Mark Sykes’ joy at reaching three Oxfordshire Bowling Association finals was tinged with sadness following the death of his father, Mick, the previous day.

Banbury Borough star Mark triumphed in the fours, singles and two wood singles semi-finals at Oxford Sports on Sunday.

But his elation was tempered with his father, a member of Banbury Central, having passed away on Saturday aged 72.

His funeral is at St Mary's Church, Banbury, next Thursday (12).

The first of Sykes’s three wins was in the fours, where with Andrew Buttress, George Moon and Greg Moon, he came out on top 28-15 against Carterton's Sammy Timms, Tim Jupp, David Clanfield and Paul Sharman.

Sykes’s second success came in the singles with a 21-10 victory against Headington's Gary May, who had earlier lost 21-14 to Watlington 18-year-old Sam Watts in the Under 25 singles.

The new two wood singles championship provided Sykes with his third victory, beating Carterton's Alan Prew 16-6.

Prew had earlier experienced mixed fortunes, losing out in the pairs with partner Lee Young 20-14 to Headington's John Philpott and Ian Snowdon, but then winning his singles semi-final 21-13 against Banbury Borough's Keith Holloway.

Carterton’s Stuart Richens will contest the two wood final against Sykes after defeating Philpott 16-11.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Singles: M Sykes (Banbury Borough) 21, G May (Headington) 10; A Prew (Carterton) 21, K Holloway (Banbury Borough) 13.

Pairs: N Lewis & M Charlett (Headington) 21, I Henwood & C Nicoll (Headington) 12; J Philpott & I Snowdon (Headington) 20, A Prew & L Young (Carterton) 14.

Triples: C Whitehead, N Lewis & H Watts (Headington) 22, V Webb, A Kemish & A Twinn (Thame) 7; S Richens, Ro Clanfield & B Sparkes (Carterton) 16, K Holloway, M Redman & R Redford (Banbury Borough) 11.

Fours: R Pink, J Thompson, M Workman & P Hooley (Bicester) 29, J Nicholls, I Henwood, J King & C Nicoll (Headington) 20; A Buttress, Ge Moon, Gr Moon, M Sykes (Banbury Borough) 28, S Timms, T Jupp, D Clanfield & P Sharman (Carterton) 15. Under 25 singles: Dan Wakeman (Carterton) 21, L Wilkinson (Banbury Central) 13; S Watts (Watlington) 21, G May (Headington) 14. Two wood singles: S Richens (Carterton) 16, J Philpott (Headington) 11; M Sykes (Banbury Borough) 16, A Prew (Carterton) 6.

FINALS LINE-UP

(Oxford City & County, Sunday)

Triples (10am): C Whitehead, N Lewis & H Watts (Headington) v S Richens, Ro Clanfield & B Sparkes (Carterton).

Fours (10am): R Pink, J Thompson, M Workman & P Hooley (Bicester) v A Buttress, Ge Moon, Gr Moon, M Sykes (Banbury Borough).

Pairs (2pm): N Lewis & M Charlett (Headington) v J Philpott & I Snowdon (Headington).

Singles (2pm): A Prew (Carterton) v M Sykes (Banbury Borough).

Under 25 singles (2pm): Dan Wakeman (Carterton) v S Watts (Watlington).

Two wood singles (4pm): S Richens (Carterton) v M Sykes (Banbury Borough).

  • HEADINGTON bowed out of the National Top Club Championship with a 3-2 defeat at Bletchley Town in the fifth round.