26 year old Harry Goodwin caused one of the biggest upsets of the 2024 Imagine Cruising World Indoor Bowls Singles championships when he defeated reigning champion Jamie Walker in a close knit finish that could have seen the result go either way.
Walker made an impressive start against a very tentative Goodwin, virtually sealing the opening set when he went 8-0 ahead after just five ends - and although Goodwin started to come on to a better game, it was too little too late, with Walker chalking up the result 9-3 with an end in hand.
But what a difference in the second set, with Goodwin stringing together four cracking shots on the first end.
However Walker came straight back at him with successive singles followed by a treble to lead 5-4.
But Goodwin, the English, British and Under 25 IIBC (International Indoor Bowls Council) champion showed just why he was a 'Sponsor's pick', as he dug deep and rolled in counts on four of the concluding five ends to win the set 10-6 to set up a three end shoot out.
Goodwin got the 'heads up' on the first end, then a great movement of the jack from Walker, plus a missed running last bowl by Goodwin saw the match level at one end all.
Then in a pulsating third end the Kent plasterer sat behind the jack with his third bowl and with his last delivery Walker opted to draw the shot and just marginally missed by a whisker and bowed out 2-1.
RESULT
WORLD INDOOR BOWLS OPEN SINGLES QUARTER FINALS
SQF 1 Harry Goodwin (Eng) bt *Holder Jamie Walker (End/1) 3-9, 10-6, 2-1.
