Northants Bowling Federation

Singles champions Helen Holroyd and Adam Warrington.

Two-bowl triples champions Tris Morton, Paul Dalliday and Simon Law

NORTHANTS COMPLETED a hat-trick of titles on the final day of the national Federation championships at Skegness, with Helen Holroyd winning the Under 25 women’s singles and Adam Warrington, claiming the 2-bowl singles for the third time after his opponent failed to make an appearance.

The two singles wins added to the 2-bowl triples won by Parkway’s Paul Dalliday, Simon law and tristan Morton, who beat the Hunts trio of richard and scott Wilson and Owen Kennedy 23-11 the previous evening.

Bob Warters was hoping to added his second veterans title to the haul but in a very tight game against fellow left-hander Paul Cook (Suffolk) he lost 19-21, having earlier led 9-3 and 17-16.

He said: “l played tidily enough but just couldn’t get the shots I needed at crucial stages. Paul deserved his win.”

For student Holroyd (23) from the Stamford Town club it completes an outstanding year having won several indoor and outdoor titles while also obtaining coaching qualifications.

She rarely looked in trouble against 13-year-old Eloise Collins from Derbyshire and ran out a comfortable winner 21-8.

For Warrington it was a bitter sweet end to his campaign. He knew in advance that opponent Andy Bird (Lincs) was already committed to a family engagement in Holland preventing his attendance at the final in Skegness but still Warrington had to make the three-hour round trip journey from Stamford to wait in vain beside the green for the specified 15 minutes.

Said Warrington: “It is a disappointing way to win a title but it was out of my hands. At least I won three tough games on the way to the final having qualified through many rounds in the county starting in early May.

Helen Holroyd in action during her Under 25 semi-final

Veteran singles finalists Paul Cook (Suffolk) and Bob Warters before their match

Tris Morton in action during the triples

Reg Jackson Trophy winners flanked by national Presidents Trevor Harris and Jean Phillips, from the left Doris Flowers, Graham Agger and Jon Padley.

DAY ONE (TUESDAY)

NORTHANTS Bowling Federation drew first blood at the national championships in Skegness today (Tuesday) when Doris Flowers, Joan Padley and Graham Agger landed the pre-tournament Reg Jackson Trophy mixed rinks event.

For Flowers from the Broadway Yaxley Club, it completed a lifetime ambition, having finish third and second in the past.

With clubmate Padley and Agger, now with Whittlesey Manor, they won all their four two-bowl triples matches and racked up a 41-shot bonus including victories over Northants team-mates Les Sharp, Wendy Stephens and Sue Moir and Janet Duffy with Dave Corney and Mel Beck.

They received the trophy and £225 in prizemoney from national Presidents Trevor Harris and Jean Phillips.

Stamford Town’s Ann Holmes and Richard Allam got the county off to a flying start in the individual events with a 19-14 defeat of V Symmonds and R Hume (Northumberland) and are due to play the Hunts father and daughter duo of Nick and Chloe Brett on Wednesday morning.

Ketton trio Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling and Christine Ford got off to a desperate start in the two bowl rinks, quickly going ten shots behind against Derbyshire, before Suffling steadied the ship, switching to lead with some accurate early bowls to help them draw level at 14-apiece after 15 ends.

However, having pulled back, they could not maintain the momentum and despite picking up three shots on the final end lost 19-18.

Brian Swann and Dick Noble (West Ward) had their chances against North Cambs but frustratingly lost 14 ends to single shots and went down 10-15.

Among the afternoon starters, there was defeat for Paul Dalliday 18-21 to Steve Farrant (Hunts) in the four-bowl singles but victory for Parkway in the mixed triples where, paired with Lee Welsford, Sophie and Tristan Morton were outstanding in defeating North Cambs 18-14.

Blackstones’ Stephen Harris, bidding to win the 2-bowl Under 25 Open pairs for the second time in three years, looked in trouble with new partner Jack Corney (Whittlesey Manor) when they trailed by six against Hunts with just two of the 21 ends remaining.

But switching positions , as the Federation rules allow, Harris led and Corney skipped to pull back two successive three-counts before Corney drew two winning shots on the extra end (20-18).

Another extra end was needed to split Northants and Norfolk in the men’s three-bowl rinks after 18 ends saw Whittlesey Manor’s Roger Stevens, Graham Agger and Martin Welsford tied 15-15. However Norfolk grab the shot they needed to go through.

