IT is sad to report the passing of former Northants Women’s Bowling Federation president Molly Cole at the age of 90.
A long-standing member of the Whittlesey Manor club, she was county president in 1993 and two years later won the national two-bowl triples title at Skegness with Jean Redhead and Wendy Lutkin.
The funeral service takes place at the Fenland Crematorium in March on Monday (November 21) at 1.30pm.
THE Northants A and B teams have been selected for the Derbyshire Trophy home matches against North Cambs and Norfolk respectively on Sunday November 20th.
The A team are in action at Stamford with Tristan Morton and Trevor Collins replacing Tony Barwell and Peter Brown from the team that defeated the B side in the opening match of the English Bowling Federation indoor inter-county championship campaign.
The B team also have two fresh faces in their line-up at Peterborough & District with Richard Allam and Michael Humphreys coming in for Martin Prudhoe and Tom Fielding.
A team: Trevor Collins, Michael Jeapes, Adam Warrington; Stuart & Graham Agger, Tristan Morton; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Paul Dalliday, MIke Robertson, Simon Law.
B team: Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Tom Newman, Michael Humphreys, Ray Keating; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford; Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey.
SHIRLEY Suffling (Ketton) has been installed as the new president of Northants Women’s Bowling Federation following the annual general meeting.
She received the chain of office from outgoing president Vivienne Hempsell. Liz Hext (Conservative) will be her deputy.
All the main officers were re-elected, although the county are still seeking a new match secretary.
County selection day will be held on May 10 next year at Ketton, and the county fixtures are as follows:
Wednesday, May 25 – away to Hunts (both teams); Wednesday, June 7 – home to North Cambs; Wednesday, June 21 – away to Suffolk (both teams); Wednesday, July 5 – home to Norfolk (both teams); Wednesday, July 19 – home to North Essex.
A proposal to revert to fixed dates for the outdoor county competitions was carried.
Officers elected: Secretary, Terri Handley; Treasurer, Chris Ford; Competition secretary, Valerie Du’Kett; Safeguarding officer: Vivienne Hempsell; Donald Steward captain, Joan Robinson Silver Jubilee captain, Ann Cooper; Committee members, Pearl O’Brien and Elizabeth Wallace.
NORTHANTS A earned the bragging rights at the expense of their B team in the opening Derbyshire Trophy of the season with a 101-81 victory at Peterborough & District, but they were made to work hard for their ten points.
Big wins for the rinks of Peter Brown (34-14) and new county president Martyn Dolby (33-12) laid the foundations for the A team’s success, with Kevin Vinter (26-14) and new captain Ray Keating (29-20) responding for the B side to earn them four points.
RESULTS
Northants A 101 (10), Northants B 81 (4) – (Northants A rinks first ):
Tony Barwell, Mike Robertson, Adam Warrington 14, Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter 26.
Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby 33, Martin Prudhoe, Martin & Paul Bailey 12.
Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown 34, Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Tom Fielding 14.
Paul Dalliday, Michael Jeapes, Simon Law 20, Tom Newman, Phil Afford, Ray Keating 29.
MARTYN Dolby (Blackstones) has been installed as the new president of the Northants Bowling Federation.
His appointment was confirmed at the county’s annual general meeting, thus filling this prestigious position that had remained vacant for the past two years.
He will be president for the next two years, but the role of deputy president remains vacant.
There are also new faces filling three of the four team captaincy roles, with Simon Law (Derbyshire A), Ray Keating (Derbyshire B) and Neil Wright (Adams) being elected, with Dave Corney remaining as Newton captain.
There were also changes to the management committee, with Neil Wright and Ally McNaughton coming on board, while life member Barry Lawrence stepped down.
All the principal office holders remain unchanged. Secretary, Melvyn Beck; Treasurer, Les Sharp; Match secretary, Graham Agger; Competition secretary, Melvyn Beck; Results secretary, Cliff Watson; Safeguarding & welfare officer, Peter Brown; Minutes’ secretary, Linda Toms; Management committee, Mick Greaves, James Harford, Dave Corney, Ally McNaughton, Neil Wright.
One new addition to the match programme next season will be a fixture between the NBF and Hunts Bowls at Whittlesey Manor on May 20th, which will act as a county trial match for both codes. This will be in addition to the annual John Dickenson Memorial match between the Federation and Whittlesey Manor.
It was disclosed that next year’s county indoor finals will be at Peterborough & District on Sunday, March 19th, with the outdoor finals at Whittlesey Manor on Sunday, July 23rd.
Next year’s national indoor finals at Newark will run from April 24-30, with Skegness from August 19-26. One change at Skegness will be that all six inter-county finals will be played on the Saturday, leaving Sunday and Monday morning free for the Reg Jackson competition.
The championships proper will start on the Monday afternoon instead of the traditional Tuesday morning, thus providing tournament organisers with an extra half-day to play with.
THE Northants A and B teams have been selected for the opening Derbyshire Trophy clash of the new season between themselves at Burton Street on Sunday, October 30th.
