GARETH Jones was crowned Drakes Pride BIG Smash champion after winning a thrilling final against Danny Rodgers.

With 128 players from across the UK playing for the £1,300 top prize and the title of BIG Smash champion, there was a lot at stake and some thrilling games played.

Play commenced at both Dalton Cricket Club and at Askam Bowling Club at 8.40am, with 64 players in action on either green and 16 from each making it through to the final 32 round at Dalton Cricket Club.

There were some cracking games in the first round, and the high standard continued for the rest of the day.

Reigning champion Danny Ferris lost his crown by going out to Matt Gilmore, while Paul Lewis bowled really well to beat Barry Lowden, and last year’s runner-up Rodgers was hitting fine form with a 23-8 win over Jordan Park.

Into the quarter-finals and Jones began to turn the screw with a great 20-13 win over favourite Ian Nicholson, while Rodgers played well again to breeze past Lewis 20-6.

Paul Clark won a thriller against George Podmore, from Stoke, to seal his place in the semis and Matt Gilmore beat local James Duffin in the final few ends in a game that could really have gone the local lad’s way.

Two fantastic semi-finals followed with the atmosphere absolutely electric, as three local bowlers reached this stage, which was great to see.

The Rodgers versus Gilmore match went to the final end, with Rodgers bowling a fantastic wood to earn a single and progress.

Jones and Clark battled it out in the early stages, the lead changing hands constantly, but then Jones took control from end 15 onwards and at end 18, with Clark unable to win, he forfeited the game.

The final was a thriller which was decided on end 20. Jones started well, leading 6-4 in the early stages.

Rodgers then won a vital power end and the pair remained neck and neck until end 18 when Rodgers slipped into a 14-12 lead.

It was 14-13 going into the final end when Jones ramped up the pressure with his lead bowl just six inches off the jack.

Rodgers just sailed past with his first bowl, with Jones attempting to block it with his second.

Rodgers had the final wood knowing that whoever won this end would be the champion, but he just missed both the jack and Jones’s wood.

Jones raised both arms in the air in triumph after becoming the 2016 champion and claiming the £1,300 first prize and trophy, with Rogers collecting the £800 runners-up prize for the second year in succession.

Organisers Neil Jones and Robert Lindsay thanked all the event sponsors – Drakes Pride, Andrew Rigg Carpets, Kimberly-Clark, Brathay Lodge, Chequers Hotel, Furness Building Society, Event Caddie, Job Vacancies Direct.com, Virginia House, Piping Hot Plumbing and Heating, The Golden Ball, The Bridge Inn, Auto Diesel Technics, The Black Dog and South Lakes Lettings.

Thanks also to everyone who gave up time to mark cards and boards, the measures, the bookmaker, the groundsmen as the greens were in fantastic condition at both venues, the bar staff and all at Dalton Cricket Club and Askam Bowling Club.