TONY Moore deservedly claimed the Hart Crown Green Bowling Club’s annual Tim Hollingshead Spring Handicap title.
Moore was one of 24 Hart members who competed for the shield and cash prize on offer on a quick surface with all games played to 11.
And Moore’s handicap of minus three meant he gave away a varying number of shots to all of his opponents.
However, Moore qualified for the semi-finals from group B with five wins along with Neil Harrison, Jack Livingstone and Steve Jones who all remained unbeaten.
Moore, nicknamed badger, met Jones for a place in the final and overcame a six-shot deficit after four ends to lead 7-4 having dropped a single shot over the next nine ends.
Despite the best efforts of Jones, Moore held on to win 11-7 and would meet Harrison in the final who edged out Livingstone 11-9 after winning the last two ends.
In the final, Harrison had a six-shot handicap advantage over Moore and stretched his lead to nine shots after the first eight ends – just three away from the title.
However, Moore responded superbly to win seven of the next eight ends and secure the trophy with an 11-9 success in a high-quality final with the shield and cash prizes awarded by Liz Hollingshead.
Elsewhere, in the Heart of England Cup, Hart A cruised to a comfortable win over Stoke Prior B to reach the quarter-finals.
Pete Davenport (21-8), Moore (21-4), Kirk Wright (21-4) and Paul Matthews (21-3) all won to single figures to help the Redditch club to a 168-69 victory.
In the Consolation Cup, Hart B had three home winners as Livingstone (21-20), Phil Hemming (21-19) and Gill Croft (21-15) but could not find an away winner, losing the tie 183-151.
And in the Sunday Northfield and District League, Hart A earned their first win of the season with a 156-118 home victory against Wythall to move off the bottom of the Division One table.
Hart lost the opening two ties only to produce six winning cards in a row as Moore (21-7), Neil Laxton (21-15), David Mahaffey (21-17), Mike Estell (21-17), Jim Mahaffey (21-4) and Paul Matthews (21-14) all tasted success.
In Division Three, Hart B were edged out 141-131 at Colebrook despite wins for Malcolm Bird (21-12), Harrison (21-8) and captain Hemming (21-16).
However, Hart A kept their promotion bid in Division Two of the S.W. Birmingham and District Over 60’s League on track with a 120-83 win at Black Horse B.
The victory came courtesy of five winning cards from Ray Barnett and Wright (both 21-20), Laxton and Graham Arnott (both 21-7) and Steve Lediard (21-8).
In Division Three, Hart B had a full house of winners in a comfortable 126-67 success as John Meredith (21-5) and stand-in captain Norman Batchelor (21-9) won to single figures.
And in the Yardley Wood Superleague, Hart A lost 153-137 at Tanworth B as Wright (21-20), Jones (21-19), Livingstone (21-15) and Barnett all produced winning cards.
In Division Three, Hart B had five winners against Woodlands Park in a 145-113 victory as Ian Humphreys and Denis Turner (both 21-7) and Penny Moore (21-9) won to single figures.
Lastly, in the Heart of England Over 60’s League, Hart A suffered their first defeat of the season in Division One with Mike Estell (21-9) their only winner in a 114-64 loss at King George V.
However, Hart B comfortably saw off Triplex B in Division Three as winning cards from Ian and Sheila Humphreys, Mick Perrins, Batchelor and captain Croft sealed a 124-87 victory.
