THE Ladies v Gents indoor challenge match has been revived after a four-year absence from the calendar and it resulted in a 138-87 victory for the Gents at the Peterborough & District club.

NBF president Martyn Dolby received the Ean Eagle Challenge Trophy from NWBF president Shirley Suffling and it is hoped it will continue as an annual fixture with next year’s set for the Stamford club.

It was first played for in 1993, which resulted in a win for the Ladies, but since then their only other victory was in 2005.

The rinks of Michelle Smith and Pat Jones gained consolation wins for the Ladies, but emphatic victories for the rinks of Cliff Watson, Mick Linnell and Martyn Dolby, plus a narrow one for Peter Brown, meant the Gents were never in much danger of surrendering their hold on the trophy.

RESULT

GENTS 138, LADIES 87 (Gents rinks first):

Dusty Miller, Ally McNaughton, Cliff Watson 38, Ann Cooper, Jan Onslow, Liz Hext 3.

John Suffling, Derek King, Paul Buckley 12, Sally Albany, Gill King, Michelle Smith 21,

Dave Corney, Melvyn Beck, Graham Agger 10, Myra Landsburgh, Margaret King, Pat Jones 23.

Jeff Clipston, Joe Martin, Martyn Dolby 25, Sue Mansbridge, Ann Holmes, Shirley Suffling 15.

Michael Humphreys, Andy Cox, Mick Linnell 34, Hazel Brewin, Valerie Du’Kett, Moira Holroyd 8.

Les Sharp, Neil Wright, Peter Brown 19, Penny Hart, Yvonne Monaghan, Viv Hempsell 17.

NBF president Martyn Dolby receives the Ean Eagle Trophy from NWBF president Shirley Suffling following the Gents’ 138-97 victory over the Ladies at Peterborough & District.

THE schedule has been released for the English Bowling Federation men’s and women’s indoor finals being staged at Lincoln from April 24-30.

WOMEN

Singles: Michelle Smith v Notts (Wednesday, 12.30pm); Senior singles: Elizabeth Wallace v Notts (Thursday, 2.30pm); Pairs: Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford v Durham (Wednesday, 9.30am); Rinks: Margaret King, Moira Holroyd, Pat Jones v Humberside or Derbyshire (Tuesday, 3.30pm).

MEN

Under 25 open singles: Ollie Jeapes v Hunts (Friday, 12 noon); Singles: Stephen Harris v Norfolk (Wednesday, 9.30am); Senior singles: Martyn Dolby v Lincs (Thursday, 5.00pm); Pairs: Paul Dalliday & Tristan Morton v Derbyshire (Thursday, 2.30pm); Rinks: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton v Suffolk (Tuesday, 12.30pm); Mixed pairs: Cliff Watson & Liz Hext v Northumberland or Suffolk (Thursday, 9.30am); Mixed rinks: Tom Newman, Michelle & Ian Smith v North Cambs (Tuesday, 12.30pm).

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.

DATES and venues for the Northants Women’s Bowling Federation county fixtures this season have now been confirmed.

There are five matches for the Donald Steward Trophy team, but only three for the Silver Jubilee Vase squad with North Cambs and North Essex only having one team.

Thursday, May 25:

DST away to Hunts at Hemingford (PE28 9BX); SJV away to Hunts at Houghton & Wyton (PE28 2BJ)

Wednesday, June 7:

DST home to North Cambs at City of Peterborough.

Wednesday, June 21:

DST away to Suffolk at Kessingland (NR33 8JS); SJV away to Suffolk at Halesworth (IP19 8JS).

Wednesday, July 5:

DST home to Norfolk at City of Peterborough; SJV home to Norfolk at Yaxley.

Wednesday, July 19:

DST home to North Essex at City of Peterborough.

• All matches start at 1.00pm

The Northants Bowling Federation county indoor finals for men and ladies take place at the Peterborough & District club on Sunday (March 19th) with host club player Michelle Smith seeking a four-timer.

She has qualified for all three ladies events for which she is eligible – singles, pairs and triples – plus the mixed triples and she will be hoping to go one better this year in the singles having lost in last year’s final.

Stamford’s Chris Ford seeks a hat-trick – pairs, mixed pairs and mixed triples – and she will be defending the pairs with county president Shirley Suffling.

Stephen Harris also qualified in three, but has to put substitutes in two of them (mixed triples and pairs) as he will be in Scotland representing the England senior indoor team.

However, he will be able to defend his singles title against Richard Allam – this is being played at Stamford next Tuesday (March 21) – as a rule passed at last year’s annual meeting allows a male singles finalist to play on an alternative date if the county finals clash with an international commitment.

Next year there will be no clash of dates as the county finals moves to a new slot in February, with the English Bowling Federation having brought the deadline forward to March 8 from March 31.

Also seeking to retain a title on Sunday are Elizabeth Wallace in the senior singles and Paul Dalliday and Simon Law in the triples.

Young Ollie Jeapes has again received a walkover in the under 25 open singles and so heads to the national finals to defend the title.

