Mark Dawes of Blackpool Newton Hall Club beaten in defence of world indoor bowls titles

Mark Dawes' bid to defend his world indoor bowling titles has ended in Norfolk

The 36-year-old from Blackpool Newton Hall Bowling Club in Staining won both the men’s singles and pairs titles at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in Hopton-on-Sea 12 months ago.

However, Dawes’ defence of both titles ended at the quarter-final stage at the Potters Resort .

In the singles, the Radcliffe-based accounting assistant defeated Graham McKee and Mike Stepney before losing out to ninth-seeded Scot Stewart Anderson 8-7, 11-6 in the last eight.

Dawes, a member at Newton Hall for 14 years, was reunited with title-winning partner Jamie Chestney for the pairs but was again beaten in the quarter-finals.

The defending champions lost to Scots Paul Foster and Alex Marshall (6-3, 6-6), who went on to take their title.

Dawes’ fellow Newton Hall bowler Janice Gower also saw her ladies’ singles challenge ended at the quarter-final stage.

Reigning English champion Gower lost an epic tie to Ellen Falkner 9-7 ,11-9.

And again like Dawes, Gower fell to the eventual winners in the pairs.

Partnering Scotland’s Paul Foster in the mixed pairs, Gower lost in the semi-finals to Falkner and Rob Paxton 8-4, 5-6, 2-1.