Similar disappointment for Northants President Tony Mace, paired with wife Rita in the senior mixed, they lost to Dave Adams and his wife (Notts) 27-7.

Conservative trio Margaret Bussey, Liz Hext and Sheila Craig beat Northumberland 26-16 in the three bowl triples but Kath Browning lost to North Cambs 21-5 in the secretaries singles.

DAY TWO (WEDNESDAY)

PARKWAY TRIO Paul Dalliday, Simon Law and Tristan Morton quickly reached the semi-final of the two-bowl triples at Skegness with a 21-12 defeat of Cleveland who had beaten North Cambs 22-10 in the first round.

In the senior women’s singles Sue Moir (Langtoft) scored a memorable 21-9 victory over Karen Weites from Northumberland.

Sadly no joy for Richard Allam and Ann Holmes in the second round of the mixed pairs, comprehensively beaten 24-8 by Hunts’ Nick Brett and his daughter Chloe.

Graham Agger (Whittlesey Manor) reached the semi-finals of the champion of champions two bowl singles with a 21-19 victory over the multi-titled Wayne Burridge (Norfolk). Sophie and Tris Morton, alongside Lee Welsford reaching a similar stage with a 27-7 demolition of Durham.

In the women’s 4-bowl singles there was a 21-15 triumph for Yaxley veteran Joan Robinson over Humberside’s J Martinson.

Whittlesey Town’s Jenny Farrington and Penny Hart didn’t quite have the ammunition to overcome Nottinghamshire A Duckworth and B Beresford, going down 12-25.

On Wednesday afternoon, Adam Warrington (Blackstones) won his first round 2-bowl singles 21-10 against John Ivatt (North Cambs) but has to waiting until this morning (Friday) for his next match.

Sue Moir (Langtoft) reach the semi-final of the senior singles, beating Notts 21-12 but clubmates Malcolm Cullingworth and Peter White went out to Humberside 21-15 in the men’s pairs.

DAY THREE (Thursday)

For the second time in six years Northants have a chance to win the national two-bowl triples at the English Bowling Federation finals at Skegness but they will have to beat the holders Huntingdonshire to achieve it.

With Tristan Morton unable to skip the rink that had already beaten Cleveland in the quarter-finals because of a commitment to defending his EBA triples with Mike Robertson and brother Euan at Leamington, James Harford stepped in to join fellow Parkway bowlers Paul Dalliday and Simon Law.

And they achieved their goal to reach the final at 2.15pm tomorrow (Friday) with a convincing 23-11 defeat of Humberside.

Northants also have five other opportunities to reach finals after Adam Warrington – already twice a title winner – won his first round 2-bowl singles on Wednesday and meets Colin Hanslip (Humberside) in the second round tomorrow (Friday, 10.45)

Elsewhere, Northants have reached four other singles semi-finals, the first of which is at 9.15am when Graham Agger (Whittlesey Manor) plays Northumberland’s M Hubbard for a place in the final against either Suffolk or Derbyshire.

Stamford Town’s Helen Holroyd (23) notched up two wins on Thursday to reach the semi-final of the Under 25 singles also at 9.15 tomorrow against either Notts or Suffolk, conceding a total of just 13 shots. First she beat H Stothard (Northumberland) 21-4 then outdrew Jasmine Wilson on the A1 end rink 21-9.

Watching the lines closely from the bank ready to start his Veterans Singles match on the same rink, was Bob Warters who had earlier beaten Derbyshire president Colin Sims 21-16 after trailing 10-15.

This time Billy Maddison (Cleveland) was the opponent and Warters followed a similar long jack strategy to Holroyd to run out a 21-14 winner and earn a semi-final spot at 10.45 against Billy Fuller from Durham who beat Skegness specialist Dave Adams (Notts) 21-20.

Completing the quartet of Northants singles semi-finalists will be Langtoft’s Sue Moir, whom earlier in the day lost the women’s pairs with clubmate Anne White to Suffolk 14-19. Sue plays M Dykes from Humberside at 2.15.

At 78, Joan Robinson (Broadway, Yaxley) has proved herself one of the county’s most consistent singles players on any surface over many years but the double champion finally met her match on Day three at Skegness with two defeats at the hands of two bowlers from neighbours Hunts. G Marsh won 21-11 in the two-bowl and T Webb 21-10 in the four-bowl discipline.

