Emma's dream week continues
"I can't believe it - I've never won anything before!" But Emma Broad has now, two titles in the space of six days in fact, after another brilliant display made her the new Shropshire Ladies Merit champion.
For Saturday night's triumph at Bridgnorth meant the bubbly St Georges bowler quickly added to her breakthrough Telford Ladies Merit success at Trench the previous weekend.
And the disbelieving Broad added: "It's just amazing. I never won anything as a junior because I didn't start playing until I was 18, first with Hanmer in the Malpas League and then Malpas C in the Whitchurch League.
"It wasn't until I moved to Bridgnorth with mum and dad that I really took it up seriously."
Broad got her hands on the county trophy by beating Tracy Ryan 21-7 in a final staged at Bridgnorth as part of that club's centenary celebrations.
But while Broad was overjoyed, spare a thought for Bicton's Ryan who was losing in her second county Merit final.
"She started off really well, but I had played so well in my other two matches that, once I got going, I was okay," said Broad.
The county title was a perfect early birthday present for the Bridgnorth-based Environment Agency worker, who is 26 tomorrow.
It also made up for the huge disappointment of Shropshire Ladies missing out on the County Championship final at Blackpool's home of crown green bowls, the Waterloo.
"I have never been to the Waterloo but my ambition was always to play there and I was hoping it was going to be with Shropshire in the county final.
"But we lost to Staffordshire in the semi-finals, I didn't play very well and I sulked all week!"
Now she can look forward to appearing there in her own right in the Ladies Champion of Champions on September 24 - and she can't wait to get her first look at the venue and play on it, with team-mate Alison Cotton as her lucky marker.
Broad just managed to beat Evelyn Jones in her first game at Bridgnorth but gave a hint of what was to come by beating the reigning champion of the last two years, Marie Rhodes, 21-14 in the semi-finals. At the same stage Ryan defeated Sue Smith 21-10.
And Broad, who also plays for Bylet in the Mid Shropshire League on Fridays, is taking bowls so seriously now that she may decide to give up her other sporting passion - hockey.
Quarter-final scores:
Sue Smith (Coddon) 21, Tracy Wraight (Meadow Ladies) 15; Pat Oliver (Bicton) 12, Tracy Ryan (Bicton) 21; Emma Broad (St Georges) 21, Evelyn Jones (Telepost) 19; Marie Rhodes (Wrock Wood) 21, Helen Clee (Wrock Wood) 12.
By MALCOLM FLETCHER
