to withstand a determined rally by his opponent.

At one stage Ian went five ends without scoring, but a hat-trick of twos saw him across the finish line.

'I had a few loose ends in the middle of the match but I was still putting some bowls close. Although he won five on the trot they were only ones and twos.'

All in all, it was a superb weekend for the Guernsey contingent, winning an excellent eight of the 10 area finals.

Among them was an emphatic victory for Lianna Bichard over Jersey's British under-25 singles champion Rachel McDonald.

The Sarnian age-group champion won 21-8.