Blackpool bowls stalwart Mark Dawes crowned double world champion for second time

Mark Dawes has followed last week's open pairs title by lifting the open singles trophy at the World Indoor Bowls Championships

Second world pairs title for Mark Dawes following closure of Blackpool Newton Ha...

Dawes, who has represented the Blackpool Newton Hall club for the past 15 years, repeated his feat of 2018 by winning the open singles title at the world championships in Norfolk as well as the open pairs trophy.

The Radcliffe-based 37-year-old completed his double double with a dominant display in yesterday’s singles final at Potters Resort, defeating Greg Harlow by two sets to nil, 10-3, 11-5.

Of course in these extraordinary times, the eighth seed’s double triumph was anything but a carbon copy of his achievement three years ago.

To begin win, Dawes is a player without a club. Although still listed as representing Blackpool Newton Hall, the owners of the Staining Road venue announced six months ago that it would not be reopening after the pandemic.

Dawes also became the firs player to win through his semi-final with a bye. He should have played the winners of the all-English quarter-final between Perry Martin and Wayne Willgress in Saturday’s semis, but both those players were forced to pull out after positive Covid tests.

Dawes, who sealed his second pairs world title last Monday with partner Jamie Chestney, said after yesterday’s singles triumph: “It’s just surreal.

“I’m not a great believer in fate but it’s a mirror performance of 2018.

“To win the pairs and then go on to win the singles in unbelievable.

“It’s quite fitting in a year like this that a person with no club manages to win two finals!”

As in the pairs, Dawes improved as the singles progressed and was outstanding in the final at Hopton-on-Sea.

He said of his victory over Harlow, the sixth-seeded 2010 champion from Ely: “When Greg was missing I made sure I got in and I felt I was in control of the game. To win one was beyond my wildest dreams but to win two is unbelievable.”

Dawes defeated Darren Weir 1½ - ½, Mervyn King 2-1 and Simon Skelton 2-0 before his semi-final walkover.

In the past two years, Dawes had lost in the quarter-finals of both the singles and pairs.

Runner-up Harlow is also a three-time world pairs champion.

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here