THREE players achieved title doubles at the Northants Bowling Federation men’s and women’s indoor finals at Peterborough & District.
Michelle Smith, who had qualified in four events, won the singles to make up for last year’s final defeat, beating Elizabeth Wallace 21-16 and then the mixed triples with husband Ian and Tom Newman, 27-9 against substitute Michael Humphreys, Chris Ford and Adam Warrington.
Ford and Warrington had earlier lost 20-14 in the mixed pairs decider against Cliff Watson and Liz Hext, but Ford had the consolation of retaining the pairs with county president Shirley Suffling, 22-9 against Smith and Viv Afford.
Wallace made up for her disappointment in the open singles by retaining the senior singles 21-13 at the expense of Margaret King, who later booked her place in the national finals by teaming up with Moira Holroyd and Pat Jones to win the triples, 20-10 against Smith, Afford and Hext.
The other title doubles were claimed by Paul Dalliday and Tristan Morton, who won the pairs 23-7 against substitute Stuart Agger and Wayne Morris and then joined forces with Simon Law to win the triples, 22-9 at the expense of Richard Allam, John Holroyd and Kevin Vinter, Dalliday and Law having won it last year with James Harford.
It was a second disappointment of the day for Vinter, who had earlier lost 21-9 to county president Martyn Dolby in the veterans singles.
Allam also lost a second final, losing 21-17 to defending champion Stephen Harris in the singles final delayed from finals day owing to Harris’ commitments with England in Scotland.
Young Ollie Jeapes was the only entrant in the under 25 singles and so went through unopposed to defend the national title next month.
All the winners will represent the county at the national finals from April 24–30 being held this year at Lincoln following the closure of Newark.
FINAL RESULTS
MEN
Singles: Stephen Harris bt Richard Allam 21-17; Veterans singles: Martyn Dolby bt Kevin Vinter 21-9; Pairs: Paul Dalliday & Tristan Morton bt Stuart Agger (sub) & Wayne Morris 23-7; Triples: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton bt Richard Allam, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter 22-9.
WOMEN
Singles: Michelle Smith bt Elizabeth Wallace 21-16; Senior singles: Elizabeth Wallace bt Margaret King 21-13; Pairs: Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford bt Viv Afford & Michelle Smith 22-9; Triples: Margaret King, Mora Holroyd, Pat Jones bt Viv Afford, Michelle Smith, Liz Hext 20-10.
MIXED
Pairs: Cliff Watson & Lez Hext bt Chris Ford & Adam Warrington 20-14; Triples, Tom Newman, Michelle & Ian Smith bt Michael Humphreys (sub), Chris Ford, Adam Warrington 27-9.
