IAN Park became the first player Herefordshire player to win three singles championship in short mat bowls.

The tournament, played as a trial over a new two-day format, attracted 27 entries, with players competing in seven round robin groups before the knock-out rounds took place the following day.

By the semi-final stage, Ross were dominating the competition with only defending champion John Jillings (Woolhope) standing between them and a full set of county titles.

The semi-final between the two previous years’ winners Park was victorious against Jillings, while the other semi-final was an all Ross affair with Ian Roe overcoming George Marshall to reach his first singles final.

The final was dominated by Park who produced consistently accurate draw bowling to put Roe on the back foot throughout.

Roe did manage to take the match to the final end, but was unable to prevent Park claiming the win.

Meanwhile, Brimfield & Little Bowling Club's Barbara Griffiths and Karen Tandler teamed up with Hereford Bowling Club's Jan Williams to record the highest points score in the country in the Benevolent Triples event.

After beating Weobley 15-10 in the Herefordshire final, the trip will now pick up the national trophy at a Bowls England dinner in Coventry next month.

The ladies' average score of 13 was three higher than second-placed Yorkshire.