Northants had high hopes for the Parkway mixed trio but on a very-hard-to-fathom rink – and without the services of the irrepressible Tris Morton – his wife Sophie, substitute Paul Dalliday and skip Lee Welsford they had to concede 22-15 to Alan Turton’s Notts triple.

There were also defeats for Ketton’s Christine Ford (10-21 to Humberside) in the champion of champions singles and for Andy Grief (Crowland) by a measure, 20-21 in the secretaries singles.

Finally there was double disappointment for Stephen Harris from Blackstones. Paired with Jack Corney (Whittlesey Manor) he failed to regain the Under 25 Open pairs, losing 23-15 to the in-form Gowler brothers from North Cambs. Then in the Under 25 singles that has eluded him for nearly a decade, he went dowjn after a high quality battle with Aaron Stimson (Norfolk).

DAY FOUR (Friday)

With a 23-11 defeat of local rivals Huntingdonshire, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law and Tristan Morton re-captured the English two-bowl triples for Northants Bowling Federation – last won by Blackstones six years ago.

The Parkway trio never looked in danger against Hunts, the holders, whose Richard Wilson, son Scotty and Owen Kennedy from the Hemingford club were always under pressure.

They finally conceded with an end to spare.

Northants have also reached three singles finals to be played at 9.15 tomorrow (Saturday) – featuring Helen Holroyd (Stamford Town), Adam Warrington (Blackstones) and Bob Warters (Ketton).

Holroyd dropped just seven shots in her defeat of her young Suffolk opponent (E Herrieven) and will play 13-year-old Eloise Collins from Derbyshire at 9.15 tomorrow.

Warrington meanwhile was involved in a thriller with Jack Emerson (Notts) with never more than two shots separating the two. However, with the scores at 19-19, the Blackstones bowler produced two superlative drawing shots within inches to snatch victory.

Whether he will get the opportunity to take on Lincolnshire’s Andy Bird in the final, however, is still a mystery. The Sleaford bowler is due on a plane to Holland at 5am on Saturday morning to make arrangements for his daughter’s wedding and may yet concede the match.

Whatever Bird’s circumstances, Warrington must turn up ready to play at 9.15 wait 15 minutes and maybe even deliver a bowl to a bare jack to claim his third national two bowl singles title.

As for Warters, he will be seeking his second national veteran singles title, having first won it in 2015 as county president.

He earned his spot in the final against fellow left-hander Paul Cook (Suffolk) with a nervy 20-17 defeat of Billy Fuller from Durham. The pair were locked on 14-14 before Fuller took a two shot lead, only for Warters to go 20-17 in front then clinch a place in the final on the 31st end.

Sue Moir (Langtoft) was hoping to match Holroyd as a second woman finalist for Northants – this time in the senior singles. But though she produced two outstanding ends to keep in the game against Margaret Dykes (Humberside), she finally lost 21-18.

Northants also had an opportunity for a fourth singles finalist but in the champion of champions, Graham Agger lost 21-18 to his Northumberland opponent Michael Hubbard. However, Agger staged a gritty comeback from 12-19 until agonisingly, a crucial delivery slipped from his grasp.

DAY FIVE (Saturday – see separate story and images) BW

OTHER IMGES FROM SKEGNESS WEEK BELOW:

MEN’S & MIXED EVENTS

Tuesday
9.15 (Mixed pairs) Ann Holmes & Richard Allam v V Symmonds & R Humes (Northumberland). 10.45 (Vets pairs) Brian Swann & Dick Noble v A McEwan & M Joyce (North Cambs). 11.45 (2-bowl singles) Paul Dalliday v Steve Farrant (Hunts); (mixed rinks) Sophie Morton, Lee Welsford, Tris Morton v N Cambs

1.45 (Secretaries singles) Andy Grief v A Jobling (Durham). 2.15 (3-bowl triples) Roger Stevens, Graham Agger, Martin Welsford v Norfolk; (senior mixed pairs) Rita & Tony Mace v J & D Adams (Notts). 3.15 (Under 25 Open pairs) Jack Corney & Stephen Harris v B Reed & M May (Hunts)

Wednesday
9.15 (2-bowl triples) Paul Dalliday, Simon Law & Tristan Morton. 11.45 (champion of champion singles) Graham Agger v Lincs or Norfolk

1.45 (2-bowl singles) Adam Warrington v J Ivatt (N Cambs). 2.15 (pairs) M Cullingworth & P White v P Gray & P Cranidge (Humberside)

Thursday
10.45 (veterans singles) Bob Warters v C Sims (Derbyshire).

