IN a sustained last-minute surge, Glenn Farley has taken the Okehampton Smallbore Club championship from the almost-certain winner Paul Batten

After 14 rounds of the Devon County Winter League, on which the championship is decided, Glenn was five points behind Paul. The gap remained the same after round 15, but in round 16 he picked up two points, pulled back another one in round 17 and when Paul had a disastrous 94 in his last round to Glenn?s 98, the title went to Glenn by three points.

Overall, the club has had a successful winter season in the county league apart from the E team, which has struggled in division 8.

The best placing came from the B team, who won division 4 by four clear points, having won 14 of their 18 matches; both the A and C teams were runners-up, the A team in division 2 where they were five points adrift of the winners and the C team in division 5, four points behind the winners. The D team finished in fourth place in division 7, 10 points adrift.

Results: Round 17 ? Okehampton A: Paul Batten 98, Bernard Rendle 97, Glenn Farley 99, Graham Spier 96, Dave Denford 96. 486 beat Rousdon A 482.

Okehampton B: Ivan Trickey 92, John Pettitt 94, Dave Saunders 95, Sarah Hortop 94, Malcolm Flemons 95. 470, beat Pinhoe D 468.

Okehampton C: Di Johnson 95, Glyn Flemons 95, Lucy Bullock 94, Vic Floyd 95, John Cook 93. 472, beat Cullompton 434.

Okehampton D: Graham Mackriell 87, John Southwood 94, Norman Beeden 95, Joe Chamness 96, Richard Hearne 92. 464, beat Pinhoe F 411.

Okehampton E: Ernie Southcott 89, Roger Denton 91, Chris Short 98, Jason Ponsford 92, Richard Jefferies 76. 446, beat average 379.

Round 18: Okehampton A: Paul Batten 94, Bernard Rendle 96, Glenn Farley 98, Graham Spier 96, Dave Denford 94. 478, lost to Bideford B 480.

Okehampton B: Ivan Trickey 96, John Pettitt 93, Dave Saunders 96, Sarah Hortop 96, Malcolm Flemons 96. 477 beat average 472.

Okehampton C: Di Johnson 94, Glyn Flemons 91, Lucy Bullock 96, Vic Floyd 95, John Cook 93. 469, beat Manaton A 467.

Okehampton D: Graham Mackriell 92, John Southwood 95, Norman Beeden 86, Joe Chamness 91, Richard Hearne 89. 453, beat Sidbury C 388.

Okehampton E: Ernie Southcott 83, Roger Denton 92, Chris Short 90, Jason Ponsford 92, Richard Jefferies 95. 452 beat Dunsford B 367.

In the North Devon League, both the A and B teams won their round 15 matches, the A team beating Tiverton B by 6 points and the B team defeating Tiverton D by 9 points.

Scores: Okehampton A: Graham Spier 97, Ivan Trickey 95, Glenn Farley 96, Bernard Rendle 98. 386, bet Tiverton B 380.

Okehampton B: Glyn Flemons 94, Malcolm Flemons 96, Di Johnson 94, John Pettitt 94. 378 beat Tiverton D 369.