VETERAN Madge Zimnoch rolled back the years to win a shock York Indoor Bowling Club's league play-offs title at the age of 82.

She was part of the winning Ladies Fours side which spanned the generations, teaming up with 14-year-old Zoe Eagles, Shirley Stacey and June Clayton to pull off a major surprise.

The underdogs beat red-hot favourites Carol Instone and Joan Jackson, neither of whom had lost a final this year, together with Joyce Chelin and Sue Taylor.

Zimnoch's side always had the upper hand and led from start to finish only allowing Instone's side to get within two shots at 9-7 after eight ends before pulling away again to win 28-15.

No fewer than six teams and a host of individuals were playing in their first finals.

In the Veterans' Fours, Ken Hutson's team were level with Dennis Haw at 15-15 with five ends to play before Hutson's side won three successive ends. Haw's made a fight of it winning the last two, but lost 19-18 to give Hutson his first title in the event.

The Ladies Pairs had to go to an extra end after Madge Zimnoch's side dropped a five on the 21st after they looked to have the game won only for Dot Kennelly's team to capitalise and score a two to take the honours.

Phil Emmerson's team built up an early 7-2 lead which proved vital as they beat Tex Stevens' side 21-18 in the Men's Triples.

Former England outdoor singles champion Paul Allenby also claimed his first indoor title as he and Simon Grant beat Dave Poynter and Harley Wenham, also appearing in their first final, 22-12.

Fred Clayden's team won five out of the last six ends to go from 10-9 ahead to win the Veterans' Triples 20-11 against Alf Cahill's trio.

John Stroughair's side were on top form in the Men's Fours, leading from start to finish to beat Cliff Hunter's team 22-9.

Carol Instone's team were always in full control in the Ladies Triples as they beat Pat Bracken's team 32-11. Ken Robertson's three overran Stuart Smith's team, who had already beaten Robertson's side twice in the league this season, 28-3.

June Clayton's team made the most of a good opening which saw them 10-0 ahead after only five ends then 21-3 after 12 in their Mixed Fours Final to beat Eric Hodgson's team 25-10.

In the Mixed Pairs, Mal and Trish Harrison were tied at 5-5 against Frank Turner and Joan Jackson, who were representing Brian Gray, before they won eight of the next nine ends to move 20-4 ahead and finished as 27-12 winners.

Maureen Thomas stopped Ladies Singles winner Betty Richardson from doing the double when she turned a 12-9 deficit into a 21-13 victory to claim the Senior Ladies Singles title.

Adam Liddell also came back to overturn an 11-9 scoreline to beat Adam Tattersall in the Under-15s Singles Final 21-14.

Alwyn Johnson's side won the Eric Hopwood Trophy for the first time in five years when he, Dave McCowan and Ken Walker beat last year's runners-up Alan Storey, Frank Turner and Eddie Howcroft 18-12.

Updated: 08:54 Thursday, April 28, 2005