It was third time lucky for Mandy Gooding at the Denton Island finals.

Runner-up for the previous two years, she became ladies' champion after a thrilling contest against Rene Taylor.

Gooding drew consist-ently to the jack in the first half of the match and by the 12th end was 14-5 in the lead.

Rene started scoring to a shorter length jack and by the 23rd end drew level at 17-17.

Both finalists played to a high standard but Gooding was determined not to lose this year and scored the necessary four shots over the next three ends to win 21-17.

Frank Towner was involved in the mens' championship for the second year running, this time against Brian Miller.

Towner got off to a steady start scoring six over the first four ends but Miller overtaking him to lead 10-6.

The score progressed to 14-9 to Miller when on the 14th and holding another three shots, his opponent trickled the jack to waiting back bowls and Towner closed the gap to 14-11.

However near the jack he placed his bowls, Miller either drew closer or was able to skillfully move the jack in his favour leaving him the winner at 21-14.

Miller also reached the final of the over 65's competition to play against Hugh Turner.

On the fifth end, Miller took the mat half way up the rink which upset Turner's rhythm and by the eighth end he found himself 9-3 down.

By the 19th end, Miller was 17-11 up only needing one for the match when Turner scored six over the next three ends to be 17-17.

On the next Miller drew his first bowl to rest on the jack which proved too difficult for Turner to move, leaving Miller to take his second trophy 18-17.

In the men's pairs final, there was nothing to choose between Mick Powney and Don Kent and their opponents Don Jenner and Tony Bacon.

Powney and Kent led 19-5 by the tenth but their opponents scored seven over the next five ends and eventually clawed back to 20-19 to set up a nail-biting finish.

Having never been behind in the match, skip Kent found himself four down on the last end but calmly sent down a lovely drawing bowl to claim the vital winner for him and his partner at 21-19.

Ladies pairs champions Sheila Miller and Pat Pearce reached the final again this year against Kate Strong and Sheila Sharp.

The two pairs progressed to 11-11 at ten ends when the senior and more experienced Miller and Pearce pulled away steadily to a 22-13 lead.

Strong and Sharp picked up four on the penultimate end but they could not prevent defeat by a 23-17 margin. Brian and Sheila Miller were in the mixed pairs final against Ida Gill and Vic Sherwood.

Ida's husband Eric had gone down with the flu the evening before the final and Sherwood offered to play in his place to save giving the Millers a walkover.

The new partnership found themselves outplayed by their experienced opponents, conceding when 22-7 down on the 16th..

Frank Towner took Eric Gill's place to team up with Paul Spicer and John Cox against Ken Davis, Peter Morgan and Alf Webb in the men's triples.

Despite the last minute change, Cox's team outplayed their opponents being 11-1 up at nine ends, 13-7 at 16 and eventually winning 15-8.

The ladies' triples final was an exciting match to watch as Mandy Gooding, Rene Taylor and Sue Dennis took on Barbara Bird, Edna Crow and Sheila Miller.

Miller's team were one down going into a replayed final end but took two for an 18-17 success.

The Non-Winners Singles saw Bob Gerring overcome a slow start to beat Stuart Ancell 21-10.