Northants A
Paul Dalliday, Michael Jeapes, Simon Law; Tony Barwell, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown; Brian Martin, Mike Robertson, Adam Warrington.
Northants B
Ollie Jeapes, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Martin Prudhoe, Martin & Paul Bailey; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Tom Fielding; Terry Corney, Tom Newman, Ray Keating.
THE English Bowling Federation national presidents were guests of honour at the Northants Bowling Federation joint men’s and women’s presentation luncheon at the Ellindon Banqueting Suite, Bretton.
Trevor Hardingham (Norfolk) and Paula Gooch (Suffolk) proposed toasts to both the men’s and women’s counties respectively, with NBF acting chairman Melvyn Beck and NWBF president Vivienne Hempsell responding.
A special award was made by the NBF during the luncheon to Malcolm Squires in recognition of his long, loyal and dedicated service to the NBF spanning some four decades, including two terms as president.
The EBF president presented him with a cut glass fruit bowl on behalf of the NBF and he duly received a standing ovation which was richly deserved.
Included in the trophy presentations were the NBF player-of-the-season awards which went Wayne Morris (Derbyshire A), Stuart Agger (Derbyshire B), Graham Agger (Adams) and Kevin Vinter (Newton).
NORTHANTS bowlers returned empty-handed from the English Bowling Federation national finals at Skegness for the first time since 2017.
They only managed to reach two finals, both in the women’s section, via the Yaxley two-bowl triple of Hazel Bass, Marlene Osborne and Gill King and Ketton pair Helen Tilley and Elaine Upton, but unfortunately both had to settle for the silver medal.
The Yaxley trio lost 9-26 in the final to Cleveland after wins against Durham (20-17) and North Cambs (26-13), while the Ketton duo were edged out 20-22 by Suffolk after defeating Durham (21-15) and Humberside (20-15).
Northants reached four other semi-finals, two of them involving Louise Harris (Blackstones) – under 25 singles and the under 25 open pairs with young Ollie Jeapes, a title she won last year with brother Stephen.
Yaxley’s Les Sharp and Gill King, bidding to regain the senior mixed pairs title they won in 2019, dropped a maximum four count on the penultimate end as they lost 12-17 to the eventual winners from Northumberland following a 17-13 win against North Essex.
The Parkway mixed rink of Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman and James Harford also went out to the champions-elect, Notts, in the last four, losing 14-21 after defeating Norfolk 21-12 and Northumberland 23-21.
In the 22 competitions crammed into four days following a total wash-out on the Thursday – they played on eight rinks for the last two days – Northants bowlers only managed to clear first hurdles in nine of them.
How Northants bowlers fared:
MEN
2b singles: Stephen Harris (Blackstones) lost opening match, 14-21 v Notts.
4b singles: Tom Newman (Whittlesey Manor) bt Durham 21-12, then lost 13-21 to Derbys, eventual winner.
U25 singles: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) lost opening match, 18-21 to Northumberland.
Veterans singles: Barry Lawrence (Conservative) lost opening match, 15-21 to Lincs, eventual winner.
Secretary singles: Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor) bt Durham 21-13, then lost 5-21 to Northumberland.
C/C singles: Jonathan Corby (Empingham) lost opening match, 10-21 to Suffolk.
Pairs: Graham Agger & Peter Brown (Whittlesey Manor) lost opening match, 15-21 to Derbys, eventual winners.
Mixed pairs: Louise & Stephen Harris (Blackstones) lost opening match, 16-20 to Durham.
Senior pairs: Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley) lost opening match, 9-18 to North Essex.
Senior mixed pairs: Les Sharp & Gill King (Yaxley) lost 12-17 in the semi-finals to Northumberland, eventual winners, after beating North Essex 17-13.
2b triples: Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton (Parkway) bt Cleveland 19-12, then lost 19-23 to Lincs.
3b triples: Richard Allam, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter (Stamford) lost opening match, 10-22 to Suffolk.
Mixed triples: Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, James Harford (Parkway) lost 14-22 in the semi-finals to Notts, eventual winners, after beating Norfolk 21-12 and Northumberland 23-21.
U25 open pairs: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) & Louise Harris (Blackstones) lost 12-19 in the semi-finals to Northumberland after beating North Cambs 25-7.
WOMEN
2b singles: Chris Ford (Ketton) lost opening match, 16-21 to Hunts.
4b singles: Sophie Morton (Parkway) lost opening match, 10-21 to Durham.
U25 singles: Louise Harris (Blackstones) lost 13-21 in the semi-finals to Lincs after beating Hunts 21-19.
Senior singles: Pat Jones (Empingham) lost opening match, 15-21 to Suffolk.
Secretary singles: Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) lost opening match, 18-21 to Suffolk.
C/C singles: Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) lost opening match, 15-21 to North Cambs.
Pairs: Helen Tilley & Elaine Upton (Ketton) lost 20-22 in the final to Suffolk after beating Durham 21-18 and Humberside 20-15.
