Jillings wins Herefordshire Short Mats Bowls County Singles

With thanks to Paul Rogers at the Hereford Times

John Jillings continued Woolhope's recent short mat bowls success by claiming victory in this year's County Singles Championship.

Having defeated team mates Anthony and Phil Rogers en route to the final, Jillings overcame the challenge of Betty Aubrey, of Weston SMBC, who beat reigning champion Ian Park (Ross BC) in her semi-final.

It was Jillings' first county championship title.

Joe Loveys (Gorsley Chapel SMBC) and Kate Williams (Ross BC), two of the county's England Under-21 players, won the pairs championship, defeating Charlotte and Stephen Kite (Lea SMBC) in the final.

Betty Aubrey, playing with her husband Harold, rounded off a successful weekend by reaching the pairs semi-final before losing out to the Kites in their semi-final tie.

Meanwhile, the county A team claimed a resounding 27-13 win against Avon in their final group qualifying match to win their group and progress to the inter-county knock-out competition next month.

In the county leagues, Woolhope A, champions in 12 of the last 14 years, lead the way in Division One, but Lea and Ross both have a match in hand and are in striking distance.

Llangarron, who have come close to promotion several times in recent years, are top of Division Two, but Ross B, Escley and Weston B are all within 10 points of them.