Kelly King of Ilford Bowls Club after winning the county under-25 singles title

Ilford’s King is the county Queen

Dave Evans, Bowls Correspondent Friday, July 6, 2012
10:00 AM

Ilford bowling star Kelly King booked her place in the national bowls finals

Ilford starlet Kelly King is celebrating this week after being crowned as the county under-25 singles champion and booking her place in the National Finals.

The Maths graduate worked out the formula to overcome the powerful Serena Madgewick from the Drums Club in Grays in what proved to be a tense encounter between two talented young players.

Sunday morning’s county final, at Victoria Ladies bowling green in Southend saw King take an early lead and then keep up the pressure as Madgewick tried to force her way back on terms.

Leading 19-17, King drew the two shots that she needed to secure a victory, but she still had to withstand a nerve-jangling moment as her opponent narrowly missed the head with her last wood as she looked to save herself.

King didn’t need to play her final wood and after a 21-17 victory she will now make her way to Leamington in August to rub shoulders with the best under-25s in the country.

She was looking to double up at the Nationals with a place in the under-25s competition as well, but it proved just elusive.

She teamed up with Emma Chapman to take on Stacey Fryer and that girl Madgewick again and this time the match went the other way.

They fought back from 21-9 down to 21-17 after 20 ends, but they eventually lost out by 22-17.

At the other end of the age scale, Ian McConachie’s run in the national over-55s singles continued relentlessly on Sunday when he sneaked home by 21-19 in against Barry Miller from Rochford.

He will now take on either Nigel Holt from Mersea or Martin Spencer from Dunmow in the County final.

McConachie then teamed up with Ian Scammell in the national over-55 pairs to trounce the challenge of Len Welton and Jim Reynolds from Wanstead Central.

The Ilford lads were quick out of the blocks, finishing the game after just 15 ends with a great 29-2 scoreline that sees them through to the county quarter finals.