THE ISLE of Man has been a happy hunting ground for Kendal bowlers this year and Ian Nicholson scooped the £3,000 first prize in the September Isle of Man Festival men's singles.
Self-employed plasterer Nicholson, of Hall-garth Circle, Kendal, beat Whitchurch's Andy Duckett, a Shropshire county player, 21-14 in the final.
The Netherfield and Kings Arms (Hale) bowler took an early lead and was "all-but" with his opponent only on 10 before a late rally by his opponent narrowed the gap.
It was closer in the semi-finals when John Bailey (Wales) pushed him to a 21-18 victory as torrential rain swept across the greens, and his biggest scares came when he had to retrieve a 15-8 deficit in the last 64 and then went five chalks behind in the last eight. Now Ian aims to spend the money on a family holiday to the United States, but first he will be trying to land traditionally the biggest prize in bowls, The Waterloo, when it starts this weekend.
Earlier this year, Alan Gilpin from Kendal won the June version of this competition on the Isle of Man and Ian's win makes it a unique double for the town!
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