The 2021 Bowls England National Finals are a series of lawn bowls events to determine the National champions of England. The Championships were held from 19 August to 19 September 2021, at the Royal Leamington Spa Bowls Club in Victoria Park, Leamington Spa. They are organised by Bowls England, and are open to lawn bowlers who qualify via their County Championships. The 2021 finals were streamed live for the first time on YouTube. The National Finals had been cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sam Tolchard won his sixth and seventh men's national championship title after winning the men's singles and two wood singles. His sister Sophie Tolchard won her eighth national title when winning the triples with Harriet Stevens and Emma Cooper. Stef Branfield emulated Sam Tolchard in claiming two singles titles at the Championships, the bowler from the Clevedon club (made famous by the legendary David Bryant) won the singles and followed it with the two wood singles a few days later. Branfield nearly made history by winning the champion of champion title as well but lost in the final to Ellen Falkner MBE.
In the women's pairs, sisters Katy Smith and Lucy Smith scored 4 points on the last end to overcome a 3 point deficit to defeat Margaret Smith & Sharmishta Patel.
Results summary
Elite events Event Winner Runner-up Scoremen's singles Sam Tolchard(Kings, Torquay, Devon) David Bolt(Silksworth, Durham) 21–12men's 2w singles Sam Tolchard(Kings, Torquay, Devon)Ed Morris(Essex County, Essex)17–13men's cofc singlesJamie Chestney (Culm Vale, Devon)Mark Royal (Rookery, Suffolk) 21–11men's pairs John Tufts Wayne Willgress(Norfolk BC, Norfolk) Sam Tolchard Louis Ridout(Kings, Torquay, Devon) 15–6men's triples Christopher MuirSteve GunnellEd Morris(Essex County, Essex) Lee PhillipsJames HamptonKevin Phillips(Topsham, Devon) 18–11men's fours Stephen Cook Ian Williams James Park David Forster(Workington, Cumbria) Tom McGuinness David Ross Kirk Smith John McGuinness(Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire) 20–5women's singles Stef Branfield(Clevedon, Somerset) Chris Mitchell(Purton, Wiltshire) 21–16women's 2w singles Stef Branfield(Clevedon, Somerset)Katherine Hawes (Oxford City & County, Oxfordshire)16–10women's cofc singles Ellen Falkner MBE(Littleport, Cambridgeshire) Stef Branfield (Clevedon, Somerset) 21–8women's pairsKaty Smith Lucy Smith(Westlecot, Wiltshire)Margaret Smith Sharmishta Patel (Sutton, Surrey)17–16women's triples Harriet StevensSophie Tolchard Emma Cooper(Kings, Torquay, Devon) Charlotte Emanuel Kat Hornbrook Zoe Hollins(Milford, Surrey) 22–9women's foursHayley KennyMichelle SquiresSerena Madgewick Rebecca Smith(Clockhouse, Essex)Louise Williams Brenda BenneyNicola Ellis Frances Phillips(Helston, Cornwall)20–13
Other events Event Winner Runner-up Scoremen's junior singlesJordan Philpott (Royal Mail Cart, Lincs)Harry Goodwin(Kings, Torquay, Devon)21–16men's junior pairsKieron Kniveton Harry Goodwin(Exonia/Kings, Devon)Adam Pitfield Nathan Betts(Burton Latimer Town/NWE, Northants) 15–11men's senior singles Grant Burgess(Chester Road, Worcestershire)Grant Osborne(Sandy Conservative, Bedfordshire)21–17men's senior pairs Stewart StephensJim Garner (Dorset) Ray GaskinsHoward Watts(Oxfordshire) 17–10men's senior foursBrett Arkley Tony Humphries Alex Bryden Alan Theobald(Dunston, Durham)Howard Else Paul WilliamsonLeonard Hale Irvine Powdrill(East Leake, Nottinghamshire) 16–11women's junior singlesKat Bowman (Thringstone, Leicestershire)Alice Lovett (Oakley, Hampshire)21–10women's junior pairs Chloe BrettRebecca Moorbey (Huntingdonshire) Nicole RogersEmma Cooper(Devon) 18–14women's senior singles Sandra Maguire(Forest Oaks, Nottinghamshire)Janet Williamson(Hyde Abbey, Hampshire)21–18women's senior pairsMoira SelfJulie Spice(Felixstowe & Suffolk, Suffolk)Kirsty CoxCaroline Cullum(Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire)17–16women's senior foursKirsty CoxAnne BurchellCaroline CullumGlenys Bolt(Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire)Lesley JohnsonAlice AtwellHazel MarkeMargaret Holden(Alton Social, Hampshire) 17–12mixed pairsEd MorrisElaine Score(Essex) Mark Walton Sue Allen(Yorkshire)23–5mixed foursMichael CheesemanTom BishopAmy CheesemanChristine Hewison(Kent)Jamie BarkerScott WaltonEllen Falkner MBECheryl Salisbury(Cambridgeshire)13–11
Team events Event Winner Runner-up ScoreMiddleton Cup (men) Kent Northamptonshire121–111Top Club (men) Bromley, Kent Culm Vale, Devon 3–2Balcomb Trophy (men) Northamptonshire Hampshire 40–34White Rose Trophy (men) Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire 42–30Club Two Fours (men) Reading, Berkshire Burton House, Lincolnshire 28–22Walker Cup (women) Lincolnshire Kent47–29Amy Rose Bowl (women) Somerset Hertfordshire 48–33Johns Trophy (women) Devon Surrey 113–111Top Club (women) Kings, Devon Appleyard, Kent 3–1
References