Female Marker Snub

BRIAN DUNNE refused to have a match in the Worthing Men s Open Bowls Tournament marked by a woman in his way to the singles final in which he lost 21-14 to England Under-23 and Commonwealth Games selection from Cheam Village, Chris Young.

The Irish former Sussex Unbadged Singles champion who joined Worthing Bowling Club this season from Field Place was about to play in the last 16 at Beach House Park when the organisers provided a female scorecard adjudicant.

Dunne, 66, stood his ground, insisting it was a men s event, the markers co-ordinator relented, the woman was replaced by a man, and Dunne continued on his way, including surviving a 14-3 deficit to another Cheam player Andy Cundy by lengthening the jack.

Tournament organiser Tom Nicholds heard later and was furious.

He declared: If I d known at the time, I would have told him he would have to accept this marker for his game or I d throw him out of the competition.

We ve been were short of markers and this year I asked all competitors to bring one with them. It didn t matter if it was a personal friend or not. Brian Dunne did not bring one so he should have accepted the one we provided for his game.

In a week of world-impacting loss of life, Dunne said had an ominous feeling about the final, having won his Sussex Unbadged title on the morning after the death of Princess Diana.

See the Worthing Herald, September 20, for the full report