THE big surprise of the 19th Bolton Open Pairs Bowling Tournament was the failure of Mervyn Gordon and Ken Bradshaw to qualify in Group C. In their second match against Alan Leach and Gordon Niven they were 11-0 ahead after five ends but Gordon fought back and finished up winning 16-11.

Results - Group A: C Devonport/H Devonport 13 M Grimshaw/I Hart 11 J Kemp/F Vickers 18 S Astle/J Parsons 8 C Devonport/H Devonport 10 S Astle/J Parsons 14 M Grimshaw/I Hart 23 J Kemp/F Vickers 4 C Devonport/H Devonport 11 J Kemp/F Vickers 11 M Grimshaw/I Hart 17 S Astle/J Parsons 6 Group A Winner: M Grimshaw/I Hart Group A Runner-Up: C Davenport/H Devonport.

Group B: C Platt/ D Wilkinson 3 V Tomlinson/P Barker 26 K Davey/D Colbourne 24 L Taylor/W Ashworth 10 C Platt/D Wilkinson 2 L Taylor/W Ashworth 28 V Tomlinson/P Barker 11 K Davey/D Colbourne 11 C Platt/D Wilkinson 1 K Davey/D Colbourne 24 V Tomlinson/P Barker 26 L Taylor/W Ashworth 13 Group B Winner: K Davey/D Colbourne Group B Runner-Up: V Tomlinson/P Barker.

Group C: F Argent/N Palmer 3 M Gordon/ K Bradshaw 21 A Leach/G D Niven 15 P Rothwell/A Bond 17 F Argent/N Palmer 18 P Rothwell/A Bond 6 M Gordon/K Bradshaw 11 A Leach/G D Niven 16 F Argent/N Palmer 6 A Leach/G D Niven 21 M Gordon/K Bradshaw 9 P Rothwell/A Bond 13 Group C Winner: A Leach/G D Niven Group C Runner-Up: P Rothwell/A Bond.

Group D: S Hemsley/B Kitson 11 L Counsell/J Counsell 8 J Oates/C Oates 11 J Barker/G Tomlinson 6 S Hemsley/B Kitson 21 J Barker/G Tomlinson 6 L Counsell/J Counsell 9 J Oates/C Oates 7 S Hemsley/B Kitson 14 J Oates/C Oates 10 L Counsell/J Counsell 16 J Barker/G Tomlinson 4 Group D Winner: S Hemsley/B Kitson Group D Runner-Up: L Counsell/J Counsell.

The County Mixed Fours competition, played at Heaton Park BC was won by a team from Bolton: Frances Hamer, Pat Barker, Alan Leach and Gordon Niven convincingly beat a four from Southport 18-6 in the final.