Bowls: Spa title is a breeze for Reeve

(First Edition)

MARGARET REEVE surprised Linda Jarman yesterday, beating the indoor international 21-15 to win the Henselite All-England champion of champion singles title at Royal Leamington Spa.

The Gloucestershire bowler, from the Caer Glow Club, has yet to win a county badge, but her form was too good for Jarman of Cambridge Chesterton.

As well as her title success, Reeve had breezed through two other games, 21-14 over Pauline Proud, of Cowes, and 21-15 against Sandra Parker. of Silloth.

However, after her triumph in the final, she said: 'I should have been beaten in the second round. Marlow's Ann Cox played more good bowls than I did, but I kept getting shot with my last wood.'

In the final, Reeve raced into an 18-7 lead after 14 ends and then kept cool as her opponent rallied.

At 20-15 Jarman was holding three shots but Reeve played a perfect match winner, her opponent firing in desperation with her final delivery.

Lisa Francis of Welford-on-Avon overwhelmed Brighton's Debbie Loveless 21-5 in the final of the national under-25 singles championship, while Edenside's Sue Flitcroft and Judy Armstrong of Carlisle won the mother and daughter pairs 19-9 over Chris Vincent and Jo Polley of Great Baddow, Essex.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 27