The national finals are being hosted this year by the Lincoln club from April 24-30 following the closure of Newark earlier this year.

SUNDAY’S TIMETABLE

10.00am

Ladies singles: Elizabeth Wallace v Michelle Smith; Men’s veterans singles: Martyn Dolby v Kevin Vinter; Mixed pairs: Chris Ford & Adam Warrington v Liz Hext & Cliff Watson.

12,00 noon

Ladies pairs: Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford v Viv Afford & Michelle Smith; Men’s pairs: Paul Dalliday & Tristan Morton v Stuart Agger (sub for Stephen Harris) & Wayne Morris.

2.00pm

Men’s triples: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton v Richard Allam, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Ladies senior singles: Elizabeth Wallace v Margaret King; Mixed triples: Chris Ford, Adam Warrington, Michael Humphreys (sub for Stephen Harris) v Ian & Michelle Smith, Tom Newman.

4.00pm

Ladies triples: Margaret King, Moira Holroyd, Pat Jones v Viv Afford, Michelle Smith, Liz Hext.

NORTHANTS bowlers retained the team trophy at the English Bowling Federation ‘Bowls Week’ held at the Potters Leisure Resort on the Norfolk coast.

Not only did three of the mixed rinks qualify for the quarter-finals, but one went on to reach the final and another the semi-finals.

The rink of Rosemary Roberts, Dave Corney, Ron Castro (a substitute from a local club) and Mick Linnell lost 9-5 in the final to a rink from Bassetlaw, having beaten another Northants rink – John Vaudin, Ann White, Nolan Catterwell and Peter White – by one shot in the last four.

White’s rink had earlier beaten the other county rink in the last eight – Rose & Ron March and Dick & Chris Ford.

BOTH Northants teams in the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy ended their five-match programmes with away defeats.

The A team handed the southern section title to Lincolnshire on a plate after losing 96-80 to Norfolk at Fakenham.

Four points adrift of Lincs going into match they managed only two points making the leaders’ final fixture away to Norfolk somewhat irrelevant.

The rink of Mike Robertson, Trevor Collins and Stephen Harris provided the one bright spot with a 28-21 victory.

Meanwhile, the B team suffered the same fate away to Hunts, gaining just two points in a 108-82 defeat courtesy of the rink of Richard Allam and brothers Martin and Paul Bailey, who won 24-20.

RESULTS

Northants A 80 (2), Norfolk 96 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Paul Dalliday, Ollie Jeapes, Simon Law lost 21-26; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown lost 15-25; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby lost 16-24; Mike Robertson, Trevor Collins, Stephen Harris won 28-21.

Northants B 82 (2), Hunts 112 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter lost 20-24; Martin Prudhoe, Tom Newman, Ray Keating lost 23-32; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Mick Linnell lost 15-32; Richard Allam, Martin Bailey, Paul Bailey won 24-20.

SAD to report the sudden death of former Northants Women’s Bowling Federation president Jean Redhead at the age of 87.

She represented the county on numerous occasions and won the English Women’s Bowling Federation two-bowl triples title at Skegness in 1995 with Whittlesey Manor colleagues Wendy Lutkin and the late Molly Cole. She was also a member of the Whittlesey Town club.

The funeral service takes place at St Mary’s Church, Whittlesey, on Friday, March 3rd at 10.30am and after internment a wake will be held at the town’s Ivy Leaf Club.

DATES and venues for this season’s Adams and Newton matches have been confirmed with both teams having two fixtures away and three at home.

TIMETABLE

June 3 – Adams away to Suffolk at Leiston; Newton away to Suffolk at Laxfield.

June 10 – Adams away to Hunts at St Ives; Newton away to Hunts at Needingworth.

June 17 – Adams home to Lincs at Blackstones; Newton home to Lincs at Whittlesey Manor.

June 24 – Adams home to North Essex at Blackstones; Newton home to North Cambs at Whittlesey Manor.

July 1 – Adams home to Norfolk at Blackstones; Newton home to Norfolk at Whittlesey Manor.

A new fixture has been added to the calendar with the NBF facing Huntingdonshire Bowls at Whittlesey Manor on May 20 in what is hoped will become an annual event.

With Hunts having withdrawn from the Eastern Counties League, they are using matches against the Hunts EBF and the Northants EBF as trials for the Middleton Cup and under 25 squads and Northants will also use the fixture to prepare for their forthcoming county championship programme.

Northants and Hunts will between them purchase a shield which will be in memory of former NBF presidents Dick Noble and Malcolm Squires who sadly passed away last year.

As a result of this new addition to the county calendar, the annual John Dickenson Memorial Shield match between Whittlesey Manor and the NBF will now be staged on Saturday, August 12, a week before the national finals begin at Skegness.

FOLLOWING last year’s successful NWBF/NBF presentation luncheon at the Ellindon Banqueting Suite, the same venue has been retained for 2023 event on Sunday, September 17th.

And the good news is that last year’s price of £25.00 remains unchanged for a three-course meal with three choices for each course.

Menu and ticket details will be published at a later date.