GARY Ellis lifted the £1,500 prize as two greats contested the Supply Chains Open Final at Tetley Walkers on Sunday.

Eliis, from Whitefield, raced into a 16-7 lead and although Kendal’s Martin Gilpin fought back he eventually succumbed 21-13.

With total prize money of £4,200, the event attracted the best bowlers in the country among the starting field of 128.

Earlier in the day, Ellis beat St Oswalds players Phil Davies 21-11 and Jason Lockett 21-18, after being well down in the latter.

In the semi final he met Sheffield-based Paul Bailey who had dispatched both Simon Coupe and Hugh Hornby.

Ellis prevailed 21-19 after a tense match.

In the other side of the draw, Gilpin narrowly got over the line against local favourite Lee Johnstone 21-20 before beating Chris McDonald, from Congleton, 21-8 and stopping the mighty GI Wilson 21-17 in the last four.

The event was the second of 10 in the newly formed Warrington Bowls Circuit, with the Livewire ranking table now seeing Lee Johnstone at number one, while Jason Lockett and Phil Davies have joined the top 10.

Supply Chain Open last 16: L Johnstone 20, M Gilpin 21, C Barton 14, C McDonald 21, A Hughes, G Cookson W/O, A Thompson 11, G I Wilson 21, S Coupe 18, P Bailey 21, S Davies 13, H Hornby 21, J Lockett 21, C Wraight 20, G Ellis 21, P Davies 11.

Quarter finals: Gilpin 21, McDonald 8, Cookson 18, Wilson 21, Bailey 21, Hornby 16, Lockett 18, Ellis 21.

Semi finals: Gilpin 21, Wilson 17, Bailey 19, Ellis 21.

Final: Gilpin 13, Ellis 21.

 

LIVEWIRE RANKING TABLE

1 Lee Johnstone 7pts

2 Damian Morrison 6pts

3 John Brown 5pts

4 Brendan Brady 4pts

5 Jason Lockett 4pts

6 Karen Galvin 3pts

7 John Taylor 3pts

8 Kevin Wainwright 3pts

9 Danny Watson 3pts

10 Phil Davies 3pts

The third leg of the Warrington Bowls Circuit is the Warrington Catholic Bowls League Individual Merit which is to be played on April 26, May 3 and May 24.