Northants Bowling Federation

Northants bowlers emulated their individual successes of last year by claiming two titles at the English Federation finals at Skegness on Saturday.

Darren Middleton (24,right above) and Stephen Harris (19) from the Blackstones club in Stamford captured the Under 25 Open pairs to add to the Veteran singles won by Mick Duell (West Ward , Peterborough) yesterday.

The pair were much the underdogs against a Nottinghamshire pairing of Will Marshall (Teversall) and Jack Emmerson (Bottesford) on the infamous and unforgiving rink 15 at the Suncastle greens.

But with lead Middleton finding his length on the trickier swinging hand and Harris showing composure under pressure belying his years at skip they took control by midway with a 12-5 lead. The Notts pair struck back in a purple patch to trail on 11-13 after 16 ends but picking up five shots in the next three ends, the Stamford youngsters were able to concede one on the 20th end to win 18-12.

It left Darren in tears but Stephen showing little emotion – more than can be said for his mum Tracey – even though officials later pointed out that he had filled in the wrong side of the card!

Overall a highly satisfying week for the Northants contingent with two winners and a further losing finalist in Harris in the Under 25 singles. The county also picked up a valuable point in their defence of the Victor Ludorum with Graham Jackson and Roger Martin reaching the senior pairs semi-finals.

Not so memorable for the NWBF, though Val Newson and Chris Morton reached the last four of the women’s pairs -losing on an extra end – and Joan Butcher helped put Whittlesey Town back on the competitive map reaching the semi-final of the champion of champions singles only to lose to the eventual winner. BW

Mick Duell (above) from West Ward Bowls Club in Peterborough has successfully defended the English Bowling Federation Veterans Singles title at Skegness which Northants won last year.

Current county president Bob Warters won it in 2015 and Duell (68) was determined that the Ludlam Trophy wasn’t going to leave the county’s clutches without a fight.

And after seeing off the challenge of March Town’s Tony Harley (North Cambs) in the semi-final in a gripping encounter which went down to a 21-19 win, having been 15-17 behind, he came up against Dave Smith from Market Weighton, Humberside on yet another Suncastle rink that defied normal bowls bias performance.

But Duell, a retired office worker with the Anglia Regional Co-op, has valuable experience of tricky greens and rarely looked in trouble racing into a 16-7 lead. Smith fought back to 12-20 but Duell finally found the bowl to take him over the line.

” It has always been my ambition to win a county singles title, play for my county and win a national title and I have done it all in one season,” said Duell, who made his debut for the Newton Trophy side earlier in the season.

At the opposite end of the age scale, Stephen Harris (19) reached the Under 25 singles final, having beaten Daniel Moss (Suffolk) in the semi final 21-18.

The reward was to meet his sister Louise’s boyfriend Jonathan West (Lincs) in the final, one of many encounters on the green between the two talented youngsters.

But West always had the edge and after Harris staged a comeback from 11-16 to 16-18, finally conceded at 21-16.

Harris has a second chance to lift a title in the morning, when wet weather is scheduled to blow in. He and Blackstones clubmate Darren Middleton have reached the final of the Under 25 Open pairs having beaten North Cambs brothers Jake and Joe Gowler aged 17 and 20 respectively.

Middleton was outstanding, consistently drawing close to set up opportunities for his partner and will need similar accuracy tomorrow to overcome a tidy Nottingham pair who demolished Lincs favourites West and Ashley Caress 23-3.

Bowlers warmed to the 80 degree temperatures at the Suncastle greens but against 19-year old Christian Lowey (Northumberland) – who wasn’t born the last time he competed at Skegness – Peter Cox from Langtoft was always on the back foot in the two bowl singles.

And though he made a late rally, from 10-17 behind, he finally lost 17-21.

It was a similar tale for Louise Harris (18) in the women’s under 25 singles against Corriane Gray (18) from Humberside. She pulled back from 2-11 behind to take the lead at 18-17 but in the end short bowls cost her a chance to join her brother in a final.

Val Newson and Chris Morton, stepping in for Sarah Newson at the last minute had their chances against Northumberland in the women’s pairs semi-finals and led 13-9 with three ends to play. But their opponents pinched shots in successive ends and won it in overtime.

Finally there were high hopes for Graham Jackson and Roger Martin (City of Peterborough) in the senior pairs, won by Whittlesey Manor’s Roger Stevens and Tony Mace in 2015.

However, they were unable to re-discover their form earlier in the week and the Nottingham pair of Paul Cameron and Dave Wombell, mastered the green better to win 17-14. BW

In defence of the veterans’ pairs won by Northants last year, Graham Jackson and Roger Martin (City of Peterborough) marched into the national semi-finals at Skegness on Thursday morning with a comprehensive defeat of Fred Field and John McIntosh from Huntingdon.

