WHITTLESEY Manor retained the John Dickenson Memorial Shield in the annual fixture against a Northants Bowling Federation representative side.
The match remembers the major contribution John Dickenson made to the English Bowling Federation at both county and national level. He was a former treasurer and president of the county and went on to become national president and then chairman.
His widow Mary was on hand to present the Shield to Manor captain Tom Fielding following a 110-94 victory.
On this occasion the NBF used the match as a trial for the Newton Trophy squad which enabled team captain Brian Bassam to run the rule over both existing players and some potential newcomers ahead of the opening fixture at home to Hunts on May 31.
A similar situation will apply on May 24 when the NBF face Hunts at Whittlesey Manor in a match played in memory of Federation stalwarts Dick Noble and Malcolm Squires.
On this occasion the NBF team will be represented by the Adams Trophy squad and will provide new captain Dave Corney with his first opportunity to link up with the players.
BELOW: Mary Dickenson presents the John Dickenson Memorial Shield to Whittlesey Manor captain Tom Fielding watched by Newton Trophy captain Brian Bassam.
NORTHANTS returned from the English Bowling Federation national indoor finals at Lincoln with a record haul of three individual titles.
Young Ollie Jeapes and senior statesman Martyn Dolby retained their respective singles titles, something that had never before been achieved by the county indoors, and Paul Dalliday, Simon Law and Tristan Morton claimed the rinks title, Law and Morton having won it back in 2015 with Neil Wright.
The county were agonisingly close to claiming a fourth title with the mixed rink of Dalliday, Louise Harris and Law losing in the final.
On top of that, the county reached two other semi-finals via Stephen Harris in the singles and Liz Hext and Tom Newman-Borrett in the mixed pairs.
Rising star Jeapes has now won the indoor junior singles title three times in the past four years and he is also the current holder of the EBF under 25 singles outdoors.
He was again imperious as he swept to the title with fairly comfortable wins against Lincs (21-17), Norfolk (21-8), Northumberland (21-11) and Derbys 21-16 in the final.
NBF chairman Dolby had two nail-biting 21-20 wins en route to a 21-13 victory in the final against host club manager Danny Brown.
After hard fought wins against Cleveland (18-16) and Suffolk (23-16), Northants romped to a 26-8 victory in the rinks final against Notts.
With Northants having retained the Eversley Trophy for executives two weeks earlier, it means the county matched last year’s trophy haul of four, which included two team competitions.
The ladies were desperately closing to winning their version of the Eversley Trophy, as they finished joint second in the Harry Carver event just half a point behind tournament winners Lincs.
The Northants rinks were Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling, Sheila Craig; Viv Hempsell, Yvonne Monaghan, Liz Hext.
Spare a thought for Yvonne Monaghan who qualified in three events, but had to play all her opening matches on the same day and fatigue was certainly a factor as she lost all three following a marathon stint on the green.
The only win for the ladies came from the rink of Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir and Chris Ford who defeated North Essex 25-9 before losing 22-11 in the second round against Hunts.
RESULTS
LADIES: Singles – Yvonne Monaghan lost 21-16 to Hunts; Senior singles – Yvonne Monaghan lost 21-19 to Hunts; Pairs – Vicky Simpson and Yvonne Monaghan lost 21-11 to Notts; Rinks – Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir, Chris Ford lost 22-11 to Hunts after defeating North Essex 25-9.
MEN: Singles – Stephen Harris lost 21-17 to Humberside in the semi-finals after beating Suffolk 21-12; Senior singles – Martyn Dolby defeated Lincs 21-13 in the final after beating Notts 21-10 and North Cambs 21-20; Under 25 singles – Ollie Jeapes beat Derbys 21-16 in the final after wins against Lincs 21-17, Norfolk 21-8 and Northumberland 21-11; Pairs: Brian Martin and Chris Ballard lost 23-18 to North Cambs; Rinks – Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton beat Notts 26-8 in the final after wins against Cleveland 18-16 and Suffolk 23-16; Mixed pairs – Liz Hext and Tom Newman-Borrett lost 21-13 to Derbys in the semi-finals after beating Northumberland 18-13 and Hunts 16-14; Mixed rinks – Paul Dalliday, Louise Harris, Simon Law lost 20-12 in the final against Durham after wins against Derbys 24-5, Suffolk 23-10 and Norfolk 24-6.
