It was a week of high drama, frayed nerves, and ultimate triumph at the Aviva National Bowls Finals 2025 in Royal Leamington Spa. Bletchingley Bowling Club’s very own Ava Karanth, partnered with the talented Yasmina Hazan from Southey, represented Surrey in the Women’s Junior Pairs, embarking on a journey that would capture the hearts and minds of everyone back at the club and end in a spectacular victory.
The competition was fierce, with a total of 28 of the best junior pairs from across the country vying for the coveted title. With her mother, Samantha, and proud grandad, Peter, cheering her on from the side-lines in Warwickshire, the stage was set for an unforgettable tournament.
Back at home, the Bletchingley Bowling Club (BBC) WhatsApp channel was electric with anticipation, providing a running commentary that tracked every nail-biting moment.
Proceedings kicked off with a bold declaration from one member: should any Bletchingley player win at the National Finals, they would streak across the green in celebration! While some suggested postponing the spectacle to 2026 to avoid distracting the players, the excitement was palpable.
The Road to the Final
Preliminary Round: Wednesday 13th August, 12:15 pm Surrey (Ava & Yaz) vs Devon South (Holly Whitting, Ella Crouch)
The campaign began. Early updates showed a tight start, with Surrey leading 3-2 after 4 ends. But the girls soon found their rhythm. A huge 4 shots on the fifth end took the score to 8-2. They didn’t look back, extending their lead to 11-3 after 7 ends. The dominance continued, and with last year’s champions knocked out in the process, Ava and Yaz secured a resounding 20 – 6 victory, conceding after 15 ends.
Round One: Wednesday 13th August, 6:00 pm Surrey (Ava & Yaz) vs Worcestershire (Izzie White, Maddie Burgess)
The evening match presented a formidable challenge against the previous year’s winners. Grandad Peter took over commentary duties. “Ava’s first game went well,” he reported, before noting the tough opposition. The match was a tense, see-saw battle. It was 9 all after 9 ends, then 10 all after 11. Worcestershire pulled ahead, and after dropping 4 shots on end 13, Surrey were suddenly up against it.
Trailing by 5 with two ends to play, the dream seemed to be slipping away. But then, a moment of magic. “Just picked up a 5. Only 1 behind with 1 end to go,” Peter typed, the tension palpable. Surrey were holding shot on the final end when their opponents killed it. On the replayed end, Surrey were holding 3. The opposition fired twice to save the game but missed. In an incredible turnaround, Surrey picked up a 4 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The final score: 18 – 17. The BBC WhatsApp channel erupted.
Quarter-Finals: Thursday 14th August, 11:45 am Surrey (Ava & Yaz) vs Durham (Olivia Lewis, Sophie Wood)
Peter was back on commentary, opening with a classic racing analogy: “The horses are parading ready for the off… We are up against Durham let’s hope we can put them out to pasture.” His hopes were realised in spectacular fashion. After dropping a single shot on the first end, Surrey stormed into an unstoppable lead: 6-1 after 3 ends, 17-1 after 7, and a staggering 25-1 after 10. The game concluded after just 12 ends with a final score of 28 – 2. Surrey were into the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals: Thursday 14th August, 2:45 pm Surrey (Ava & Yaz) vs Somerset (Madi King, Imogen Cracknell)
If the quarter-final was a sprint, the semi-final was a gritty, tactical marathon. The scores remained incredibly close throughout. Surrey were 4-3 up, then 6-7 down. After 12 ends it was 9 all, and after 14 ends, 10 all. One club member messaged, “I have no finger nails left!”
With just two ends to go, Surrey dug deep to pull ahead 13-10. They held their nerve on the final end to secure their place in the final. “SURREY ARE IN THE FINALS. 16 – 10 winners against Somerset,” Peter announced. The channel was once again flooded with hearts, clapping emojis, and messages of pure joy.
The Grand Final: Friday 15th August, 12:00 pm
Surrey (Ava & Yaz) vs Hertfordshire (Rhianna Russell, Reba Powell-Birley)
The final day arrived, but not without a little controversy. The Bletchingley Club Captain Graham Bickley discovered the Women’s Junior Pairs final wasn’t being live-streamed, prompting a passionate comment on the Bowls England website: “Your mission is to ‘Promote and develop the sport’ however you are failing to promote when you can’t live stream finals… YouTube is the biggest platform which youngsters use and you’re missing a great opportunity.”
With supporters at home unable to watch, commentary duty fell to Ava’s mum, Samantha. Her updates painted a picture of calm dominance. “We are 6-2 up currently.” “And 3 to us it’s now 10-2.” “10 ends played… 15-3 after 11 ends.”
A brief wobble had Samantha admitting, “15-5 I’m sweating,” but the girls quickly regained control. With four ends to go, the score was 16-6. As they moved to 18-9 with just two ends to play, the realisation dawned.
Then, the message everyone was waiting for: “and they have won”.
The final score was 19 – 9 after 17 ends. Ava Karanth and Yaz Hazan were the National Women’s Junior Pairs Champions!
The Bletchingley Bowling Club WhatsApp channel experienced pure pandemonium. It was a victory celebrated not just by two exceptional young players and their family on the green at Leamington Spa, but by an entire community back home who followed every bowl with bated breath.
Congratulations to Ava and Yaz on an incredible, hard-fought, and thoroughly deserved victory. You have done yourselves, your families, your county, and Bletchingley Bowling Club immensely proud.
And as the perfect cherry on top of a spectacular week…
Ava was also awarded her county badge—a wonderful recognition of her talent and commitment to the sport.
Now, about that celebratory streak…
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