NORTHANTS bowlers returned empty-handed from the English Bowling Federation national finals at Skegness for the first time since 2017.
They only managed to reach two finals, both in the women’s section, via the Yaxley two-bowl triple of Hazel Bass, Marlene Osborne and Gill King and Ketton pair Helen Tilley and Elaine Upton, but unfortunately both had to settle for the silver medal.
The Yaxley trio lost 9-26 in the final to Cleveland after wins against Durham (20-17) and North Cambs (26-13), while the Ketton duo were edged out 20-22 by Suffolk after defeating Durham (21-15) and Humberside (20-15).
Northants reached four other semi-finals, two of them involving Louise Harris (Blackstones) – under 25 singles and the under 25 open pairs with young Ollie Jeapes, a title she won last year with brother Stephen.
Yaxley’s Les Sharp and Gill King, bidding to regain the senior mixed pairs title they won in 2019, dropped a maximum four count on the penultimate end as they lost 12-17 to the eventual winners from Northumberland following a 17-13 win against North Essex.
The Parkway mixed rink of Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman and James Harford also went out to the champions-elect, Notts, in the last four, losing 14-21 after defeating Norfolk 21-12 and Northumberland 23-21.
In the 22 competitions crammed into four days following a total wash-out on the Thursday – they played on eight rinks for the last two days – Northants bowlers only managed to clear first hurdles in nine of them.
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How Northants bowlers fared:
MEN
2b singles: Stephen Harris (Blackstones) lost opening match, 14-21 v Notts.
4b singles: Tom Newman (Whittlesey Manor) bt Durham 21-12, then lost 13-21 to Derbys, eventual winner.
U25 singles: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) lost opening match, 18-21 to Northumberland.
Veterans singles: Barry Lawrence (Conservative) lost opening match, 15-21 to Lincs, eventual winner.
Secretary singles: Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor) bt Durham 21-13, then lost 5-21 to Northumberland.
C/C singles: Jonathan Corby (Empingham) lost opening match, 10-21 to Suffolk.
Pairs: Graham Agger & Peter Brown (Whittlesey Manor) lost opening match, 15-21 to Derbys, eventual winners.
Mixed pairs: Louise & Stephen Harris (Blackstones) lost opening match, 16-20 to Durham.
Senior pairs: Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley) lost opening match, 9-18 to North Essex.
Senior mixed pairs: Les Sharp & Gill King (Yaxley) lost 12-17 in the semi-finals to Northumberland, eventual winners, after beating North Essex 17-13.
2b triples: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton (Parkway) bt Cleveland 19-12, then lost 19-23 to Lincs.
3b triples: Richard Allam, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter (Stamford) lost opening match, 10-22 to Suffolk.
Mixed triples: Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, James Harford (Parkway) lost 14-22 in the semi-finals to Notts, eventual winners, after beating Norfolk 21-12 and Northumberland 23-21.
U25 open pairs: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) & Louise Harris (Blackstones) lost 12-19 in the semi-finals to Northumberland after beating North Cambs 25-7.
WOMEN
2b singles: Chris Ford (Ketton) lost opening match, 16-21 to Hunts.
4b singles: Sophie Morton (Parkway) lost opening match, 10-21 to Durham.
U25 singles: Louise Harris (Blackstones) lost 13-21 in the semi-finals to Lincs after beating Hunts 21-19.
Senior singles: Pat Jones (Empingham) lost opening match, 15-21 to Suffolk.
Secretary singles: Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) lost opening match, 18-21 to Suffolk.
C/C singles: Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) lost opening match, 15-21 to North Cambs.
Pairs: Helen Tilley & Elaine Upton (Ketton) lost 20-22 in the final to Suffolk after beating Durham 21-18 and Humberside 20-15.
Senior pairs: Terri Handley & Pam Owen (Deeping) lost opening match, 8-23 to Derbys.
2b rinks: Hazel Bass, Marlene Osborne, Gill King (Yaxley) lost 9-26 in the final to Cleveland after beating Durham 20-17 and North Cambs 26-13.
3b rinks: Ann Holmes, Linda Starbuck, Helen Holroyd (Stamford) lost opening match, 10-19 to Norfolk.
