Shuttleworth in rude health at Leamington Men’s Open

Shuttleworth, who was forced out of the 2006 championship due to illness, fought back from 12-7 down to beat Dick Allibon (Royal Leamington Spa) 21-18 in the singles final.

He then teamed up with Peter Gilbert to win the Signal Construction (Midlands) Limited men’s pairs.

With Gilbert leading superbly, the duo established a 10-3 lead after just seven ends against Rugby’s Graham Ashby and Mark Roberts (Stoke, Coventry), eventually going on to win 20-14.

It was Ashby and Roberts’ second final of the day after they had earlier joined forces with Avenue’s Paul Dale to win the Hilary-Hickman-sponsored triples.

A four-end run in which they picked up 14 shots proved the turning point as they overcame Wellesbourne’s Alan Barker, Geoff Moran and Malcolm George 20-13.

Forty-two duos took part in the John Taylor Funeral Service mixed pairs gala, which was held as a curtain-raiser to the Open.

Three pairs won all five of their games, with a shot difference of +44 seeing the Bale and Jarvis Plate go to Wellesbourne duo Geoff Moran and Celia Barnett.

Gary Laffey and Jacqui Cook (both Lillington BC) claimed the runners-up spot with a +39 shot difference, with Northampton couple Mr and Mrs Neville Bodily (+2) third.

Rugby overturned a 19-shot deficit in the second leg of their Shakey Plate clash with Avenue to retain the trophy for another year.

Avenue could only win two and draw one of the six rinks, losing 130-95 on shots.

Captain Phil Wadland skipped the visitors’ highest winning rink (24-11), while Eric Slater oversaw a narrow 17-16 success. Joe Statham halved his match.

Lillington’s men proved no match for Three Spires in their six-rink friendly, going down to a crushing 133-78 defeat.

Malcolm Welch, Geoff Ward, Bernard Crowther and Bill Fakey enjoyed a 19-12 win, while Gerry Browne skipped a 15-11 for Lillington’s only other success.

WCC Staff also suffered a heavy defeat in their mixed friendly match at Sphinx.

Ken Dorsett’s 14-12 success was to prove the only bright spot for Staff in a 72-48 defeat.

Warwickshire Vice-Presidents’ Bowls Association edged to a 103-98 win against Welsh Private Greens Bowls Association at Three Spires.

Warwickshire won three of the six rinks, with Keith Francis (23-13), Gareth Willcock (22-10) and Declan Casey (19-7) the successful skips.

Lillington’s ladies suffered a 4-0 whitewash at the hands of Bilton in the second round of the Top Club championship.

Jamie-Lea Winch set the ball rolling for Bilton when she won the singles 21-17 against Margaret Grosvenor and Sheila French and Denise Judge followed up with a 20-18 pairs victory against Jayne Henfrey and Chris Ward.

Trudy Windsor, Sandy Couchman and Joan Hollis took the triples with a 26-11 success over Bernadette McDonnell, Margaret Lawson and Jacqui Cook before Sandra Harrison, Lesley Wilson, Pat Dahlgren and Elaine Cresswell finished things off with a 25-16 fours win against Hazel Goodman, Chris Richards, Pat Gagg and Jenny Corn.