WHAT a week it was for Chawton Park bowlers as they reached an unprecedented six Hampshire County finals, making it seven in total.

It was, in fact, a ‘Whiteout’ as Adam White won places in five finals to take place at Chawton Park from April 9-10.

Dick Holden, Barry Smith, Mark Fyfield and Adam White travelled to Atherley in the County Fours to play Gary Carter’s rink on the home favourite rink 5.

Atherley led 7-1 at five ends and 9-7 at 10, but from there it was all Chawton. The visitors won the next nine ends and took the match 23-9, with Smith in fine form.

In the Hampshire Pairs, Barry Smith and Adam White, after some close early ends, pulled away to a comfortable 29-13 win over Ashley Nethercliffe and Fred Norris.

The County Triples was much closer. Dick Holden, Dave Turner and Adam White trailed 7-1 at four ends, but a 12-1 return over the next four gave the Chawton trio a halfway lead over Steve Shaw’s strong Loddon triple.

The lead changed four times in the second half and with Holden and Turner struggling somewhat, the pressure was building on White.

The last end arrived with Chawton one shot up and in trouble as White delivered probably his best wood of the match to rest the shot away from four Loddon woods and draw two more shots to clinch a 23-19 victory.

Chawton’s Danny Brown travelled to Rushmoor where he and Daniel Taylor contested a place in the Under-25 final. Taylor was a tough opponent, but Brown showed his best form of the season in recording an excellent 21-14 win.

In his County Singles, Adam White was up against John Biggs at Victory IBC. Biggs was expected to be a real threat, but White led for most of the match and secured a 21-16 win.

Finally, White teamed up with mother-in-law Margaret Holden to meet Janet Barteluk and Colin Prosser in the County Mixed Pairs semi-final. It would be Prosser’s third losing visit to Chawton this season, the home pair winning easily, 22-5.

Sue Murray and David Sims defeated Banister Park’s Janet and Steve Whitehead 21-19 in the other semi-final. The Banister duo led through halfway, but the Chawton double act finished stronger and took the last few ends to make it an all-Chawton final.

Norma Craighill, Lesley Johnson, Dave Turner and skip David Sims had already reached the Hampshire Mixed Fours final after overcoming a Loddon quartet skipped by Gary Lovett. A seven-shot count on the first end set them on their way and despite a mini Loddon revival, the Chawton four pulled away again to seal a comfortable win.

Margaret Holden and Brenda Plumpton lost in the Ladies Pairs. Having held a good lead, they were finally caught and overtaken by Liz Russell’s last wood on the extra end at Atherley.

It was back to Atherley for the Hampshire Ladies Fours semi-final. Margaret Holden was joined by Sue Murray, Beryl Collier and skip Margaret Leppard for a difficult match against Janet Williamson’s four. Although it was always close, a dropped score late on left the Chawton rink chasing the game, unsuccessfully.

There was no time to dwell on disappointments as Chawton Park held their club finals week, with 18 finals played on three different days.

There was good support from members and some crowd participation for the finalists who had chosen their own walk-on styles and music.

In the men’s singles, Adam White played Brian Scowcroft, making his first appearance in the final. He found White in a ruthless mood and the reigning club champion went on to feature in the men’s pairs, triples and fours. Assisted by Barry Smith, Dick Holden, Dave Turner and Mark Fyfield, he won them all.

But White, also the competition secretary, would be upstaged by mother-in-law Margaret Holden. First, she won the ladies’ singles against Linda Habberfield. It was a final of two halves, with Linda having the better of the first, but Margaret finishing the stronger.

Margaret Holden would go on to be involved in another five winning combinations, including a mixed pairs win over Janet Rothwell and Charlie Spear, when she was partnered by 11-year-old grandson Reece Graham.

Young Reece was also successful in the U25s singles and, with Sheila Morrison, in the novice pairs. Peter Lewis pipped John Wadlow in the novice singles.

Brian Scowcroft finally tasted success in the O65s open singles, winning a tight match against John Fensom.

Fensom and Dave Fitchett overcame both their handicap and Norma Craighill and Rod Mitchell for a one-shot win in the handicap drawn pairs.