PETER Hawkes denied Callumn Wraight a place in the record books after winning the annual Alexandra Classic bowls competition.
Wraight, the defending champion, was looking to win the Blackburn competition the most times - but Hawkes had other ideas as he avenged last year’s defeat in the final.
The competition, sponsored by Admiral Taverns and also landlady Sue Ainsworth, attracts some of the best bowlers from across the region and beyond - and is a BCGBA champion of champions qualifying competition.
Once again, spectators were treated to an evening of top quality bowls from eight bowlers who had booked their place following a series of qualifiers held over the previous weeks.
Played as a 31-up format with £1,000 prize money up for grabs, Hawkes reached the final after beating Winsford’s Owen Cookson 31-16 in the quarter finals before beating Ross Hatzer from Bolton 31-24 in the semi final.
Defending champion Wraight was made to work hard by fellow Shrewsbury bowler Dan Williams in his quarter final, eventually winning 31-28. He then beat Lostock Hall’s Peter Yates 31-15 to reach another final.
However, history was not to repeat itself as Hawkes held his nerve to win 31-22 to lift the trophy for the first time.
Organiser Garry Fielding said: “The standard of bowling throughout the competition has been of the highest I’ve seen through the years of running this competition.
“A very rare occurrence I would think, if ever on the bowling competition circuit, was a repeat of last year’s final.
“This year Peter who reversed the result and got his revenge on Callumn.”
After his victory, Hawkes said he was ‘overwhelmed’ with his victory and honoured to add his name to the list of winners of this long-established competition which attracts players from all across the Crown green areas.
n Results Quarter finals: Dan Williams (Shrewsbury) 28 Callumn Wraight (Shrewsbury) 31; Eamon Hernen (Lytham st Annes) 29 Peter Ped Yates (Lostock Hall) 31; Steven Bolton (Freckleton) 27 Ross Hatzer(Bolton) 31; Peter Hawkes (Preston) 31 Owen Cookson (Winsford) 16
Semi-finals: Peter Hawkes 31 Ross Hatzer 24; Callumn Wraight 31 Peter Ped Yates 15 Final: Peter Hawkes 31 Callumn Wraight 22
n The highest break was sponsored by Alantrueart.com
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