NICOLE STRIKES BLOW FOR THE LADIES

This weekend Loddon Vale staged one of the tournaments in the Open Singles Circuit, previously known as Planet Bowls. A field of 64 including the 2015 Overall Grand Champion Louis Ridout and the Atlantic Games Champion Jamie Walker all paid £22 to enter and there were 5 Oakley members competing. Heather Statham suffered a first game exit but Fred Norris and Ric Newson both claimed a victory whist Ashley Nethercliffe managed two wins before going out to Louis Ridout. Nicole Rogers was, however, the stand out performer. Winning her first game convincingly she played and beat in the next round Steve Tuohy, the current Circuit Leader who tops the Player Ratings. A third win on Saturday against former England International Ian Jenkins saw Nicole progress to Sunday's quarter final, where she was the only female representative. Another win saw her advance to the semi final where she won the first set against Sean Gingell before narrowly losing the second set. The three end tie break saw Sean sneak home but Nicole can be very proud of her weekend's effort.