GORSLEY Chapel bowler Joe Loveys took the singles and pairs titles in this season's

Herefordshire Short Mat Bowling Championships.

Loveys was kept busy as both competitions ran alongside each other for the first time in several years by using the Leominster Indoor Bowling Club venue.

The singles competition saw the 24 entrants contest six round robin groups to secure a quarter-final slot.

Two of the group runners-up finished with identical records so had to play a sudden death one end decider for the final place.

John Mills (Woolhope BC) held his nerve to pip Llangarron’s Terry Griffiths to that final knockout phase spot.

Mills then won his quarter-final but was defeated comprehensively by last season’s runner-up Loveys at the semi-final stage.

The other semi-final saw defending champion Ian Park (Ross BC) defeat Woolhope’s Bryan Watkins to set up a repeat of the previous year’s final.

However, the result was not to be a straight repeat as Loveys avenged that defeat with a 13-6 victory to take his second title in his third consecutive final.

Not satisfied with regaining the singles title, Loveys had also been going well in the pairs championship alongside John Mills in defence of that title.

From a field of 22 pairs playing in four round robin groups, the semi-finals were formed of each of the group winners.

Loveys and Mills won their group and progressed to their second consecutive final by defeating Lea’s Charlotte and Stephen Kite in their semi-final.

The second semi-final was a very tight all-Ross affair which saw Kate Williams and Dave Watkins defeat Ian Roe and Ian Park in an extra end after the game had finished all square.

The Ross pair could not prevent Loveys and Mills retaining their title and were defeated 9-6 in the final.