2025 Hong Kong Classic - Day Eight Report

Congratulations to Jess Weir, Alison Lamont, Darren Gualtieri and Gary Prunty on winning both the women’s and men’s pairs at the 2025 Hong Kong Classic, with the Scottish quartet becoming only the second nation in history to claim victory in both pairs’ events in the same year.

In the women’s pairs final, Jess Weir and Alison Lamont overcame recently crowned World Cup women’s pairs champions Cheryl Chan and Helen Cheung from Hong Kong China. The first set was a back-and-forth affair with heads changing hands on several occasions. The Scots eventually managed to gain themselves a two-shot advantage going into the last end, dropping a single shot to clinch the set 7-6. However, the host nation were far from out of the contest and came battling back in the second set with some impressive bowls, coming out on top 3-10 after the nine ends were complete. The match now entered a three-end tie break with Jess and Alison managing to re-group and play some vital bowls at the right times to win 4-2 and secure the title.

Keen to make it a double for Scotland, Darren Gualtieri and Gary Prunty faced off against England’s Harry Goodwin and Dominic McVittie in the men’s pairs final. The first set followed a similar pattern to the women’s pairs final, with their being nothing to separate the two countries going into the last end. England’s lead Harry Goodwin managed to put the jack in the ditch with his last bowl which looked to be a set winning shot, however, Scottish skip Gary Prunty had other ideas and promoted his own bowl right onto the edge of the ditch with his final delivery for shot to take the set. Using this momentum, Darren and Gary moved through the gears in the second set, completing a 14-9 victory to lift the trophy. Impressively, Darren and Gary won all 14 of the men’s pairs matches they competed in throughout the competition.

Well done to all four Scottish players on their amazing performances over the last week to bring home both women’s and men’s pairs titles, a feat which has only previously been achieved by Philippines in 2014.

Session 1:

• Women’s Pairs Final: Jess Weir & Alison Lamont beat Hong Kong China 2-1 (7-6, 3-10 & 4-2)

Session 2:

• Men’s Pairs Final: Darren Gualtieri & Gary Prunty beat England 2-0 (8-7 & 14-9)