Below: Ollie Jeapes and Martyn Dolby retained their respective EBF indoor singles titles.
Below: Tristan Morton, Paul Dalliday and Simon Law, winners of the EBF indoor rinks title.
Below: Paul Dalliday, Louise Harris and Paul Dalliday lost in the mixed rinks final.
Below: The Harry Carver team that finished joint second – (left to right) Liz Hext, Shirley Suffling, Terri Handley, Jess Bolam (president), Yvonne Monaghan, Sheila Craig, Viv Hempsell.
A SHORTAGE of umpires has prompted the English Bowls Umpires Federation to issue an appeal for new ones to come on board to enable them to fulfil all inter-county and national finals engagements.
At present Northants only have one umpire in Les Sharp and the EUBF would like other players within the county to follow his example.
If anyone is interested then they should contact EBUF secretary Barry Swan on 01692 536270 or initially seek some advice from Les Sharp.
Secondly, it is the EBUF’s intention to try and run a markers’ course which will involve a written test paper followed by practical marking and measuring exercises. This, it is hoped, will involve the use of local umpires as organisers of the practical test so that it can be cost effective.
NORTHANTS made county history by winning the English Bowling Federation’s Eversley Trophy for the third year in a row.
They completed the hat-trick in this double rink event for county executives and officers at Lincoln, pipping near neighbours North Cambs on shots difference (+22 to +16) after both teams had finished level on 19 points.
Northants won on both rinks against Humberside and Hunts, won one and lost one against Lincs and tied on both rinks against Norfolk – it’s two points for each winning rink and two points for the overall score.
The successful rinks were: Andy Cox, Martyn Dolby and Graham Agger; Bob Warters, Ally McNaughton and Simon Law.
Pictured below (left to right) Bob Warters, Graham Agger, Martyn Dolby (chairman), Ally McNaughton and Andy Cox.
THE draws for the EBF and EWBF national indoor finals at Lincoln from April 22-27 have been released.
For Northants, Yvonne Monaghan faces a hectic time having qualified in three events, while Martyn Dolby and Ollie Jeapes will be defending their national senior and junior singles titles respectively.
The Harry Carver double rink event for county officers and executives takes place on the opening day (Tuesday, April 22).
The men’s equivalent, the Eversley Trophy which Northants have won for the past two years, is being held on Sunday, April 13 at Lincoln.
NORTHANTS DRAWS
WOMEN
Singles: Yvonne Monaghan v North Cambs, second round on the Friday at 5.00pm.
Senior singles: Yvonne Monaghan v Hunts or Northumberland, second round on the Friday at 2.30pm.
Pairs: Vicky Simpson & Yvonne Monaghan v Notts or Suffolk, second round, on the Friday at 12 noon.
Triples: Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir, Chris Ford v North Essex, first round on the Wednesday at 12.30pm
MEN
Singles: Stephen Harris v Suffolk or Northumberland, second round on the Thursday at 3.30pm.
Senor singles: Martyn Dolby v Notts or Durham, second round on the Saturday at 2.30pm.
Pairs: Brian Martin & Chris Ballard v North Cambs or North Essex, second round on the Friday at 2.30pm
Triples: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton v Lincs or Cleveland, second round on the Wednesday at 3.30pm.
MIxed pairs: Liz Hext & Tom Newman-Borrett v Northumberland, first round on the Thursday at 12.30pm.
Mixed rinks: Paul Dalliday, Louise Harris, Simon Law v Derbyshire, first round on the Wednesday at 12.30pm.
SAD to report the passing of Daphne Kew, a life member and former president of the Northants Women’s Bowling Federation at the age of 92.
She was a stalwart figure in the Federation movement for many years, and represented the county both as a player and team manager.
She was also a prominent member of the Peterborough & District club for many years, along with her late husband Eric, which included the role of secretary.
The funeral service will take place at the Peterborough Crematorium on Wednesday, April 23rd at 11.30am.
THE annual indoor challenge match between Northants ladies and the men for the Ean Eagle Trophy at Peterborough & District ended in an overwhelming victory for the men.
