Easter Monday 2025
As we approached the Easter Bank Holiday Monday, we were all enjoying the warm sunny weather. I had high hopes we would buck the trend of recent years and enjoy a warm sunny day for this prestigious tournament. Unfortunately, Monday was sandwiched in between two beautiful sunny days on Sunday and yesterday and the rain clouds gathered to bring us a soggy day. So, we soldiered on and made the best of the day.
What a day it turned out to be!!
Easter Monday saw the 43rd staging of this tournament. A tournament that has attracted the very best players our sport has produced. Names such as Allan Thompson, Brian Duncan, the late great Ken Strutt, Robert Hitchen, John Bancroft, the late Roy Price, Andrew Spragg, Tommy Johnstone, Peter Varney, Lee Lawton and Chris Brown.
This year we amassed a cracking line up again, a mix of experience, youth, local talent and arguably the best two players our sport has seen – Greg Smith and Callum Wraight.
The top half of the draw contained a heady combination of experience in the shape of Scott Simpson, Stuart Rutter, David East and Gordon Hawkins, youth in the shape of Derbyshire’s Josh Furniss and four quality players making their debut in the tournament; Yorkshire County star Josh Mordue, reigning Staffordshire Merit champion Peter Cookson, Cheshire County star Ben Phillips and NL&F county star and BCGBA Board Member Steve Clamp. The first four matches had the worst of the conditions, battling surface water on the immaculate Hawkins green. Josh Mordue impressed right from the word go with an opening win against 2024 runner up Stuart Rutter 21-4. As you would probably expect from a Yorkie, Josh headed for the corners immediately and played them with a high degree of accuracy. Stuart had no option but to simply say ‘well done. Josh was too good for me today’. In the last 16 Josh was paired with Staffordshire County player Nick Wyer. Josh was always in control of the game leading 10-2, 14-8 and 20-11. However, after three doubles and a single Nick rallied to 18-20. It was to be Josh who would get over the line with a 21-18 win. Josh’s quarter final opponent was Potteries player Josh Towey. Mordue’s good form continued as he earned himself a 21-7 win. With both debutante’s adapting very well to the Hawkins green, the semi final between Josh Mordue and Ben Phillips was a good prospect for a close match. Ben had acquitted himself very well in his first three matches. Josh got out of the starting blocks like Usain Bolt and raced to a 12-0 lead. This was a lead Ben was unable to recover from on this occasion and Josh earned his place in the 2025 final with a 21-12 win.
The bottom half of the draw did not disappoint in terms of talent. As in the top half of the draw, the bottom half had a good mix of experience and youth, in addition to the mighty Greg Smith and Callum Wraight. At the start of the tournament, you would be forgiven for predicting a semi final clash between Greg and Callum. However, as we know bowls is a funny old game always throwing up a surprise!!! It was to be Derbyshire star Dan Petcher who was to emerge from the bottom half of the draw and earn himself a place in his first final of an event he has competed in for many years. Dan’s opening match was against former Staffordshire Merit champion Spencer McCarthy. Dan raced into a 14-2 lead and was the eventual winner with a 21-11 win. Dan’s second round opponent was Staffordshire County player Dan Statham. Dan was a last-minute entry into the event following the late withdrawal of Darrell Handley. Dan was not at all fazed being faced with a 1st round tie against reigning champion and 5-time winner Greg Smith. Greg was in control of the game at 12-4, 15-6 and 17-10. At 13-18 down, Dan strung together 6 winning ends to put an end to Greg’s hopes of progressing in the tournament, earning himself a 21-18 win. Petch found himself 11-17 down against Dan, who was clearly still flying high from his first-round victory. However, Petch did exactly what Dan had done to Greg and strung together 6 winning ends to bring Dan back to earth with a bump with a 21-17 win. In the quarter final, Petch was paired with Staffordshire County star Kevin Hocknull. Kev has had a good couple of years in this event getting to the latter stages and would have been looking to go one better in 2025. However, it was not to be and Dan earned himself a semi final place with a 21-10 win. Dan’s semi-final opponent was fellow Derbyshire County teammate young Louie Furniss. Louie had struck great form in his earlier rounds, defeating prolific tournament player Darren Plenderleith and the mighty Callum Wraight. At 7-6 it was looking a close encounter. Three doubles and a single saw Dan extend his lead to 14-7. A further 3 doubles and a single saw Dan close the game with a 21-10 win and a place in the 2025 final.
So, the stage was set for a final clash between two great players – Josh Mordue and Dan Petcher. It was Dan who commanded control over the game with a 6-2 and 13-6 lead. Dan’s good form continued to earn himself a 21-14 win and claim the £500 first prize and title of 2025 Les/Mel Evans MBE Invitation Classic Champion!
Congratulations to Dan who was absolutely delighted with his victory, having competed in the event on many occasions. Commiserations to our gallant runner-up Josh Mordue, who showed his class all day to reach the final on a green never seen before in his first visit to the event. Josh will be looking to go one better in 2026 I am sure and I would not bet against Josh getting his hands on the trophy at some point.
A lot of unseen hard work goes into staging this event.
Thank you to Hawkins Sports and Social Club for hosting our 2025 event, with special mention going to Peter Healy who has been an excellent source of support these past few weeks. Thank you to our sponsors for this year’s event. We could not stage this event without the support of our loyal sponsors and their support is greatly appreciated. Our referee for the day was top class referee Evelyn Hastings. Evelyn spent the whole day out in all weathers making sure proceedings ran smoothly. Thank you so much Evie!! Thanks also go to measurers and markers, especially Kirsty Wyer and Sue Pritchard who between them must have marked dozens of cards!! Thank you so much both.
Thank you to my good friend Elaine Cosgrave who organised the raffle so expertly!! I really appreciate your help Elaine and I promise not to get involved next time!!!!
Thanks go to my other close pals Tracy Baker and Julie Montague for ensuring we were all well fed and watered throughout the day. It is hard work standing up all day cooking and serving food and drink and they did a fantastic job! Thank you so much both.
Finally, thank you to all 32 competitors who made the 2025 event as special as it always is. Without players supporting the event, we could not continue this much-loved competition in honour of two great gents – Les and Mel Evans MBE.
I said in the event programme I will never get used to Mel not being at the helm. This event is forever changed by Mel’s absence. I will always run this tournament in honour of Father and Son and hope I do them both proud.
The day raised £200 for The Mel Evans MBE Foundation.
The tournament will return on Easter Monday 6th April 2026.
