Ed Morris wins Bowls England men’s singles

Essex’s Edward Morris is the 2019 Bowls England National Singles Champion, sponsored by Avonmore Associates.

The Essex County BC bowler defeated the 2017 champion Jamie Walker, from Northampton West End BC in the final.

The 31-year-old trailed 8-13, before winning six consecutive ends to turn the match in his favour, ahead of securing a 21-14 victory.

Morris joins Sam Tolchard and Walker as the only bowlers to have secured both the Men’s Two-Wood and Singles Championships, following his success in the two-wood event 12 months ago.

Morris recovered from 11-16 to defeat Leicestershire’s Neil Hope 21-17 in the quarter-finals, before securing victory over Huntingdonshire’s Tristan Morton by the same scoreline in the last four.

Walker, the 2017 champion, defeated last year’s finalist Andrew Squire (Maldon, Essex) in the last eight before recording a 21-16 victory over Leicestershire’s Joe Dawson in the semi-finals.

Walker was aiming to join an illustrious group of bowlers to have won the title on more than one occasion: Tony Allcock OBE (Gloucestershire – 1990, 1991), Percy Baker (1932, 1946, 1952, 1955), David Bryant CBE (1960, 1966, 1971, 1971, 1973, 1975), Bill Irish (Worcestershire – 1967, 1974), Peter Line (1961, 1964), John Ottaway (Norfolk – 1989, 1996, 2000), Wynne Richards (Surrey – 1984, 1986), William F Wade (Leicestershire – 1923, 1930), Mark Walton (Yorkshire – 2004, 2006) and Chris Ward (Norfolk – 1977, 1982).

Results:

Quarter-finals:

Jamie Walker (Northampton West End, N’hants) bt Andrew Squire (Maldon, Essex) 21-16;

Joe Dawson (Kingscroft, Leics) bt Chris Gale (Heaton Hall, Lancs) 21-13;

Tristan Morton (Parkway, Hunts) bt Max Harrison (Downham Market, N’folk) 21-13;

Edward Morris (Essex County, Essex) bt Neil Hope (Holwell Sports, Leics) 21-17

Semi-finals: 

Jamie Walker (Northampton West End, N’hants) bt Joe Dawson (Kingscroft, Leics) 21-16;

Edward Morris (Essex County, Essex) bt Tristan Morton (Parkway, Hunts) 21-17

Final: 

Edward Morris (Essex County, Essex) bt Jamie Walker (Northampton West End, N’hants) 21-14