On Tuesday 19 March the OIBA County Indoor Open Pairs final was played at City & County. This final on paper looked to be the final of the season contested by four very good players: Will Parker and Andy McIntyre of Carterton and Dave Leighfield and Martin Shepherd of Chipping Norton. This was a very important game for Carterton because they were going for the grand slam in County bowls as they had won all the Competitions so far this year, so no pressure on Dave and Martin. The game started with Will (who was leading against Dave) and Andy winning the first three ends to be 4 – 0 up. Despite some very tight heads Dave and Martin started picking up shots and by end 8 they were 10 – 4 up. Will and Andy regained control and started coming back to pick up four shots in the next three ends to be 11 – 8 down. End 12 saw Will draw three woods within 12 inches of the jack, Dave fired and killed it. By end 14 Dave and Martin were 14 – 9 up. Will and Andy became focused and took the next three ends to be 14 – 14 on end 17. Going into the last end Will & Andy had the jack and Will again put three woods very close to Jack. Dave was unlucky despite getting very close to the jack; his woods kept passing through the head and out by a foot or so. It was now the turn of the skips, Andy’s first wood was short trying to block the firing shot. Martin’s first wood hit the shot wood and he now had second wood. Andy’s put his 2nd wood around the back to cover. Martin 2nd wood hit the head for another second. Andy’s third wood was positioned 8 inches short of the jack. Martin’s third wood was in the head and close but not close enough. Andy put another blocker in and Martin played his last wood producing another second wood leaving Will and Andy to win the game 14 – 15. Well done to Will Parker and Andy McIntyre on winning the OIBA 2023-2024 County Indoor Open Pairs and commiserations to Dave Leighfield and Martin Shepherd. This was one the best finals of the year with some exceptional bowling from all four players. The match was well supported by members from Chipping Norton and City & County. Congratulations to Carterton on winning the grand slam of Oxfordshire Indoor Bowls, having watched all the games no one played badly it’s just that Carterton this year had the edge and the killer instinct to win. Thanks to City & County for hosting this final and for Tony Wright’s assistance at the venue and for marking one of the singles finals.

Dave Lattimore