This year’s Wesley Phair Pairs competition has been won by father and son duo, Marcus and James Rutledge from Sixmilecross. The Tyrone pair were in top form over both nights and deservedly came away as winners.

With eight pairs qualifying for the finals, the quarter finals served up some good games. Karol & Patricia Bradshaw defeated Norman Noble and Harold Nixon, and James and Marcus Rutledge were in dominant form against Caroline and Emma Scott. Linda and Stanley Carleton accounted for Ally Graham and Blaine Bradshaw, whilst Gordon and Basil Stubbs defeated Rodney Kelly and Gary Burke in the closest of the quarter final tussles.

In the first of the semi finals, Gordon Stubbs came up against Stanley Carleton. This proved to be a close game, with Gordon leading by 4 shots to 3 after six ends. The seventh end was crucial with Stubbs picking up three shots, this left him four ahead with only one end remaining, a lead he was not going to relinquish.

The second semi final was between James Rutledge and Karol Bradshaw. Again, this was a tight battle, with both skips playing great bowls to keep themselves in contention. Bradshaw lead by 5 shots to 3 going into the final end, but Rutledge had the last bowl which proved crucial, as he turned Karol’s bowl out of the head to claim the three shots he needed to proceed to the final.

The final was in keeping with the games which preceded it, and was another close affair. All four players were playing confident bowls at this stage, but it was the Tyrone pair who were to play the decisive bowls over the closing ends. After leading 4-3 after six ends, Rutledge claimed counts of two shots on both the seventh and eighth ends to claim this year’s title.

Prizes were presented to all finalists, and special thanks went to Home, Field & Stream in Enniskillen who very kindly sponsored this year’s winner’s prizes.