Jackson quickly got into his stride at lead and with Martin also finding the bowls to add to the counts they built up a 19-5 lead and their opponents finally conceded at 24-7 with ends in hand. The pair are chasing the title won by Whittlesey Manor’s Roger Stevens and Tony Mace.

Mick Duell (West Ward) is also looking to emulate the senior singles crown won by Bob Warters in 2015 and got off to a great start beating Suffolk legend Jimmy Summons.

But he had to be patient. With his appropriately coloured bowls in Northants orange he led 14-8 and 20-13 but the dogged Summons pegged him back in successive ends until at 20-20, Duell produced his match winner.

Sadly for the county there was no success in the four bowl singles for men or women.

Neil Wright had highly rated Jack Emmerson (Notts) on toast at 20-10 but couldn’t find the killer bowl to get him over the line and finally lost by the narrowest of margins.

Sarah Newson led 6-0 in the early stages but finally went down to R Lewis (Notts) 17-21. Similarly Howard Shipp got his nose in front of Notts’ Paul Fyles in the champion of champions two-bowl singles but couldn’t sustain the pressure and finally succumbed 16-21 over 29 ends.

Fyles had earlier put paid to the hopes of Parkway’s two bowl triple when he switched from skip to lead on the infamous rink 15. The Northants boys led 15-7 at one stage but when Fyles started finding his touch on the longer lengths, Notts battled back to lead by three going into the final end.

And with Northants holding three shots for a chance to force an extra end Ray Maskell stepped up to produce a final bowl which James Harford narrowly failed to remove.

Making his seventh appearance at the finals, Malcolm Squires was hoping that number would prove lucky but came up against Lincolnshire’s Richard White in devastating form, running out a comfortable winner.

Joan Butcher did Whittlesey Town BC proud again by overcoming Jackie Hearle (North Cambs) 21-17 over 33 ends of champion of champions singles. Within the hour she was straight back on to the green against Durham but went down 21-8.

Though Sheila Craig suffered a 21-12 defeat on rink three against Cleveland, Langtoft’s Peter Cox followed her onto the same rink and showed great skill in winning his match, also in the two bowl singles.

Against Notts’ Russell Pearce he was making his first appearance in more than 21 years, having been beaten in the first round in three previous qualifications. But using his favoured black Aero Groove bowls he quickly found his range and, ignoring the straight line curved his bowls on the opposite hand to win 21-8.

To round off a better afternoon for Northants, Blackstones’ Darren Middleton (24) and Stephen Harris (19) raced into a 19-1 lead against Durham in the Under 25 Open singles before their opponents began to get the measure of the tricky green.

Durham pulled back 15 shots but when the Northants youngsters both drew within inches on the 19th end it was game over and a Friday lunchtime semi-final against either Norfolk or North Cambs. Harris had earlier beaten Brian Henderson from Hartlepool 21-10 in the Under 25 singles.

Also on at 12.15 will be Graham Jackson and Roger Martin in the Veterans pairs against either North Cambs or Notts.

Morning semi-final singles starts are scheduled for Cox, Harris, and veteran Mick Duell, together with Val Newson and Chris Morton in the women’s pairs, replacing Sarah Newson who is committed elsewhere. BW

Pat Bussey and Sheila Craig have progressed to the semi finals of the women’s senior pairs following a comprehensive defeat of Durham.

The Conservative Club pair from Peterborough rarely looked in trouble, racing into a 17-5 lead before dropping a couple of three counts to eventually win 23-12 and secure a semi-final spot against two from Hemingford.

There were also wins for the men’s two-bowl rinks from Parkway and for Graham Jackson and Roger Martin (City of Peterborough) in the senior pairs.

Fresh from competing at Leamington, where they lost in the quarter finals of the Bowls England fours, Stuart Reynolds and James Harford teamed up with replacement Trevor Collins (for Mike Robertson) to beat a vocal Durham rink.

They were behind by one shot at midway but a five on the 19th end eventually put them out of reach and the won 25-15.

After many years out of the spotlight Jackson teamed up with clubmate Martin and quickly overcame a nervous start to help his partner to a 14-8 lead at 16 ends before Norfolk’s Graham Cole played some telling shots to keep his pair in it.

Indeed they held shot for the chance to force an extra end before Martin, in typical forcing fashion, removed it to secure a 15-13 win.