1.45 (Under 25 singles) Stephen Harris v Norfolk or Humberside.

WOMEN’S EVENTS

Tuesday
9.15 (2-bowl triples) Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling & Christine Ford v Derbyshire.

1.15 (champion of champions) Kath Browning v M Hunt (N Cambs). 2.15 (3-bowl triples) Margaret Bussey, Lix Hext, Sheila Craig v Northumberland

Wednesday
9.15 (senior singles) Sue Moir v K Weites (Notts). 10.45 (senior pairs) Jenny Farrington & Penny Hart v A Beresford & A Duckworth (Notts). 11.45 (4-bowl singles) Joan Robinson v D Martinson (Humberside)

Thursday

9.15 (2-bowl singles) Joan Robinson v G March (Hunts); (under 25 singles) Helen Holroyd v H Stothard (Northumberland); (pairs) Anne White & Sue Moir v S Kemp & D Coppen (Suffolk)

PARKWAY bowlers completed a Northants Bowling Federation cup double for the second year running when they defeated hosts Whittlesey Manor 49-47 in the final of the Adams Cup on Sunday.

Having already retained the Dan Duffy Trophy, Parkway came through over the closing ends to pip Whittlesey Manor in a repeat of last year’s final to keep possession of the Adams Cup.

After trailing for a considerable portion of the match, Parkway went into the last two ends with a one shot advantage at 48-47 – Tristan Morton’s rink having beaten Martin Welsford’s 17-11.

There was a ‘no-scoring’ final end on one of the other rinks, where Pat Reynolds’ edged home 19-18 against Peter Brown, who had ditched the jack when two shots down, which meant that Jeff Newson, holding shot on the remaining rink, didn’t have to deliver his last bowl, and so accepted a 13-18 defeat at the hands of Mick Duell.

Results (Parkway names first):

Adams Cup ( at Whittlesey Manor) Prkway 49 Whittlesey Mnor 47.
Emma & Andrew Thurston, Pat Reynolds 19, Steve Lander, Fred Richardson, Peter Brown 18; Steve Roden, Tony Mace, Martin Welsford 11, Stuart Reynolds, Fred Addy, Tristan Morton 17;
Howard Shipp, Kevin Stanford, Jeff Newson 13, Graham Agger, Melvyn Beck, Mick Duell 18.

Parkway (back row, left to right): Howard Shipp, Jeff Newson, Kevin Stanford, Andrew Thurston, Stuart Reynolds, Tristan Morton (Front): Emma Thurston, Pat Reynolds, Fred Addy, Tony Mace (NBF president).

Whittlesey Manor (back row, left to right): Mick Duell, Martin Welsford, Peter Brown, Steve Roden, Steve Lander, Graham Agger. (Front): Melvyn Beck, Fred Richardson, Tony Mace (NBF president and player).

STAMFORD Town and Ketton bowlers will kick-off Northants’ title challenges at the EBF and EWBF Championships at Skegness with early first round matches on Tuesday, August 21.

Richard Allam and Ann Holmes will play Northumberland in the mixed pairs at 9.15 on the opening morning, while Ketton’s Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling and Christine Ford face Derbyshire in the two-bowl triples.

The full schedule for local bowlers is as follows:

