Gourlay equals the record of former England international Carol Ashby, now representing Scotland, while Foster was denied the distinction of being only the second player to complete a pairs double, having retained the pairs title with fellow countryman Alex Marshall twenty four hours earlier.
Stavrou added a first mixed pairs title to the two ladies matchplay championships she won in 2009 and 2010, and it will surely be only a matter of time before young Packwood, playing in her first World Bowls Tour final, has a title on her role of honour. There was little indication of the drama to follow when Stavrou and Gourlay cruised home 9-3 in the opening set after being 3-0 down. Packwood and Foster turned matters around in the second and the match seemed destined for a tie-break when they led 7-3 with two ends to play.
However, they failed to put the set to bed on the penultimate end, Stavrou and Gourlay took full advantage with a treble, and Foster had to conjure up a match-saving strike with his last bowl of the final end to extend the contest. Gourlay produced one of his trademark forehand runners to collect the jack with his last delivery to take the opening end honours in the tie-break. As the pressure mounted, back came Packwood and Foster to level matters, and facing a championship lie against on the third and decisive end, Foster was only a fraction of an inch away from falling in for shot.
Afterwards Gourlay said: “It's always a bit special to win a world title, particularly on this occasion as it was Debbie's first mixed pairs success and I'm looking forward to defending it next year. The way the ladies played was a great advertisement for the women's game.” Stavrou added: “I'm very happy and it was a delight playing with David who was absolutely fantastic over the three matches. I thought Kerry played well and I had to work hard for it, and, of course, Paul is Paul.”
South African qualifier Craig Rimmington, who shook the bowls world when he defeated five-time world champion Alex Marshall in the opening round of the singles, came down to earth with a mighty bump against the evergreen Andy Thomson. Rimmington managed only four shots in two sets against the number ten seed as the England captain romped into the quarter-finals with an 11-1, 11-3 victory.
His opponent in the last eight will be England colleague Nicky Brett, the 15th seed knocking out his City of Ely club pairs partner Greg Harlow, installed as the bookies' favourite for the title following the exit of defending champion Paul Foster the previous day. Brett finished with a flourish in the opening set with five shots over the last two ends to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 10-6 victory. Harlow responded by taking the second 9-7, having led 8-4 at one stage, and recovered again after losing the opening end of the tie-break, but it was Brett who had the final say on the final end to provide yet another upset in the championship.
Reorted by Mel Beck
