Acle bowlers celebrate title

ACLE St Edmund Bowls Club players collected the fruits of a successful season at the Norfolk County EBA Bowls Association presentation lunch.

Acle showed that their first-ever league championship victory in 2008 was no fluke by retaining the Cromer Cup after a very close tussle with Hunstanton. The cup was presented by Roger Holden, managing partner of sponsors Hansells Solicitors and Financial Advisers and EBA president Trevor Webb.

Heaping icing on the cake, George Tubby won the EBA's blue ribband singles championship, while Acle were also runners-up in the Lord Fermoy Cup (double fours).

Caister were runners-up in the Hansells Solicitors League Cup and zone winners. Freethorpe A also won their zone.

Guests at the presentation lunch, at Norwich's Holiday Inn, included Dennis Cousins, president of Bowls England, and Roger Holden, managing partner of Hansells and Nick Harvey, senior partner.

“This has been the seventh year we have sponsored the Norfolk EBA - and once again we have been delighted to witness first hand the wonderful friendly spirit with which the county's bowls players do battle. You are a huge credit to your sport and association, and wonderful ambassadors for the county of Norfolk.” said Holden.

Norfolk EBA president Trevor Webb was full of praise for the support given by Hansells, not only financially but in giving Norfolk bowls the prestigious boast that they are backed by one of East Anglia's foremost and highly-respected law firms. “The immense support Hansells give us is absolutely vital. The financial backing keeps us solvent - and is a lifeline to smaller clubs within the league,” said Webb.

“During my year as president I have witnessed just how genuine that interest is as Hansells have come along to support a number of special events.