MEN’S EVENTS
2b singles: Adam Warrington (Blackstones), first round v North Cambs, Wednesday, 1.45pm.
4b singles: Paul Dalliday (Parkway), first round v Hunts, Tuesday, 11.45am.
U25 singles: Stephen Harris (Blackstones), second round v Norfolk or Humberside, Thursday, 1.45pm.
Veterans singles: Bob Warters (Ketton), first round v Derbys, Thursday, 10.45am.
Secretaries singles: Andrew Grief (Crowland), first round v Durham, Tuesday, 1.45pm.
Champion of Champions: Graham Agger (Whittlesey Manor), second round v Lincs or Norfolk, Wednesday, 11.45am.
Pairs: Malcolm Cullingworth & Peter White (Langtoft Pearl), first round v Humberside, Wednesday, 2.15pm.
Senior pairs: Brian Swann & Dick Noble (West Ward), first round v North Cambs, Tuesday, 10.45am.
Mixed pairs: Ann Holmes & Richard Allam (Stamford), first round v Northumberland, Tuesday, 9.15am.
2b rinks: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton (Parkway), second round v Cleveland or North Cambs, Wednesday, 9.15am.
3b rinks: Roger Stevens, Graham Agger, Martin Welsford (Whittlesey Manor), first round v Norfolk, Tuesday, 2.15pm.
Mixed rinks: Sophie Morton, Lee Welsford, Tristan Morton (Parkway), first round v North Cambs, Tuesday, 11.45am.
U25 open pairs: Jack Corney (Whittlesey Manor) & Stephen Harris (Blackstones), first round v Hunts, Tuesday, 3.15pm.
Senior mixed pairs: Rita & Tony Mace (Whittlesey Manor), first round v Notts, Tuesday, 2.15pm.
WOMEN’S EVENTS
2b singles: Joan Robinson (Yaxley), first round v Hunts, Thursday, 9.15am.
4b singles: Joan Robinson (Yaxley), first round v Humberside, Wednesday, 11.45am.
U25 singles: Helen Holroyd (Blackstones), first round v Northumberland, Thursday, 9.15am.
Senior singles: Sue Moir (Langtoft Pearl), first round v Northumberland, Wednesday, 9.15am.
Secretaries singles: Kathy Browning (Yaxley), first round v North Cambs, Tuesday, 1.45pm.
Champion of Champions: Chris Ford (Ketton), first round v Humberside, Thursday, 12.15pm.
Pairs: Anne White & Sue Moir (Langtoft Pearl), first round v Suffolk, Thursday, 9.15am.
Senior pairs: Jenny Farrington & Penny Hart (Whittlesey Town), first round v Notts, Wednesday, 10.45am.
2b rinks: Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling, Chris Ford (Ketton), first round v Derbys, Tuesday, 9.15am.
3b rinks: Pat Bussey, Liz Hext, Sheila Craig (Conservative), first round v Northumberland, Tuesday, 2.15pm.

Parkway bowlers have missed out on the chance to represent Northants Bowling Federation in next month’s Durham Centenary Trophy final at Skegness.

They were beaten 98-72 at home by defending champions White Hart BC! Warboys in the final of the southern section on Sunday.

Rinks were shared at two apiece, but the Hunts bowlers, who raced into an early advantage, were never seriously threatened in the 25-end decider. The successful Parkway rinks of Mike Robertson and Simon Law only got the better of their opponents over the last few ends.

RESULT (Parkway names first):
Parkway 72, Warboys 98.Paul Dalliday, James Harford, Simon Law 24, Ross Martin, Joe Randall, Rob Elmore 22;Brian Martin, Lee Welsford, Tristan Morton 10, Phil Swannell, Simon Leader, Ed Elmore 26;Stuart & Pat Reynolds, Mike Robertson 24, Steve Farrant, Tom Swannell, Lewis Baker 21; Neil Wright, Tony Scarr, Jeff Newson 14, Chloe Brett, Richard Stevens, Nicky Brett 29.

Tony and Rita Mace (right) won the senior mixed pairs. They are pictured with Fred and Fiona Richardson, whom they beat in the final. See more images below.

NORTHANTS Federation president Tony Mace and his wife Rita will represent the county in the national finals at Skegness next month after winning the senior mixed pairs in the county championships at their home club Whittlesey Manor on Sunday.

It was an appropriate conclusion to a day of blistering heat in which the Manor green was in outstanding shape thanks to the efforts of club members in recent weeks. The finals had been due to be staged there last season but the green had to be withdrawn because it was unfit.

As well as the Maces, the host club also won the champion of champions singles and the three bowl men’s triples, where Martin Welsford beat his son Lee in the final.

Other clubs to have three champions included Broadway (Yaxley), Ketton, Parkway, Blackstones and Langtoft.

County organisers are hopeful that at the Skegness finals (August 21-25) all winners will fulfil their commitments, despite the counter attraction of Bowls England finals at Leamington for which some have also qualified.

