2024 Jill Quarterman Cup Gala Day.
Sunday the 25th August saw Stevenage hold our second Jill Quarterman Cup Gala day. This timed two bowls triples competition over eight ends saw sixteen teams compete for the title. It also gave Hertfordshire the chance to get all eight mats in competitive use now that we have a full complement of equipment permanently available at Stevenage. The day began at 09.30 with our sixteen teams drawn into four groups of four for the morning round robin stage. The format of the day meant that after lunch all teams were guaranteed a fourth game as the top two teams from each group went through to play in the main cup, with the third and fourth placed teams taking part in the plate competition. The afternoon session was a straight knockout with all first-round winners progressing to the semi-finals.
The Plate semi-finals saw ‘The Magpies’ beat ‘The three As’ and ‘The Falcons’ succeed in their match with ‘Chris’s Crunchers’. In two very close games both ended after eight ends with a score of 8 – 7.
The Cup semi-finals had ‘Bob’s Burglars’ win over ‘Shillington 4’ 10 – 7 and ‘MikeMcPenn’ came from behind to beat ‘The Hawks’ 9 - 6
The Final of the plate saw the teams of ‘The Magpies’ (Bill & Toni Gearing and Lisa Miles) play ‘The Falcons’ (Doreen Andre, Val Broadwood and Mike Haslam) on mat one. In a close match the plate competition saw ‘The Falcons’ triumph with a score of 5 – 3.
The exciting Final for the cup was between ‘Bobs Burglars (Ann & Bob Hines with Peter) play ‘MikeMcPenn’ ( Val Penn, Mike Eccleston and Brian McGivern) on mat three. In a hard-fought final the eventual winners were Northiam’s ‘MikeMcPenn’ with a score of 9 – 7.
Robin Quarterman presented the plate medals and the winners trophies and proudly gave the Cup to ‘MikeMcPenn’, this makes them the second name to be engraved on this cup.
With many prizes donated for the competition raffle, many competitors could win something at this extremely well-organized event. Many thanks should go to Jeff Branch for the smooth way the days competition run and to all those involved in organising the raffle. We are all now looking forward to next year’s match.