HOLDERS David Lockhart and Tom Armstrong failed to make it three in a row in the Bolton Open Pairs bowling tournament.

In the best game of the Tournament, Marjorie Fryer and John Sharples (Blackburn) had to win their final group game against the two stars by four shots to reach the semi-finals. Going into the last end, they had reached that target and effectively the winner of the end would qualify.

Sharples, with his penultimate bowl, glanced off a yard short bowl to remove Lockhart's shot bowl and lie two.

Armstrong struck with his two remaining bowls but veered marginally narrow with both bowls.

In the semi-final, Fryer and Sharples played well but were edged out by George Thompson (Bristol) and County President, Geoff Allen.

Both other semi-finalists won all three of their Section Matches. Edna Counsell and Bob Booton took an early four shot advantage but Allan Leach and Gordon Niven came back to win after an extra end.

Thompson and Allen raced into a six shot lead after three ends in the Final. On the fourth end, Thompson trailed the jack into the ditch and with a toucher already in the ditch they picked a further two to go eight shots ahead. On the fifth end, Leach laid the sound foundations for a recovery which resulted in a five being scored to give 1995 winners hope of a recovery. Going into the last end, Thompson and Allen still led by two shots. Niven, with three seconds, and with the help of a fortunate glide from a short bowl, removed Allen's shot bowl and achieve a Championship winning position. Allen was unable to retrieve the situation with his last bowl, giving Leach and Niven their second win as a pair and Niven his third win.

Results: Section 1: R Farnworth/A Farnworth 6 F Mossman/W Lloyd 8; A Leach/G D Niven 9 J Adamson/M Adamson 4; R Farnworth/A Farnworth 9 J Adamson/M Adamson 6; F Mossman/W Lloyd 2 A Leach/G D Niven 17; R Farnworth/A Farnworth 5 A Leach/G D Niven 7; F Mossman/W Lloyd 11 J Adamson/M Adamson 4. Section 1 Winners: A Leach/G D Niven

Section 2: M Fryer/J G Sharples 4 C Scott/D Oliver 6; D Lockhart/T W Armstrong 9 T Ryder/M Grimshaw 6; M Fryer/J G Sharples 7 T Ryder/M Grimshaw 6; C Scott/D Oliver 3 D Lockhart/T W Armstrong 6; M Fryer/J G Sharples 9 D Lockhart/T W Armstrong 3; C Scott/D Oliver 4 T Ryder/M Grimshaw 10. Section 2 Winners: M Fryer/J G Sharples.

Section 3: E Counsell/R Booton 13 B Hay/W Cropper 3; S Deacon/J Birtwistle 8 J Oates/C Oates 17; E Counsell/R Booton 8 J Oates 6/C Oates 6; B Hay/W Cropper 4 S Deacon/J Birtwistle 11; E Counsell/R Booton 10 S Deacon/J Birtwistle 9; B Hay/W Cropper 6 J Oates/C Oates 5. Section 3 Winners: E Counsell/R Booton

Section 4: L Noon/K Davey 10 G Thompson/G Allen 6; J Franklin/E Franklin 9 T Johnston/A Bidwell 6; L Noon/K Davey 4 T Johnston/A Bidwell 9; G Thompson/G Allen 9 J Franklin/E Franklin 8; L Noon/K Davey 12 J Franklin/E Franklin 6; G Thompson/G Allen 7 T Johnston/A Bidwell 3. Section 4 Winners: G Thompson/G Allen.

Semi-Finals: M Fryer/J G Sharples 7 G Thompson/G Allen 9; E Counsell/R Booton 10 A Leach/G D Niven 13.

Final: A Leach/G D Niven 11 G Thompson/G Allen 10.