Ceri Ann Glen from Wales and Scotland’s Stewart Anderson are the new Imagine Cruising World Indoor Mixed Pairs Matchplay champion, finishing strongly in the second set to see off defending champions Alison Merrien MBE from Guernsey and Scotland’s Paul Foster MBE 8-8, 11-2, (writes Anne Dunwoodie).
All four finalists are former winners of the title, the Ceriann bridging a 14 year gap since her back-to-back wins in 2008/09 with David Gourlay and, incidentally since she last played bowls on the portable rink, while Stewart won the title in 2021 with Julie Forrest.
As for the defending champions, Alison also won the title in 2011 with Simon Skelton and Paul successfully defended the title with Laura Thomas from Wales in 2013/14.
A good final was anticipated, and it certainly did not disappoint with
Alison and Paul made good headway in the opening set. Trailing 2-4 after four ends of the best of two sets of eleven ends, they turned over six shots over the next four end to take an 8-4 lead. However over the closing ends, Ceriann and Stewart countered with a 1, 2 and 1 to share the set at 8-8.
The drama was heightened on the first end of the second set with a ‘no shot’ being declared, but then Ceriann and Stewart pulled away and led 6-0.
Paul and Alison briefly rallied with a double but once again Ceriann and Stewart hit their stride and checked out with a 2, 1 and 2 – and to rapturous applause in the packed arena they took the title 11-2.
‘We knew it was going to be a hard game” said Stewart later, adding “we knew we would have to be at our best to win, and just had to keep shutting down any options”.
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