Sunday saw the final county qualifying stage of the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme (EBYDS) at Norfolk Bowling Club where Fakenham Gallow members caught the eye.

Sunday saw the final county qualifying stage of the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme (EBYDS) at Norfolk Bowling Club where Fakenham Gallow members caught the eye.

The early heats of this national scheme attracted junior entrants from around Norfolk, competing in one of two skills days.

Some competitors were experiencing the first real test of their skills away from their home clubs, and being measured against the abilities of the others.

This situation seldom distracts them for long, and after a few practice sessions, they settled down into their own rhythm.

The individual scores from the skills days resulted in the top 12 seniors (15 to 18 yearss) and top 16 juniors qualifying for the second stage, which was held on Sunday. It was a round robin tournament from which the qualifiers for the regional event were drawn.

After some excellent, exciting and very determined action, the top four players in each group played out the semi-finals and finals.

Scores from the skills day and the round robin tournament were then used to compile individual totals. The leading results surpassed last year's totals and some record scores were achieved.

The winning junior player was Rebecca Carter from the County Arts BC (Norwich), with Jake Biggs (Gallow) second, and Rhys Morgan (Gallow) and Lee Johnson (Gallow) third and fourth respectively.

This is especially pleasing for Jake, as he also qualified for Cambridge last year, and perhaps some of the players he confronted last year will have moved up into the senior age group.

The senior section was won by Thomas Segolo (County Arts) with Dean Johnson (Gallow) second, Aaron Stimpson (Diss and District) third and Thomas Critoph (Browston Hall) fourth.

Congratulations went all four Gallow players and to the other five who qualified for Sunday, and although not at the upper end of the results, could still be selected. Of the 13 juniors who entered, nine did qualify for Sunday.

Representatives to compete at the regional stage will include the top two players from each group, and others from the next highest scorers, depending upon the scoring in other events at the other six counties making up the eastern region.

The facilities were made available by the Norfolk Bowling Club, and the competition run on behalf of the EBYDS by the Norfolk County Bowls Coaching Association, managed for them by Derek Nickerson, their county coach.

Next weekend sees the Gallow juniors at Pentney for the open singles tournament, and the club wishes them every success.

The juniors are now mostly wearing the official club team shirt and more shirts are now on order, helped by continued financial support from Morrisons supermarket.

Adrian Loft, who has been assisting with coaching for the past few months, has now been awarded his Foundation Coaching Certificate under the English Bowls Coaching Scheme, and joins the Gallow coaching team.