A podium place for Beere
LUCY BEERE has returned from Scotland one international medal richer than before.
The Guernsey great was rightly proud after bagging a women’s singles bronze in the European Championships at Scotland’s National Centre for Bowling, in Ayr, even though she had only narrowly fallen short of another colour when Jersey’s Lindsey Greechan edged her 21-18 in a 23-end duel of a semi-final.
Beere was on a roll in the group stages, beating Spain, Switzerland, France, Cyprus and Ireland with relative ease.
Aside from France, which she pushed through 21-16, the others were wrapped up with comprehensive victories of between 11 and nine shots.
But a promising start against Greechan faded as she forfeited an early 11-5 lead and let her opponent claw back.
Soon four down, she bounced back to within one going into that fateful 23rd end – which Greechan wrapped up with a decisive two shots.
Her inter-island rival went on to secure the silver after meeting her match against England’s Amy Pharoah in the final, while the Sarnian cemented her place in the medals with a 21-12 triumph over Israel’s Ruti Gilor.
After opening with a fantastic four-shot end in the bronze play-off, Beere lost her momentum and slipped behind, but a late resurgence enabled her to take the victory.
‘Always an honour to represent our country,’ Beere said.
‘I’m super proud to be coming home with another international medal.’
Reflecting on her epic duel with Greechan, she added: ‘I held game and just had to hope she missed with her last bowl, but she didn’t.
‘The game was worthy of a final. We always have a good battle.
‘Looking forward to the winter off now.’
In her pairs campaign with Rose Ogier, they had not managed to escape from a challenging group.
They edged Cyprus in a real battle – prevailing 14-13 – before losing to England and beating Wales on day one.
But they did not have a win to show for the second day’s efforts, fighting out a 14-all draw against Scotland and losing to Switzerland.
‘We gained valuable experience and played some fantastic bowls – just not all of the time – but on the whole we can be proud of our performances over the five games,’ Beere told her social media fans.
