NEIL KEMP’S hopes of picking up a 15th victory in his 24th final at the annual Margate open bowls tournament narrowly came unstuck on Saturday.

The Margate club stalwart whose record is unsurpassed since he first appeared on the scene in 1976 faltered at the last hurdle in the men’s triples.

Kemp and fellow Margate colleagues Alan Walton and Nick Wood went down 17-12 to team-mates Mike Barnes and Terry Coker, and Brian Chalkley (Dane Park), who shared £150.

For Coker this was the second leg of a double as he had previously retained the singles crown.

Wood had better luck in the men’s pairs final when he and another Margate bowler Bob Taylor trimmed Terry Gausby (Ramsgate) and Ray Greenstreet (Dane Park) by 23-13 to snap up £100 apiece.

The ladies triples and £50 each were won by the all-Westbrook line-up of Wendy Christmas, Janet Jackson and Janet Hills.

They defeated Olive Johnston, Sue Mackey (both Westbrook) and Janet Smith (Cliftonville) by 18-8.

New ladies pairs champions are Aileen Grundy (Westbrook) and Jean Roll (Minster), who beat Joyce Hadfield and Beverley Bickerstaff (both Broadstairs) by 27-22 in the final.