KING HENRY ON TOP OF THE WORLD, AGAIN!

LOCAL bowler Jeremy Henry is celebrating again after winning back-to-back World Cup titles in Australia.

Jeremy, who made the move down under several years ago, won the 2013 crown on his home turf at Warilla Bowling Club defeating New Zealander Tony Grantham in last week’s final.

The former Northern Irish international rode a tidal wave of success through the event, remaining undefeated during his ten sectional rubbers to finish the preliminary rounds on top of the ladder, eliminating Malta’s Altona-based Leonard Callus 4-10, 12-1, 5-0 in the semi-final.

In an engrossing final which had the capacity crowd enthralled throughout, Henry took the first set 10-5. Grantham hit back 8-5 in the second before Henry won the tie-break 5-0 after leading 1-0 on the first end then scored three shots in the second, which proved decisive, and one on the third and deciding end.

Henry becomes only the second male to hoist the trophy aloft on multiple occasions, behind Australia’s world number Leif Selby who completed the feat in 2009 and 2010.

Speaking afterwards an ecstatic Henry, who is the bowls co-ordinator at Warilla BC, was delighted to record back-to-back World Cups on his home club’s indoor greens.

“Both of us were playing well - it was just ding-dong,” Henry said.

“I was lucky enough to play that one bowl in the tie-break. If I’d missed that and gone 1-all into the last end it would have been so nerve-racking. Lucky for me Tony missed with his last and put me four up; you shouldn’t be losing a four at this level.

“It feels fantastic to win two in a row, especially here in front of my own crowd, my own club, me working here, fantastic.”

Through the tournament Henry was undefeated in 13 matches.

Grantham made Henry fight tooth and nail for victory and the Kiwi dedicated the final to Australian Mark Casey whose father died suddenly during the tournament.

“Mark was on my side of the draw and I really feel for him,” Grantham said.

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