Martin celebrates county double

Double county indoor bowls champion Martin Heitzman proudly clutches his trophies

The 22-year-old Falaise player was in stunning form in the Sussex County Indoor Bowls Association Finals at Eastbourne & District IBC. Heitzman clinched the Under-25 Singles in the morning and the Championship Singles in the afternoon.

He said: “It was a really good day, probably the best day of my bowling career. Being a double county champion, especially to win the county singles, is quite a nice feeling. The people I played were pretty good players.”

Heitzman retained the under-25 crown after a remarkable run of scoring which saw him come from 2-0 down after two ends to win 22-2 against Seb Morley (Egerton Park), a feat he described as “crazy”.

He continued his fine form against Bill Murphy (Worthing Pavilion) in the Championship Singles decider, winning 11 of the 17 ends on the way to a 23-8 success. It was the first time he had won the men’s title.

Heitzman will take part in his third England trial at Royal Leamington Spa on May 25. Last year he qualified for the national outdoor championships in five events, reaching a quarter-final and semi-final.

Heitzman has been bowling for 13 years, around seven of them with Falaise. He has recently moved from Hastings to Uckfield having taken up a job in Reigate.

Falaise celebrated another county triumph after the triple of Steve Jeapes, Mick Grimes and Ken Taber won 20-3 against the Adur team of John Godfrey, Davis Cornwell and Jack Fairhall. The match was conceded at 13 ends. The trophies were presented by Sussex County IBA president Allan Hilton.