CHRIS Gilkes came within a whisker of making history at the Oxfordshire BA’s finals day in Carterton.

The Watlington ace clinched the men’s singles final with victory over Banbury Borough’s Keith Holloway and then had a chance to become the first man to take both the senior and under 25s titles in the same year.

But Gilkes could not fight off a strong surge from Chipping Norton’s David Leighfield, who claimed the junior prize.

In the senior final, Gilkes trailed 15-11 after 16 ends against Holloway, who was seeking to join the small band of Oxfordshire bowlers who have won each of the the four senior titles.

But the Watlington man picked up eight shots in the last six ends to take the title 21-17.

In the under 25 final, Gilkes was on the receiving end of a late revival from Leighfield, who trailed by five shots after 17 ends, but went on to win 21-18.

The all-Headington fours final was another tight contest.

John Nicholls, Ian Henwood, Jason King and skip Mark Charlett led 15-10 after 18 ends against clubmates Dean and Gary May, Nathan Lewis and Howard Watts.

Charlett’s rink conceded seven shots over the next two ends to trail 17-15, but then nicked an 18-17 success with three on the last.

However, Holloway gained consolation for his earlier defeat with two other titles.

He claimed the two-wood singles championship with a 14-11 success over Carterton’s Stuart Timms.

The all-Banbury Borough Triples final concluded after only 14 of the 18 ends as Holloway, Darren Sharpe and AJ Docherty overwhelmed clubmates Jamie Wilkinson, George Schwab and skip Mark Sykes 24-9.

Charlett and Henwood claimed their second crown of the day when teaming up to win the pairs final against Carterton’s Tim Jupp and Stuart Richens.

The host club pair came from 7-1 down to level at 12-12, before going into the last end, trailing 18-16.

Jupp dropped two perfect woods right behind the jack.

Charlett had one wood left with an extra end looking likely, but his delivery was perfect, connecting with the jack and giving him shot.

Richens missed with his last to give the Headington team a 21-18 win.