Alison Merrien at Potters. (Picture by David Rhys-Jones, 0902552)

The talented Sarnian proceeded to play one of the most sensational shots ever witnessed on the portable rink but, with the 2006 world champion Mervyn King at lead, she was still edged out of the competition at the first hurdle.

The score can be summed up succinctly – Dee McSparran and Mark Royal defeated King and Merrien 9-8, 9-8 – but the scorecard does not tell the whole story, and does not record details of the Shot of the Championships.

Traditionalists – and there are still a few old codgers left in the sport – would have been appalled because, on the principle that men are from Mars and women from Venus, the ladies are supposed to know their place in bowls.

No, not the kitchen – but not the business end of the game either: that is because women are generally thought to be more adept at drawing to the jack and playing with finesse, while men are better at executing attacking shots and dictating the tactics.

That is why women are expected to lead, playing a steady, unfussy game, while men take on the responsibility of ‘skipping’.

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