Westlecot star Neil Smith reflected this week on how close he went to winning the National Indoor Bowls Association men's singles in Nottingham.
The Swindon player reached the final after a terrific run only to miss out to Blackpool's Mark Dawes 21-16, after fighting back from 17-6 down.
Smith said: "I really did think it was going to be my week, I have believed I was going to win it for weeks. In the end I just came up a little short.
"Although a bit disappointed, I would have settled for this at the start of the season."
Smith started the week with a 21-19 win over City of Ely's Nicky Brett.
Smith said: "The game went down to the last bowl for each of us, I was game down with the jack in the ditch and drew within a foot, he then missed with his last."
The second round against Darren Griffith was even tighter, with Smith eventually winning on a measure 21-20.
The match against George Tubby (Acle) was more comfortable for Smith with a 21-14 win.
The semi-final against Bromley's Mike Cheeseman was another thriller, Smith winning 21-20.
"At 20-20 I looked out with one bowl left and him having a back toucher on, I could just see a quarter of the jack and had only one option, to kill the end. I hit it perfectly, it was a 100/1 shot but gave me another chance. On the replayed end, he saved game with his last bowl taking my shot out, it left me 18 inches to win the game, as soon as I let it go I knew it was in, a great feeling."
Clarrie Dunbar's Russell Francis won his first round against Nottingham player Duncan Robinson 21-18, but came unstuck against York's David Attwood and lost 21-5.
Smith and daughter Lucy are playing at Loddon Vale a week today in the EIBA Premier Threes. There will be eight regional tournaments staged throughout the country with each hosting two groups of eight players, competing on a knock out basis, with the winner of each group going forward to a Grand Final on December 18 at Erewash Indoor Bowls Club.
Clarrie are preparing to play Exonia on Saturday in the Wessex League men's regional competition semi-final at Oxford and District Indoor Bowls Club (10.45am).
The other semi-final between Bristol and Bournemouth is being played at the Clarrie Dunbar club in Standerwick at the same time.
The finals of the inaugural North Somerset Indoor Ladies knockout competitions are in Bristol on Saturday afternoon. Jan Dart and Jane Gullick from Purnell (Paulton) will play Clarrie's Kathy Walker and Pat Pitman.