Ketton’s hopes of repeating yesterday’s win – this time in the two bowl triples – were dashed by Northumberland. Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling and Christine Ford led 10-8 after 12 ends but a series of draw shots and conversions by the formidable Ann Lennie left them trailing 12-19 at the close.

Sadly they lost their 3-bowl rinks on Wednesday to three from Derbyshire, who were able to master the slippery end rink more consistently.

Norma Squires lost her quarter final of the senior singles by Hunts 21-8.

However, Northants saved their biggest cheers for Parkway’s Howard Shipp, whom as the sun was setting on the Suncastle greens, claimed the scalp of England international Ashley Clipston from Derbyshire.

The pair were exchanging shot for shot throughout on a slippery end rink in a high quality two-bowl singles for club champions, who had qualified through their respective counties.

Leading 19-16 Shipp was pegged back when Clipston, a former national indoor champion, picked up two but when his opponent offered an opportunity to snatch the game, Shipp took it with a pin point accurate two shots.

He said:” I couldn’t be happier. When I realised I was playing Ashley, I knew it was a real opportunity and I was determined to take it. I really want this title.” BW

Making their first appearance in the English Bowling Federation finals at Skegness on Tuesday, Peterborough Conservative Club bowlers Tony and Linda Kemp put up a valiant performance before losing 19-14 to Pat and David Brace from Hemingford, Hunts, writes Bob Warters.

They were unfortunate to be drawn on the bias-defying rink 15 and never quite had control of an unforgiving green, infamous as the ‘rink of death’ on which players in the past have refused to compete.

Dropping a four on the 16th end proved the turning point and the Hunts pair hung on to win.

Elsewhere in the morning, Sheila Craig and Pat Bussey won 20-15 against Northumberland in the Senior pairs and mum and daughter Val and Sarah Newson cruised home 17-9 against North Essex. They also went on to reach the semi-final beating Durham comprehensively 19-5.

Richard Montgomery, Doris Flowers and Graham Agger finished a highly creditable third in the pre-championship triples tournament finishing with a score of plus 35 from four wins, seven behind the eventual winners from Humberside.

As temperatures rose to into the 80s so did the quality of bowls, epitomised by Parkway’s Neil Wright who demolished Northumberland’s Dean Robson with pinpoint accuracy in the 4-bowl singles.

And in a controversial three-bowl triples he teamed up with former winner Tony Scarr to take on three from Humberside, when neither Simon Law nor Ean Morton were able to take part.

They shocked the vocal crowd on the sidelines by taking a 14-1 lead but eventually playing six bowls against nine began to tell and they were pegged back. Two up going into the last end, Wright and Scarr held two shots until the Humberside skip powered through the head to grab the three they needed for the 21-20 win.

In another exciting three bowl rinks, Ketton’s trio of Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling and Christine Ford trailed Suffolk 3-15 at halfway but staged an amazing comeback to level the scores with an end to play.

Trailing two down, Suffolk took the jack into the ditch but Warters who had earlier switched to skip, as the rules allow, drew to within four feet to secure the victory.

Other results

Women’s secretary’s singles- Linda Darani lost to Northumberland 10-21; women’s singles – Norma Squires beat Suffolk 21-8; women’s champion of champions singles – Joan Butcher beat Cleveland 21-8; mixed triples – Sarah, Jeff and Val Newson lost to Lincs 22-24; mixed pairs – Chris Morton and Neil Wright lost to North Cambs 10-23; men’s pairs – Nick Wilkie and Paul Buckley lost to Derbyshire 12-23.

Arguably one of Northants Federation’s most successful bowls clubs in recent years, Parkway continued their domination of the team discipline by claiming the Adams Cup – winning all three 2-bowl triples rinks against City of Peterborough C.

Again the City of Peterborough club produced an excellent surface on which to stage this prestigious inter-club final but despite home advantage, their bowlers were always facing an uphill battle against a team packed with past and present county and national champions.

In Norma Squires and Linda Darani, paired with Mike Humphreys, City C had their own former national champions but against a rink skipped expertly by Mike Robertson they could not stop the opposition stretching away by the end.

It was a similar story for Parkway rinks skipped by Tris Morton and Simon Law, though it needed Neil Wright and Fred Addy to switch positions, as the rules allow, before Law finally got the better of stubborn resistance from Mick Pegler’s trio.

Result

Adams Cup. City of Peterborough C 32, Parkway 70. (City of Peterborough names first): D Eddings, P McQuillen, R Strong lost to S Reynolds, P Reynolds, T Morton 9-25; A Griffiths, P Eddings, M Pegler lost to F Addy, N Wright, S Law 12-19; L Darani, N Squires, M Humphreys lost to B Martin, T Scarr, M Robertson 11-26. BW

Tickets are now available for the Northants Men’s and Women’s Bowling Federation luncheon to be held at The Haycock Hotel, Wansford on Sunday, September 25 (12 noon for 12.30pm). Price is again £20 each.

