Headington's Colin Whitehead was crowned the Bowls England National Over 55 Singles champion at Worthing.

The 58-year-old captured the title with a 21-17 win over Joe Stevens (Epsom Park, Surrey) in the final at Beach House Park yesterday.

It capped a terrific effort from Whitehead, who had to come from behind in his semi-final to defeat Ken Hann (Blandford, Dorset).

Whitehead was trailing 17-15, but a two and a four saw him triumph 21-17.

The Headington veteran had beaten Duncan McGovern (Frome Selwood, Somerset) 21-16 in the last eight.

That came after he opened his challenge by crushing Attilio Campiani (Mill, Middlesex) 21-6 in the first round.

A Headington trio, skipped by Craig Nicoll, reached the National Triples quarter-finals before bowing out 21-13 to eventual winners Hales-worth Angel (Suffolk).

Nicoll, Ian Henwood and Paul Mabbutt opened up by beating Alkesh Vadher, Darren King and Lee Dickson (South London, Surrey) 22-12.

They then edged past Barrie Smith, Neil Kunc and Don Fowkes (Bridgwater, Somerset) 17-14.

Nicoll’s triple roared into the last eight by hammering Michael Bowley, Adam Poynton and Simon Skelton (Stute, Derbyshire) 25-6.

But their run came to an end when Mark Todd and father and son duo John and Ian Catchpole proved too strong in the last eight.

County champions Nathan Lewis, Nick Rae-Welsh and Howard Watts, also from Headington, slipped to a 16-13 defeat against Steve Dilks, Chris Kelly and Mark Walton (Nafferton, Yorkshire) in the first round.

OTHER RESULTS

Pairs prelim round: J Bland & B Lambourne (Shiplake Village) 11, I Parnell & C Rumsby (Ipswich) 24.

1st round: J Philpott & C Carpenter (Banbury Borough) 11, A Boatwright & R Shields (Horton Kirby, Kent) 24.

Mixed fours 1st round: H Watts, N Lewis (both Headington), K Hawes (Oxford City & County) & J Harrington (Brackley) 20, C Cranham, L May (both Aldershot Traction), K Cranham & J Philip (both Cove) 23.