Dick Noble receives the presidential chain of office from Tony Mace.
DICK NOBLE has been invested as the new president of the Northants Bowling Federation, determined to improve the county’s competitive record and fight for the status of smaller counties.
The current holder of the Northants senior pairs title and chairman of West Ward Bowls Club, struck a combative chord when he succeeded Tony Mace (Whittlesey Manor) in the presidential role for the next two years, after serving as his deputy.
Noble, formerly an uncompromising footballer, told the annual meeting that even though Northants was recognised widely as punching above its weight in national individual events, he wanted to target the major team competitions and challenge the successes of the bigger counties including Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.
He said that while Northants perhaps didn’t have the resources, they certainly had the talent. He also wanted to fight on Northants behalf to keep smaller counties like North Cambs in the Federation.
Noble (70) added:”I’m sure over the next two years we are capable of bringing home more trophies than ever. We can prove we are better than the bigger counties starting with reaching the Derbyshire Trophy final (Inter-county indoor championship) in April.”
Retiring president Mace said he had been proud to serve the NBF and thanked all those who had helped over his period of office, reporting that the highlights had been retaining the Eversley Trophy and, in the outdoor season, the county winning the 2-bowl rinks and two-bowl singles national titles at Skegness.
He particularly paid tribute to competition secretary Barry Lawrence who is retiring after almost a decade in the job but will continue use to serve as competition results secretary. Melvyn Beck will take over the administrative role alongside his other duties as secretary and EBF delegate.
Other officers re-elected included Treasurer Les Sharp, who reported a profit for the year of £245, Adams and Newton captains (Jon Earl and Cliff Watson respectively) and Northants A (James Harford) and Northants B (Malcolm Squires) in the Derbyshire Trophy.
Among other matters reported to the annual meeting was the welcome return into the Northants Federation fold of Wittering Bowls Club which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019. The club’s members will be eligible for both indoor and outdoor competitions forthwith.
Key future dates in 2019 include: March 17- NBF & NWBF indoor finals (at Stamford IBC); April 14 – Eversley final (Newark IBC); April 23-28 – EBF & EWBF indoor finals (Newark); July 14 – Fed finals (Blackstones); August 17-24 – EBF &EWBF outdoor finals (Skegness); September 22 – Presentation lunch (Orton Hall Hotel).
The EBF & EWBF outdoor finals at Skegness in 2020 will be a week earlier than usual from August 15-22. BW