The event will celebrate the Federations’ indoor and outdoor seasons with a two-course meal and presentation of trophies, vouchers and other awards to winners and runner-up, who are all encouraged to attend together with their guests.

Guests of honour are world indoor singles champion Nick Brett, a loyal supporter of the Federation cause, together with fellow Hunts bowler Daphne Meats, the EWBF national president.

Forms are available from the men’s and women’s county secretaries (Mel Beck and Liz Barr) on which guests are invited to choose either beef or chicken for main the course and from a choice of three sweet courses. A vegetarian option is also available.

Members of the NBF and NWBF committee will also have forms available at Skegness.

Cheques should be made payable to the NBF.

Bob Warters

Northants Federation bowlers face a busy schedule of matches if they are to progress to the finals of the EBF championships to be staged at Skegness from August 23 at the Suncastle greens.

Provisional first round schedule involving our local players:

Women’s Tuesday (Aug 23): 9.15 – Senior pairs – S Craig/P Bussey v Northumberland; pairs – S Newson/ V Newson v North Essex. 10.45 – Secretaries singles – L Darani v Northumberland. 11..45 – Champion of champions singles – J Butcher v Cleveland. 1.45 – Senior singles – N Squires v Suffolk. 2.15 – 3-bowl triples – C Warters/ S Suffling/ C Ford v Suffolk.

Wednesday(Aug 24) : 9.15 – 2-bowl triples – C Warters/ S Suffling/ C Ford v Northumberland or North Cambs.

Thursday (Aug 25): 9.15 – 4-bowl singles – S Newson v Notts. 1.45 – 2-bowl singles – S Craig v Cleveland.

Friday(Aug 26) : 9.15 – Under 25 singles – L Harris v Humberside.

Men’s/Mixed

Tuesday (Aug 23) 9.15 Senior Mixed pairs – L Kemp/A Kemp v Hunts. 11.45 – 4-bowl singles – N Wright v Northumberland; mixed triples – S Newson/ V Newson/ J Newson (P Brown) v Lincs. 1.45 – Pairs – N Wilkie/ P Buckley v Derbyshire. 2.15 – 3-bowl triples – N Wright/ E Morton (T Scarr)/ S Law v Humberside 4.45 – Mixed pairs – C Morton/ S Law (N Wright)v North Essex.

Wednesday (Aug 24) : 9.15 – 2-bowl triples – S Reynolds/J Harford/ M Robertson(Collins) v Durham or Norfolk. 10.45 – Senior pairs – G Jackson/R Martin v Norfolk. 4.45 – Champion of champions singles – H Shipp v Derbyshire.

Thursday ( Aug 26) :9.15 – Veterans singles – M Duell v Suffolk or N Essex. 12.15 – Under 25 singles – S Harris v Cleveland; Secretaries singles – M Squires v Lincs. 3.15 – 2-bowl singles – P Cox v Notts; Under 25 pairs – D Middleton/ S Harris v Durham.

Northants Bowling Federation’s slim hopes of successfully defending their EBF inter-county Adams Trophy title at Skegness later this month were finally shattered when their closest rivals Suffolk demolished North Cambs in their final re-arranged fixture.

The match had been rescheduled at Metal Box BC in Wisbech after the two teams found the Tilney St Lawrence green unfit earlier in the season and Suffolk were given extra time to complete the fixture when other dates clashed with their county finals.

They needed a win and to claim 17 of the 22 points available to ensure they relegated Northants to second place in the southern qualifying section.But despite the introduction of home club players, North Cambs were unable to avoid a 119-184 defeat on all rinks.

It gave Suffolk a five points winning margin in the table over Northants’ 99 points and ensured a meeting with Humberside in the final on August 21.

Northants’ Newton Trophy second string completed an improved season by finishing second with 83 points in their group – 31 behind Norfolk, to whom they lost narrowly – but five points ahead of fourth place Lincolnshire, the defending champions.

Commented Northants President Bob Warters: ” It was a frustrating season for both our teams with vital rink points, that could have made a key difference, probably conceded at crucial stages. But we will analyse our respective situations closely over the winter and I’m sure the teams will bounce back next outdoor season.”

The women’s Donald Steward and Silver Vase teams have work to do to rejuvenate their five rink squads after both finished fifth to Suffolk in their respective southern sections.

Suffolk will play Humberside in both women’s finals.

Schedules for individual play at Skegness will hopefully be available later this week. BW