Kate Herbison was runner up in the Women’s National two-wood singles Championships final held at the Bowls England headquarters in Royal Leamington Spa.
In a closely fought game, Kate lost by just three shots to Rebecca Field, of Norfolk, who is the current British indoor bowls ladies’ singles champion. The score was 15-12.
Kate had won the previous five rounds in order to become one of the two county finalists representing Somerset in this Bowls England championship. Two finalists from each county in England were at Royal Leamington Spa competing for the ‘England Championship’ title.
She was amongst 64 bowlers taking part in the competition which started last Tuesday, August 12. By Wednesday evening, after playing four games on the same day, she had won a place in the final on Thursday, August 14.
The previous weekend, Kate represented Somerset in the Bowls England National Women’s Senior 4-wood Singles competition. After winning three games on Saturday, she played in the quarter finals on Sunday, August 10.
“The weather was horrendous on Sunday – torrential rain held up play for 30 minutes as the greens were flooded,” said Kate.
“After moving the rinks around to avoid the flooded areas, we started again and it continued to rain all morning! We got thoroughly soaked but continued in verry difficult playing conditions.” 
“I (as Somerset) was playing against Gloucestershire. The winner is the first player to win 21 shots. My opponent was winning at 20-18 and I was holding 3 shots to win the game – then she played her final bowl it pushed her own bowl in for the winning shot … game over!”
It was Kate’s first time playing at Leamington, she said. “it was a wonderful experience and I’ve been greeted and hugged by so many well-wishers and bowlers from all over England – it’s been amazing! You could say I was ‘bowled over’!”
It’s the first time a Congresbury Bowling Club woman has reached the final stages of a National Championship – let alone two in the same year.
