WORLD number four Alison Merrien could consider it a job well done. Three Channel Islands indoor championship finals in 24 hours and three more titles secured. And to cap a fantastic weekend at the Hougue du Pommier Stadium for Guernsey’s World Champion of Champions, husband Ian clinched the CI men’s singles crown.
The Merriens trophy double was achieved side-by-side on the six-rink Guernsey mat and at the expense of Jersey’s own first couple of bowls, the Greechans.
Ian was first to get the job done, a 21-9 winner over Tommy in 16 ends and within five minutes Alison had seen off Lyndsey 21-15 on the 21st.
‘I sacrificed my long Sunday run [90min.] to concentrate on that,’ said a smiling Ian, who reckons his game has improved since he took up running seriously.
But doesn’t having your loved one fighting it out on the next rink, mess with your concentration?
Both Merriens confirmed yes it does.
‘I probably did [worry how my wife was doing] today more so than usual,’ said Ian.
‘It does take a bit off in terms of concentration,’ he added.
‘I was always conscious of how she was doing and I had to give her a kick up the backside.’
Alison, however, refuted she was ever in trouble, although she did trail the Jersey champion 9-7 after 10 ends.
‘I still felt I was on the top of my game,’ she said.
Alison came through strongly over the second half of the match and three three-shot hauls in four ends turned the match in her favour.
Ian, in contrast, got off to a flyer, 9-1 up after four ends, but had to withstand a determined rally by his opponent.
At one stage Ian went five ends without scoring, but a hat-trick of twos saw him across the finish line.
‘I had a few loose ends in the middle of the match but I was still putting some bowls close. Although he won five on the trot they were only ones and twos.’
All in all, it was a superb weekend for the Guernsey contingent, winning an excellent eight of the 10 area finals.
Among them was an emphatic victory for Lianna Bichard over Jersey’s British under-25 singles champion Rachel McDonald.
The Sarnian age-group champion won 21-8.
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