They won across all six rinks of three-bowl triples for a 176-48 victory.
The teams were led by ladies president Jess Bolam and men’s chairman and immediate past president Martyn Dolby.
RESULT
NORTHANTS MEN 176, NORTHANTS LADIES 48 (Men rinks first):
Mick Porter, Brian Bassam, Paul Buckley 17, Julie Bates, Pam Seymour, Judith O’Neill 16; Ally McNaughton, Dudley Smith, Simon Law 45, Terri Handley, Val Du;Kett, Chris Ford 2; John Suffling, Neil Wright, Kevin Vinter 37, Penny Hart, Gill King, Marlene Osborne 3; Pete Linnell, Andy Cox, Martyn Dolby 27, Karen Porter, Shirley Sufflling, Rita Downs 7; Dave Corney, Melvyn Beck, Graham Agger 17, Fiona Richardson, Hazel Brewin, Liz Hext 13; Michael Humphreys, Malcolm Mitchell, John Earl 33, Sue Mansbridge, Jess Bolam, Sheila Craig 7.
Below: NWBF president Jess Bolam and NBF chairman Martyn Dolby with the trophy.
YVONNE Monaghan claimed a hat-trick of titles at the Northants Bowling Federation indoor finals held at the Peterborough & District club.
She retained the senior singles at the expense of Chris Ford; defeated Elizabeth Wallace in the open singles and then partnered Vicky Simpson to victory in the pairs against defending champions Shirley Suffling and Lin Tuck.
She missed out on a fourth title when beaten in the triples with Jean Baker and Pam Seymour against last year’s winners Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir and Chris Ford.
National title holder Martyn Dolby retained his county senior singles title against Kevin Vinter, while Stephen Harris claimed the open singles crown against John Holroyd.
There was a last end win for Tom Newman-Borrett and substitute Liz Hext in the pairs against Lin and Kevin Tuck, and a last bowl extra end success for Paul Dalliday, Simon Law and Tristan Morton in the rinks against title holders Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett and Stephen Harris.
Dalliday and Law went on to win a second title when joining forces with Louise Harris to win the mixed triples against last year’s winners Chris Ford and Stephen Harris, this time in the company of Malcolm Mitchell.
It was second defeat on the day for Mitchell who earlier lost in the pairs with Neil Wright against Brian Martin and Chris Ballard.
Young Ollie Jeapes will be defending the national under 25 singles title following his 21-7 defeat of Owen Aspinall in the county final.
The winners will represent the county in the national finals at Lincoln at the end of April.
RESULTS
MEN
Singles: Stephen Harris bt John Holroyd 21-14; Senior singles: Martyn Dolby bt Kevin Vinter 21-15; Under 25 singles: Ollie Jeapes bt Owen Aspinall 21-7; Pairs: Brian Martin and Chris Ballard bt Malcolm Mitchell and Neil Wright 23-11; Triples: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton bt Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett, Stephen Harris 20-19 (after extra end).
MIXED
Pairs: Tom Newman-Borrett & Liz Hext bt Lin & Kevin Tuck 19-18; Triples: Paul Dalliday, Louise Harris, Simon Law bt Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Ford, Stephen Harris 19-6.
WOMEN
Singles: Yvonne Monaghan bt Elizabeth Wallace 21-10; Senior singles: Yvonne Monaghan bt Chris Ford 21-10; Pairs: Vicky Simpson & Yvonne Monaghan bt Shirley Suffling & Lin Tuck 18-11; Triples: Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir, Chris Ford bt Jean Baker, Pam Seymour, Yvonne Monaghan 25-15.
NORTHANTS A ended their EBF Derbyshire Trophy campaign with a 90-81 defeat away to Norfolk in what was a ‘dead rubber’ with Hunts having already dethroned Northants as southern section winners.
Rink honours were shared at two apiece, the Northants successes coming from the rinks of Graham Agger and Martyn Dolby.
Dave Corney, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law lost 19-24; Ally McNaughton, Tom Newman-Borrett, John Earl lost 16-28; Michael Humphreys, Brian Martin, Martyn Dolby won 25-20; Stuart Agger, Melvyn Beck, Graham Agger won 21-18.
