Dave finds consolation from defeat

Jamie Chestney, who had built up an outstanding record of success in the five open singles events that were part of the Race for Nottingham this winter, reached the quarter-finals of the groundbreaking Premier Threes on Saturday.

Jamie Chestney, who had built up an outstanding record of success in the five open singles events that were part of the Race for Nottingham this winter, reached the quarter-finals of the groundbreaking Premier Threes on Saturday.

A dramatic one-bowl shoot-out gave the young Gallow star victory over the new WIBC world indoor singles champion Graham Smith, but teenager Calvin Leuty gained revenge on behalf of his Spalding clubmate, 2-1.

Acle ace Tim Stone fell at the first hurdle, beaten, 2-0, by Andy Easy, from the City of Ely, but his dad, Dave Stone, had the distinction of being involved in the first-ever sudden-death, one-bowl shoot-out in the history of the competition.

Dave said: "The format is unforgiving, but it's short, sharp and exciting, and good for spectators - and I feel pleased that, although I lost out to Barwell's Lawson Bailey, at least I created a record in a one-bowl shoot-out."

The event, which is backed by the English Indoor Bowling Association, is bowls' answer to Twenty20 cricket, with competitors restricted to three bowls each, and a best-of-three sets format with only three ends per set. It involves the best players from five satellites tournaments held at Acle, Boston, Spalding, Ely and Lincoln.