Westcliff based Essex County Bowling Club have two representatives in this year's County squad for the national Middleton Cup competition.

The line-up consists of players from all clubs in the Essex area and local players are Ian Middlemast, who was in the team last year, and newcomer Kevin Watkins.

Essex County Club played Chelmsford in the London and Southern Counties Shield -- two rinks at home and two rinks away.

The rink of Ian Gelgon, Simon Kittle, Malcolm Artus and Kevin Watkins won by 14 shots on their own territory and the one skipped by Alex Swan got home by two.

The away rinks were not so fortunate with club captain Ron Chatfield losing by 14 and Paul Groom's rink going down by one. So, after a very close game throughout, Essex County ended up winning by one shot -- with the last wood of Swan proving decisive.

Published Wednesday, May 28, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo