The club’s competitions reach their climax this weekend, with a dozen members contesting the eight finals.

Anne Bosman will feature in three of them and no fewer than six players are in two each.

As has become commonplace, a new competition entrant has made it to a final – two of them, actually - in their first year of competitive bowls – Mark Gooch is in both the Men’s Championship – a magnificent achievement - and John Martin Shield.

And by contrast, there are several experienced competitors looking to add to their growing silverware tally.

Twice-men’s champion Basil Larkins is looking for a third winner’s trophy at Mark’s expense.

Dorothy is seeking her second Ladies’ title against Linda, who – while also used to finals (and winning them) – is in the Ladies’ final for the first time.

And John Box is very much in contention, with places in both the Handicap and Veterans finals.

Boxing clever

It is, perhaps, not surprising that John, who had a handicap of 10 this year, despite his extraordinary consistency and two finals appearances in recent years, has gone all the way.

But he had no such advantage in the Veterans, yet has made it through that one, too, where he will be one of Anne’s three finals-weekend opponents over Saturday and Sunday.

John faces Mark Howell, who lifted a winner’s trophy at the first attempt last year, when he accompanied Basil to the drawn-pairs title, and is back to defend that title, too (this time alongside Anne).

The only player to reach three this year, Anne is also in two individual finals – facing John in the Veterans and me in the Sam Farmer Trophy.

I also made the John Martin Shield final for the third time in four years, where I will play Mark Gooch.

Two husband-and-wife teams will face each other for the Mixed Pairs title - Linda and Peter Huntley will play Andrew and Gwen Croft, who will be appearing in her first final.

Andrew also features in the Drawn Pairs final, with Bill Mann.

Spare a thought for the incredibly consistent Nicola Coles, who lost two semi-finals and a quarter-final in the space of four days and misses out on a finals-weekend appearance for the first time since 2018.

The finals:

Men’s Championship: Basil Larkins v Mark Gooch

Ladies’ Championship: Dorothy Glasby v Linda Huntley

Handicap: John Box (10) v Mark Howell (9)

John Martin Shield: Mark Gooch v Neville Dalton

Sam Farmer Trophy: Anne Bosman v Neville Dalton

Veterans: John Box v Anne Bosman

Drawn Pairs: Mark Howell/Anne Bosman v Bill Mann/Andrew Croft

Mixed Pairs: Gwen Croft/Andrew Croft v Linda Huntley/Peter Huntley

Finalists (number of finals):

3: Anne Bosman

2: John Box
Andrew Croft
Neville Dalton
Mark Gooch
Mark Howell
Linda Huntley

1: Gwen Croft
Dorothy Glasby
Peter Huntley
Basil Larkins
Bill Mann

For details of the routes to the finals, click on the Club Competitions dropdown menu.