Results:

Ladies 2-bowl singles – Joan Robinson (Yaxley) beat TIna Tinklin (Conservative) 21-18; mixed pairs – Helen Holroyd & RIchard ( Stamford Town) beat Sheron & Dick Noble (West Ward) 17-15; men’s under 25 singles – Stephen Harris (Blackstones) beat Zac Brown (Whittlesey Manor) 21-12; veterans singles – Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) lost to Bob Warters (Ketton) 21-18; ladies senior singles – Christine Ford (Ketton) lost to Sue Moir ( Langtoft) 21-13; men’s secretaries singles – Mike Ramsden (Vanguard) lost to Andy Grief (Crowland) 21-10.

Men’s pairs – Mal Smith & Paul Bailey (Blackstones) lost to Malcolm Cullingworth & Peter White (Langtoft) 22-11; ladies champion of champions singles – C Ford (Ketton) beat Rita Mace (Whittlesey Manor) 21-8; men’s 2-bowl singles – Adam Warrington (Blackstones) beat Dave Roberts (Market Deeping) 21-7; men’s 4-bowl singles – Paul Dalliday (Parkway) beat SEan Fenlon ( West Ward) 21-9; ladies secretaries singles – Pearl O’Brien (Deeping Association) lost to Kathy Browning (Yaxley) 21-13; Under 25 Open pairs – Sophie Morton & Marissa McKernan (Parkway) lost to S Harris (Blackstones) & Jack Corney (Whittlesey Manor) 12-20.

Ladies U 25 singles – H Holroyd (Stamford Town) beat M McKernan ( Parkway) 21-14; ladies 4-bowl singles – J Robinson (Yaxley) beat T Tinklin (Conservative) 21-12; men’s champion of champion singles – R Allam (Stamford Town) lost to Graham Agger (Whittlesey Manor) 21-16; mixed triples – Stuart Reynolds, Karen Martin & Mike Robertson (Parkway) lost to S Morton, Lee Welsford & Tris Morton (Parkway)22-7; men’s veteran pairs – M Dolby & Roger Martin (Blackstones) lost to D Noble & Brian Swann (West Ward) 20-19 ladies 2-bowl pairs – Louise Harris & Katie Bailey (Blackstones) lost to Anne White & S Moir (Langtoft) 21-7.

Ladies 3-bowl triples – S Noble, Vi Hatch & Liz. Barr (West Ward) lost to Sheila Craig, Margaret Bussey & LIz Hext (Conservative) 22-11; men’s 2-bowl triples – S Harris, MI k Humphreys & R Martin (Blackstones) lost to P Dalliday, Simon Law & T Morton ( Parkway) 20-14; senior mixed pairs – R& Tony Mace (Whittlesey Manor) beat Fiona & Fred Richardson (City of Peterborough & Whittlesey Manor) 20-15; ladies 2-bowl triples – Linda Toms, Karen Dyer & Emma Providence (Conservative) lost to Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling & C Ford (Ketton)30-10; ladies senior pairs – J Robinson & M Osbourne (Yaxley) lost to JEnny Farringdon & Penny Hart (Whittlesey Town) 20-13;men’s 2-bowl triples – Roger Stevens, G Agger & Martin Welsford beat HOward Shipp, Brian Martin & L Welsford (Parkway) 15-8.

Helen Crow is pictured in 2014 with Sarah Newson (left)and Pat Reynolds after winning the national rinks.

HELEN CROW, a multi Northants Women’s Bowling Federation champion and twice a winner of national rinks titles, has died after a long struggle with motor neurone disease. She was 67.

The Langtoft Pearl and Parkway Bowls Club member was a loyal supporter of her county along with her late husband Bob, who died in May 2016. And even after contracting her illness and being restricted to a wheelchair was a cheerful follower of county fortunes at the national finals in Skegness.

Formerly a receptionist with Finning (UK) Ltd in Peterborough, Helen’s greatest bowling achievements were alongside Sarah Newson and Julie Masters in winning the EWBF two-bowl triples in 1996 and with Pat Reynolds and Sarah taking the 3-bowl rinks title at Skegness in 2014.

The funeral will be held at Marholm Crematorium on Friday, August 3 at 12 noon.Flowers from close family only please; donations at the service for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Mourners requested to wear something purple or lilac.

SAD END TO NORTHANTS WOMEN’S SEASON

NORTHANTS women’s slender hopes of qualifying for the final stages of the Donald Steward inter county championships at Skegness next month were dashed by rivals Suffolk, who inflicted a 39-shot defeat at Peterborough & District BC’s green.

