Carterton's Paul Sharman lifts the Oxfordshire singles trophy after his success at Kidlington
Carterton's Paul Sharman was crowned Oxfordshire singles champion for the first time with a 21-13 victory over Headington's Nick Rae-Welsh on finals day at Kidlington.
oSharman, winner of the county pairs in 1985 and 1986 with Gary Harrington, was locked together at 9-9 with Rae-Welsh after nine ends.
But then the Carterton man put together a sequence of seven winning ends to move within two shots of the title.
Two ends later, he clinched victory after dropping a three in between to leave Rae-Welsh the runner-up for the second successive year.
Now Sharman and Rae-Welsh, who reached the national quarter-finals last year, go on to represent Oxon at Worthing on Wednesday, August 20.
Sharman's success completed a double for Carterton after clubmate Sam Muir beat Banbury Borough's John Philpott 21-13 in the Under 25s final.
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Philpott, a dual winner and current Oxfordshire Middleton Cup lead, was in his last qualifying season for this event.
But, undaunted by his opponent's pedigree, Muir took early command and after 12 ends led 13-4.
He increased this to 20-9 six ends later.
A run of four singles kept Philpott alive, but the Carterton bowler found the all-important shot to clinch victory and put his name on the Gary Harrington Trophy.
Both players will be in action at Worthing on Saturday, August 9.
Carterton were denied a title treble when George Weedon's rink of Muir, fresh from his morning success, Chris Thorne and John Hicks were pipped 19-18 by Shiplake Village's Dave Hall, Jim Bland, Barry Lambourne and Ryan Buckett in a thrilling fours final.
Buckett's foursome started the last end 18-16 down, but they picked up three shots to snatch the title - the only time they had been ahead in the match.
Both fours will now be in action at Worthing on Sunday, August 10.
The triples crown fell to Oxford City & County's Robin Hewson, Mike Petersen and Alan Ley, who defeated West Witney's Glyn Coggon, Gerald Coombs and Harry Wiliams 20-15.
The two teams shared the shots after ten ends at 9-9.
The two sides gradually adapted better to the vagaries of the green and only two shots separated them with two ends to play.
However, the Oxford threesome closed the game out with a two and a one.
Both sides will be in action at Worthing on Wednesday, August 13.
Banbury Borough's Keith Holloway and Richard Redford came from behind to retain their pairs title with a 21-14 win over Headington's Shaun Claridge and Paul Mabbutt.
With six ends left, Claridge and Mabbut led by five shots.
But then Holloway and Redford took control, picking up 12 shots without reply to sweep to victory.
The two sides open their Worthing challenge on Tuesday, August 19.
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