Senior pairs: Terri Handley & Pam Owen (Deeping) lost opening match, 8-23 to Derbys.
2b rinks: Hazel Bass, Marlene Osborne, Gill King (Yaxley) lost 9-26 in the final to Cleveland after beating Durham 20-17 and North Cambs 26-13.
3b rinks: Ann Holmes, Linda Starbuck, Helen Holroyd (Stamford) lost opening match, 10-19 to Norfolk.
WITH the county finals done and dusted, it’s time to look ahead to the NBF/NWBF presentation luncheon being held on Sunday, September 18th (12.00 for 12.30pm).
We have a new venue this year, the Ellindon Banqueting Suite, Bretton who will be providing a three-course traditional Sunday lunch, plus tea and coffee, at £25.00 per head.
Check out the menu below, make your choices, and either email melvynbeck@btinternet.com or terri.handley@yahoo.co.uk to book places; apply for a booking form to either of those two email addresses; or post your choices on plain paper, along with a cheque made payable to Northants Bowling Federation. The money is required with your booking form.
The addresses are Melvyn Beck, 11 Davie Lane, Whittlesey, Peterborough PE7 1YZ or Terri Handley, 6 Caesar Close, Baston, Peterborough PE6 9PN.
MENU
STARTERS
Cream of vegetable soup
Mary Rose prawn cocktail
Warm brie wedges
MAIN COURSE
Roast beef
Road chicken
(both served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables (served at the table) and accompanying sauces)
Mushroom stroganoff with rice
DESSERTS
Apple & blueberry crumble with custard
Apple & toffee pie with ice cream
Ice cream sundae
THE draws for the early rounds of the EBF/EWBF national finals at Skegness have been made, the individual portion of the championships starting on Tuesday, August 23rd.
MEN
2b singles – Stephen Harris (Blackstones), v Notts on Tuesday, 10.45am (second round, Wednesday, 1.45pm)
4b singles – Tom Newman (Whittlesey Manor) v Durham, Wednesday, 3.15pm (second round, Thursday, 11.45am).
U25 singles – Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) v Northumberland, Wednesday, 4.45pm (second round, Thursday, 9.15am).
Senior singles – Barry Lawrence (Conservative) v Lincs, Wednesday, 12.15pm (second round, Thursday, 10.45am).
Secretaries singles – Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor) v Durham, Tuesday, 1.45pm (second round, Tuesday, 4.45pm)
C/C singles – Jonathan Corby (Empingham) v Suffolk, Thursday, 10.45am (bye in first round).
Pairs – Graham Agger & Peter Brown (Whittlesey Manor) v Derbys, Thursday, 10.45am (second round, Thursday, 3.15pm).
Senior pairs – Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley) v Notts, Thursday, 2.15pm (second round, Friday, 11.15am).
Mixed pairs – Louise & Stephen Harris (Blackstones) v Durham, Tuesday, 12.15pm (second round, Wednesday, 3.15pm).
2b triples – Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton (Parkway) v Cleveland, Tuesday, 2.15pm (second round, Wednesday, 11.45am).
3b triples – Richard Allam, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter (Stamford) v Suffolk, Tuesday, 9.15am (second round, Wednesday, 11.45am).
Mixed triples – Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, James Harford (Parkway) v Northumberland, Tuesday, 11.45am (second round, Wednesday, 2.15pm).
U25 open pairs – Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) & Louise Harris (Blackstones) v North Cambs, Friday, 9.15am (bye in first round).
Senior mixed pairs – Les Sharp & Gill King (Yaxley) v Derbys or North Essex, Thursday, 1.45pm (bye in first round)
WOMEN
2b singles – Chris Ford (Ketton) v Hunts, Thursday 9.15am (bye in first round).
4b singles – Sophie Morton (Parkway) v Durham, Tuesday, 3.15pm (second round, Wednesday, 10.45am)
U25 singles – Louise Harris (Blackstones) v Hunts or North Cambs Thursday, 12.15pm (bye in first round).
Senior singles – Pat Jones (Empingham) v Suffolk, Wednesday, 9.15am (second round, Wednesday, 1.45pm).
Secretaries singles – Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) v Suffolk, Tuesday, 11.45am (second round, Wednesday, 12.15pm).
C/C singles – Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) v North Cambs, Wednesday, 2.15pm (second round, Thursday, 9.15am)
Pairs – Elaine Upton & Helen Tilley (Ketton) v Cleveland or Humberside, Wednesday, 4.45pm (bye in first round).
Senior pairs – Terri Handley & Pam Owen (Deeping) v Derbys, Tuesday, 9.15am (second round, Thursday, 9.15am).
2b triples – Hazel Bass, Marlene Osbourne, Gill King (Yaxley) v Durham or Northumberland, Wednesday, 11.45am (bye in first round).
3b triples – Moira Holroyd, Linda Starbuck, Ann Holmes (Stamford) v Norfolk, Tuesday, 2.15pm (second round, Wednesday, 9.15am).