ENGLISH Bowling Federation president Paul Bennett and women’s president Joan Mousley were full of praise for the Northants county when he attended its annual presentation lunch at Orton Hall Hotel in Peterborough on Sunday (September 24).
“The hospitality and location are fantastic,” Bennett told the 100 guests, many of whom compete in the Peterborough and Stamford Leagues ” the next five county functions I am attending will have a lot to live up to. Any county would have been proud of the excellent show you have put on.”
County presidents Tony and Rita Mace – who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary – were equally proud of the performances of their respective men and women bowlers though for only the second time since 2012, no individuals had managed to capture a national title.
However, a team of men’s committee executives, had claimed the coveted Eversley Trophy in April and Northants, led by Dick Ford, carried off the team prize during the Federation Potters Week.
Other notable achievements included the Newton Trophy side losing narrowly in the final at Skegness and Simon Law and Chris Morton (Parkway) beaten only with the last bowl of their outdoor EBF mixed pairs final.
Blackstones bowlers from Stamford dominated the trophy haul with the club’s Adam Warrington picking up three outdoor titles – the two-bowl and champion of champions singles and the two-bowl triples with Jon Earl and Martyn Dolby – as well as the indoor mixed triples with Dolby and Ketton’s Christine Ford.
Dolby also won singles trophies on both surfaces, as did Stephen Harris in the Under 25s, with the Blackstones women claiming both the outdoor under 25 singles and two-bowl triples.
Yaxley’s Kath Browning won three outdoor trophies – two with Viv Hempsall – in the senior pairs and three-bowl triples, while Julie Masters won both two-bowl and senior singles.
Whittlesey Manor stalwart, the evergreen Martin Welsford was voted player of the year for his Adams Trophy campaign, with Cliff Watson getting the Newton Trophy award for his efforts as captain in steering the team to the final.
Retiring women’s competition secretary Janet Duffy received a gift and a bouquet for her efforts in the role over 25 years.
Said President Rita Mace: ” We owe janet a real debt of gratitude for the part she has played in the Federation over so many years. She will be such a hard act to follow.”
