Dave Attwood wins planetbowls.com Ipswich Open
Lee Rowland, David Cable (Ipswich IBC president), Dave Attwood, Chris Hepton (John Banks Honda, Ipswich), Martin Heitzman, Alan Hill (Alan Hill Financial Services). - Credit: Archant
A healthy crowd saw Dave Attwood prevail at the planetbowls.com Ipswich Open Singles event, at the weekend.
The winner of the York leg of the tour in 2013, Attwood, from Huntingdon, defeated Ipswich’s Martin Heitzman in the final, 6-5, 6-3.
The champion also landed the competition’s Bounty Hunter prize for knocking out the highest-ranked player who, in this instance, was last year’s winner, Neil Smith.
Danny Dennison was set to be the subject of the Bounty Hunter incentive but he pulled out of the competition the day before, leaving Attwood to defeat Smith in the semi-finals and pick up an extra £50 which was added to his first prize of £1,000.
In the other semi-final, Heitzman defeated Paul Reynolds 7-3, 6-3.
There were several Suffolk-based players taking part in the competition which was streamed live on the Internet with Phil Last getting to the quarter-finals before losing out to Reynolds.
In the last-16, Lee Calver was unlucky to lose against the eventual runner-up, 4-4, 8-7, while Smith just got the better of Ipswich’s Dom Warren, 4-9, 9-1, 2-1, this particular tie going right to the final bowl – Warren having to trail the jack and just missing it.
Most Read
- 1 Drug dealers jailed after police seize cocaine from van and home
- 2 Six arrested following two incidents involving knives in Ipswich
- 3 Two men spit at victim and demand money near Ipswich Waterfront
- 4 When and where will the thunderstorms hit Suffolk?
- 5 Missing 17-year-old girl found safe and well
- 6 Product sold at Tesco recalled due to risk of disease-causing bacteria
- 7 Go-ahead for business park project that could create 350 jobs in Ipswich
- 8 7 roadworks to be aware of in Suffolk this week
- 9 Racing bike worth more than £1,000 stolen outside Sainsbury's in Ipswich
- 10 Three supercars pulled over in village for having no front number plates
Elsewhere, Phil Gregory lost 7-5, 0-10, 0-2 to Attwood, Katherine Rednall, the 2013 winner, got through her preliminary game before losing in the first round, and her dad John lost in the first round.
As well as some exciting bowls, the audience were treated to music being played throughout the duration of the tournament.
Club manager Lee Rowland, who also played in the event, losing to Reynolds, confirmed the players did not mind the music, but there were one or two grumbles from the crowd.
As a result, he is unsure whether or not to use music again next year.
Following the event, Katherine Rednall is Ipswich’s top-ranked player in the planetbowls.com format, finding herself in 72nd position on 57 points. Steve Tuohy from Egham leads the overall table with 316 points.
The Grand Final, likely to be hosted in Boston, will be held on October 24, featuring the competition’s top-32 players.
The next fixtures on the planetbowls tour will be held this weekend in Worksop and North Wiltshire.
The tournament was sponsored by John Banks Honda, Alan Hill Financial Planning, Garrick Flooring, Dales Sports Services and Potters Resort.
