A LATE change of tactic saw Jenny Clark storm back to become the Wellworthy’s 2019 Open Novice Singles champion with a 21-14 victory over Mike Tidby at Wellworthy’s Indoor Club Finals.

Clark took an early lead but Tidby came back to level it at 5-5 after eight ends. Then Tidby dropped a four, allowing Clark to go 10-5 up on the 10th end.

Tidby then came storming back, taking five ends on the trot to go 14-10 up after 16 ends.

However, Clark started to put up short jacks. This tactic worked so well that Tidby did not score again and Clark took six consecutive ends, winning 21-14.

Clark had also beaten her husband Dave in the semi-final 22-10, but nonetheless Dave Clark became the 2019 Men’s Singles champion by default when opposing finalist Nigel Apsey had to withdraw due to work commitments.

The 2018 Novice Singles champion Carol Dixon also became de facto 2019 Open Two Set Singles champion.

Dixon and Dave Clark played each other in the Two Wood Singles final, having beaten Apsey and Brian Mills respectively in the semis.

It was an even battle for most of the match with a score of 9-9 after 14 ends.

Dixon then began to edge ahead going 20-14 up after 25 ends.

In the 27th end, Clark looked to be coming back with both woods on the jack until Dixon came in with her last wood and took the jack to win 22-15.

At the same time, Tidby and Pete Beardsley were playing Mills and Keith Tilyard in the Men’s Pairs Final.

Tidby could do no wrong after his defeat in the morning and, with a little help from partner Beardsley, they led throughout the game to eventually beat Mills and Tilyard 22-12.

Dixon, Tidby and Beardsley were all in action together when the trio faced Ivor Hawkins, Fred George and Charlie Clark for the Open Triples final.

However, this time the more experienced team came to the fore.

Hawkins, George and Clark led from the front throughout with a five in the first end and a four in the eighth taking them to 13-4, from which they never looked back, eventually winning 23-6.

All that remained was the Mixed Pairs final, where Dixon and Beardsley faced Pam Skinner and Peter Stafford.

Once more, experience proved crucial.

Skinner and Stafford quickly recovered from going 4-0 down after two ends to lead 20-6 by the 12th end.

In the 13th end Dixon and Beardsley picked up a five to reach double figures before Skinner and Stafford went on to win 29-13.

n All are welcome to come and try out Wellworthy’s new artificial outdoor rinks on the weekend of Saturday, April 27 (10-4pm both days).