The visitors won on all but one rink, only the Conservative Club trio of Tina Tinklin, Liz Hext and Sheila Craig salvaging county pride.

Elsewhere the county’s Silver Jubilee Vase team ended a topsy-turvy season by conceding all 18 points at the City of Peterborough green on which Suffolk had more joy in taming.

Results (Northants names only):

Donald Steward Trophy (at Peterborough and District BC): Northants 28 (2 pts) Suffolk 121 (16). F. Richardson, C. Grief and L. Darani lost 8 – 27; T. Tinklin, E. Hext and S. Craig won 19 – 16; N. Squires, D. Flowers and S. Moir lost 20 – 28; E. Wallace, S. Suffling and C. Ford lost 16 – 30; M. Osbourne, K. Browning and G. King lost 19 – 20.

Silver Jubilee Vase (at City of Peterborough BC): Northants 82 (0) Suffolk 138 (18). P. Jones, L. Toms and H. Bass lost 18 – 30; H. Holroyd, J. Kendall and E. Barr lost 20 – 21; P. Collicott, J. Needham and J. Phillips lost 16 – 28; C. Warters, J. Padley and W. Humphreys lost 10 – 38; T. Handley, P. O’Brien and V. Du’kett lost 18 – 21.

Northants Bowling Federation president Tony Mace and NWBF President Jessica Phillips will host the county finals at Whittlesey Manor on Sunday (July 15) over four sessions, starting at 10am.

The programme is as follows:

10 a.m.: (Rinks 1 to 6) Women’s 2 bowl singles – J Robinson (Yaxley) v T Tinklin ((Conservative) ; mixed pairs – H Holroyd & R Allam ( Stamford Town) v S & D Noble (West Ward); Men’s under 25 singles – S Harris (Blackstones) v Z Brown (Whittlesey Manor); veterans singles – M Dolby (Blackstones) v B Warters (Ketton); ladies senior singles – C Ford (Ketton) v S Moir ( Langtoft); men’s secretaries singles – M Ramsden (Vanguard) v A Grief (Crowland).

12pm: Men’s pairs – M Smith & P Bailey (Blackstones) v M Cullingworth & P White (Langtoft); ladies champion of champions singles – C Ford (Ketton) v R Mace (Whittlesey Manor); men’s 2-bowl singles – A Warrington (Blackstones) v D Roberts (Market Deeping); men’s 4-bowl singles – P Dalliday (Parkway) v S Fenlon ( West Ward); ladies secretaries singles – P O’Brien (Deeping Association) v K Browning (Yaxley); Under 25 Open pairs – S Morton & M McKernan (Parkway) v S Harris (Blackstones) & J Corney (Whittlesey Manor).

2pm: Ladies U 25 singles – H Holroyd (Stamford Town) v M McKernan ( Parkway); ladies 4-bowl singles – J Robinson (Yaxley) v T Tinklin (Conservative); men’s champion of champion singles – R Allam (Stamford Town) v G Agger (Whittlesey Manor); mixed triples – S Reynolds, P Reynolds & M Robertson (Parkway) v S Morton, L Welsford & T Morton (Parkway); men’s veteran pairs – M Dolby & R Martin (Blackstones) v D Noble & B Swann (West Ward); ladies 2-bowl pairs – K Harris & K Bailey (Blackstones) v A White & S Moir (Langtoft).

4.30pm: Ladies 3-bowl triples – S Noble, V Hatch & L Barr (West Ward) v S Craig, P Bussey & L Hext (Conservative); men’s 2-bowl triples – S Harris, M Humphries & R Martin (Blackstones) v P Dalliday, S Law & T Morton ( Parkway); senior mixed pairs – R & T Mace (Whittlesey Manor) v F & F Richardson (City of Peterborough & Whittlesey Manor); ladies 2-bowl triples – L Toms, K Dyer & E Providence (Conservative) v C Warters, S Suffling & C Ford (Ketton); ladies senior pairs – J Robinson & M Osbourne (Yaxley) v J Farrington & P Hart (Whittlesey Town); men’s 3-bowl triples – R Stevens, G Agger & M Welsford v H Shipp, B Martin & L Welsford (Parkway).

Umpire L Sharp. Raffle prizes welcome