ESSEX'S Simon Bird formed one half of the duo that secured the English Petanque Association Over-50s Doubles title.

Along with Kent's Nic Baxter, the Eastern Counties Region player opened with a 13-0 win in their first game and they went on to win all their group games to progress to the main competition.

Things were not so easy for them in the quarter-finals as they had to come back from an 11-0 deficit before winning 13-12 but a 13-7 semi-final win propelled them into the final where they won 13-2 to lift the EPA Over-50s title.

The competition, held at Arlesey, also saw Trevor Blows and Dave Bird from the Eastern Counties competing.

Blows and Bird started well with a 13-10 win, but after failing to win any more in their group, they dropped into the Plate competition where they bowed out in the quarter-finals.