NORTHANTS bowlers ended what had been a generally disappointing week at the English Bowling Federation indoor finals at Lincoln by winning the men’s Eversley double rink team competition for officers, past presidents and life members on the final afternoon.
Led by county president Martyn Dolby, they emerged unbeaten from their four 11-end matches with 22 points out of a possible 24 – two for each match won and two for each winning rink – edging Notts (20) into second place and receiving the trophy from national president Ian Bratton.
It was a fifth success in 14 years in this competition and the successful team was Cliff Watson, Bob Warters and Martyn Dolby; Les Sharp, Graham Agger and Peter Brown.
On the individual front, schoolboy Ollie Jeapes was narrowly denied a successful defence of his under 25 open singles title as he went down 21-17 in the final to Notts after wins against Hunts and Northumberland.
England international Stephen Harris reached the semi-finals of the singles, where he was beaten 21-18 by host club manager Danny Brown following convincing wins against Norfolk (21-5) and North Cambs (21-8).
Those two apart, there was no joy at all for the other Northants qualifiers as they failed to win one match between them in the nine remaining disciplines.
They all fell by the wayside in their opening matches, the vast majority by convincing scorelines, although Cliff Watson and Liz Hext lost by a single shot on the last end in the mixed pairs.
The women’s executive team in the Harry Carver Trophy – the ladies’ equivalent of the Eversley – finished joint third. County president Shirley Suffling led the team that contained Elizabeth Wallace, Terri Handley, Viv Hempsell, Liz Hext and Val Du’Kett.
RESULTS
MEN
Singles: Stephen Harris lost 21-18 in the semi-finals to Lincs after wins against Norfolk (21-5) and North Cambs (21-8); Veterans singles: Martyn Dolby lost 21-9 to Lincs; Under 25 open singles: Ollie Jeapes lost 21-17 in the final to Notts after wins against Hunts (21-18) and Northumberland (21-14); Pairs: Paul Dalliday & Tristan Morton lost 17-8 to Derbys; Triples: Paul Dalliday, Brian Martin (sub for Tristan Morton), Simon Law lost 21-17 to Suffolk.
WOMEN
Singles: Michelle Smith lost 21-9 to Notts; Senior singles: Elizabeth Wallace lost 21-14 to Notts; Pairs: Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford lost 26-4 to Durham; Triples: Margaret King, Moira Holroyd, Pat Jones lost 26-10 to Humberside.
MIXED
Pairs: Cliff Watson & Liz Hext lost 18-17 to Suffolk; Triples: Michelle Smith, Tom Newman, Ian Smith lost 20-12 to North Cambs.
Ollie Jeapes, pictured with county president Martyn Dolby, lost in the final of the under 25 open singles.
