Holloway does double but is denied a hat-trick in finals

But the Banbury Borough bowler was denied a hat-trick of titles in the singles.

Holloway won the two-wood singles against Carterton’s Stuart Timms and lifted the triples with Borough team-mates Darren Sharpe and AJ Docherty but Watlngton’s Chris Gilkes beat him in the singles final.

The all Banbury Borough triples final concluded after only 14 of the 18 ends had been played.

Holloway, Sharpe and Docherty overwhelmed Jamie Wilkinson, George Schwab and skip Mark Sykes from the start, going into a 9-1 lead after five ends before collecting a six two ends later on their way to a 17-2 lead after nine ends.

A flurry of seven shots over the next three ends brought the Sykes trio to within eight shots with seven ends remaining. But any thoughts of a comeback were stifled on the next two ends when they dropped a five, followed by a pair, leaving them 9-24 down and the decision was made that enough was enough.

In the two-wood singles final, Holloway started quickly against Timms and led 9-5 after 12 ends.

Timms responded by taking three of the next four ends to level at 10-10. With a maximum of five ends left to play, the Borough man collected a pair of singles and a two with Timms managing a lone single and running out of ends, leaving Holloway the 14-11 winner after 20 ends.

After dropping a brace of three’s on the first two ends of the singles final, Gilkes took the next four before a single from Holloway levelled matters at 7-7.

Singles shots predominated on a tricky rink before Holloway collected a three on the 13th and a pair three ends later to lead 15-11 after 16 ends.

Two shots each over the next three ends still had Gilkes trailing but a combination of excellent woods and some good fortune went the Watlington’s player’s way.

He put an end to Holloway’s title hopes, picking up eight shots over the next six ends to take the title with a 21-17 win.

Chipping Norton’s David Leighfield beat Gilkes in the Under-25 Junior Singles.

In a very tight game played on a demanding rink, Gilkes opened up a five shot lead on the 17th end. Leighfield took eight shots over the next six ends turned the game as he held three shot lead.

Gilkes replied with a two and a single to level again, leaving both bowlers three shots short of victory at 18-18.

The tide turned yet again as Leighfield made the title his, picking up a two and a single, to take the game 21-18.