THE Wellington Bowling Club Men’s Indoor Singles Champion and the Ladies’ Indoor Singles Champions are from the same family.

They are grandfather Nick Channon and his grand-daughter Leah Waygood.

In the Men’s final, Channon played very well against the experienced and very capable Mike Connor.

It was nip and tuck all the way and, by the 18th end, there was only one shot in it, Channon just leading.

In the 20th end Connor picked up a maximum four to make it 18 shots apiece.

Channon did not buckle under pressure and in the two final ends picked up four shots to take the match to become this year’s Men’s Singles Champion.

***

Talented 16-year-old Leah Waygood came up against the experienced Yvonne Abbott in the Ladies’ Final.

Waygood struggled to begin with, and after six ends Abbott led 8-6.

But after 10 the two were level as Waygood settled into her game.

With one end to play, Waygood and Abbott were almost neck-and-neck, Waygood leading by just one shot 19-18, but she held her nerve to pick up two more shots to win it 21-18 to become the Wellington Indoor Ladies’ Champion 2016.

***

The story of how grandfather and grand-daughter became champions is as follows:

In the early rounds of the Men’s Singles Competition Derek Vile and Ken Foweraker enjoyed a competitive game which went to Foweraker 21-6, while the experienced Roland Bath overcame Martin Saunders, 21-10.

Eddie Dilley put up a good fight against one of the favourites, Ian Thomson, who went through in style 23-8.

The experienced Mike Connor had a battle on his hands in the second round when he took on the talented Rod Troake but Connor remained calm under fire and won the match 20-18.

Two battle-hardened veterans came up against one another in the semi-finals – Ian Thomson and Mike Connor – and it was Connor’s day, as he won 15-6 to make the final.

The hotly-favoured Channon overcame the experienced Roland Bath in the quarter-finals before doing battle with Ken Foweraker in the semis, Channon winning 21-14 to take his place in the final.

***

In the Ladies' Indoor Singles Competition, two ladies called Liz met in the quarter-finals – Liz May defeating Liz Bowrah 21-4.

In the other quarter-finals Diane Troake lost to Yvonne Abbott 21-11, Diana Dagg lost to Leah Waygood 22-10, and Joan Thomson edged out Carol Connor 22-18.

In the semi-finals, Liz May and Yvonne Abbott had a battle royal.

Liz May led 20-18 with one to play but movement of the jack at a critical moment gave the end and the game to Yvonne Abbott, winner by 21-20.

In the second semi-final, Waygood played Thomson; Waygood was in top form and Thomson struggled to get going, Waygood taking the match 21-6.

The club would like to thank John Cherry for an excellent job in organising the competitions.