City of Ely Bowls star Ellen Falkner admitted she ‘lost her touch’ during her shock semi-final exit at the National Indoor Bowls Championships.

Ely Standard: Ely's Greg Harlow.Ely's Greg Harlow. (Image: Archant)

Falkner and clubmate Greg Harlow stormed into the semi-finals of the women’s singles and men’s singles respectively at Melton Mowbray with resounding quarter final victories, but both faltered in the last four.

The biggest shock of the weekend – and arguably the tournament – took place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Singles, where Falkner spurned a 16-3 lead against Amy Stanton to crash out.

Falkner, who was seen as the favourite prior to the tie, needed only two shots for victory and a place in the final when she led 19-7 four ends later - but left-hander Stanton stuck to her guns, increased the length of the jack, changed hands, scored two full house counts of four, and eventually pipped the favourite 21-10 after 21 ends.

“I am more disappointed than words can say,” said Falkner.

“19-7 is a convincing lead, but somehow it slipped away. I lost my touch, and Amy took advantage, and played really well. She deserved to win.”

Falkner, who struck gold three times in the Commonwealth Games - in Manchester (2002), New Delhi (2010) and Glasgow (2014) - has previously won the national indoor pairs, triples and fours titles, but has yet to put her name on the singles trophy.

City of Ely’s attentions then turned towards Harlow’s semi-final clash with Spalding’s Martin Spencer.

Harlow, who had lifted the title at the tournament in 2002, 2011 and last year, looked on course to retain his crown after storming past South Shields’ David Bolt 21-16 in the quarter finals, but the former world champion came up against an inspired Spencer – who would go on to win the tournament – who duly dispatched him 21-10.