NORTHANTS ladies hope to resume their inter-county championship programme next summer having not played together since the 2019 season because of the pandemic.

The fixtures for next season are being played on a fortnightly basis, starting on May 16th and ending on July 13th.

Clubs have been asked to submit ladies' names to be considered for selection to match secretary Norma Squires by the end of October.

2022 fixtures:

Monday, May 16 – Norfolk (away); Wednesday, June 1 – North Cambs (away); Wednesday, June 15 – Suffolk (home); Tuesday, June 28 – North Essex (away); Wednesday, July 13 – Hunts (home).

AFTER waiting 18 months to defend the English Bowling Federation's Derbyshire Trophy indoor inter-county championship, Northants finally get their chance against Durham at Newark on Saturday (October 9th).

Northants, under James Harford, won the title for only the third time back in 2019, so they are bidding for an historic back to back success against the northern section winners.

Northants have named the following team: James Harford (captain), Tristan Morton, Simon Law, Paul Dalliday, Martyn Dolby, Adam Warrington, Ean Morton, Stephen Harris, Richard Allam, Tony Scarr, Michael Humphreys, Roger Martin.

Not long after the final, Northants will be embarking on the 2021/22 Derbyshire Trophy programme, with the A team facing their B side in the opening fixture at Stamford on Sunday, November 7. The B team will again playing their home matches at Peterborough & District.

Remaining A team fixtures:

November 21 – North Cambs (away); December 5 – Hunts (away); February 20 – Norfolk (home); March 6 – Lincs (home).

Remaining B team fixtures:

November 21 – Norfolk (away); November 28 – Lincs (away); January 8 – North Cambs (home); February 20 – Hunts (home).

THE English Bowling Federation national presidents, MIke Carr and Gill Bush, were the guests of honour at the Northants Bowling Federation presentation luncheon at the Orton Hall Hotel.

They proposed toasts to both the Northants Bowling Federation and the Northants Women's Bowling Federation with NWBF president Vivienne Hempsell and NBF secretary Melvyn Beck responding.

There were special congratulations to the outdoor national championships – Louise & Stephen Harris (Blackstones) in the under 25 open pairs and to Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford (Ketton) in the senior pairs, along with the mixed pairs beaten finalists, Jane Needham & Martyn Dolby (Blackstones). 

A tribute was paid to Malcolm Squires during the proceedings having announced his intention to stand down from NBF administrative duties after forty years, which included two terms as county president.

The national presidents presented the trophies to the 2020 indoor winners and the 2021 outdoor champions, with Brian Martin and John Holroyd winning the Derbyshire Trophy 'Player of the Season' awards for 2020 for the A and B teams respectively.

2020 INDOOR WINNERS

WOMEN

Singles: Chris Ford; Senior singles: Joan Robinson; Pairs: Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford; Triples: Jan Want, Shirley Suffling, Chris Ford.

MEN

Singles: Adam Warrington; Under 25 singles: Stephen Harris; Veterans singles: Martyn Dolby; Pairs: Wayne Morris & Stephen Harris; Mixed pairs: Katie Bailey & John Earl; Triples: Adam Warrington, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Mixed rinks: Moira Holroyd, Wayne Aspinall, John Holroyd.

2021 OUTDOOR WINNERS

WOMEN

2b singles: Shirley Suffling (Ketton); 4b singles: Sophie Morton (Parkway); Champion of Champions: Myra Landsburgh (City of Peterborough); Senior singles: Wendy Stevens (Whittlesey Manor); Under 25 singles: Louise Harris (Blackstones); Pairs: Sophie Morton & Merisha McKernan (Parkway); Senior pairs: Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford (Ketton); 2b triples: Linda Toms, Tina Tinklin, Liz Hext (Conservative); 3b triples: Linda Starbuck, Moira & Helen Holroyd (Stamford).

MEN

2b singles: Roger Stevens (Whittlesey Manor); 4b singles: Wayne Morris (Blackstones); Champion of Champions: James Harford (Parkway); Veterans singles: Peter Cox (Langtoft Pearl); Secretary singles: Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor); Under 25 singles: Stephen Harris (Blackstones); Under 25 pairs: Louise & Stephen Harris (Blackstones); Pairs: Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley); Senior pairs: Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley); Mixed pairs: Jane Needham & Martyn Dolby (Blackstones); Senior mixed pairs: Chris & Dick Ford (Ketton); 2b triples: Martyn Dolby, John Earl, Adam Warrington (Blackstones); 3b triples: Martyn Dolby, John Earl, Adam Warrington (Blackstones); Mixed triples: Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, James Harford (Parkway).

THE draws have been made for the delayed English Bowling Federation 2020 national indoor finals which are being played at Newark IBC from October 4-10.

Following the ladies' Harry Carver competition on the Monday (October 4), the individual championships proper begin on the Tuesday through to Saturday morning followed by the Derbyshire Trophy on the Saturday afternoon featuring Northants, the holders, against Durham, and finally the men's Eversley Trophy on the Sunday.

Draws and times for the Northants representatives.

WOMEN

Singles: Chris Ford (Wednesday, 9.30am, then Thursday, 7.30pm if successful).

Senior singles: Joan Robinson (Thursday, 2.30pm, then Friday, 2.30pm)

Pairs: Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford (Friday, 9.30am then Friday, 12noon).

Rinks: Jan Want, Shirley Suffling, Chris Ford (Tuesday, 9.30am then Tuesday, 3.30pm)

MEN

Singles: Adam Warrington (Wednesday, 6.30pm, then Thursday, 5.00pm)

Veterans singles: Martyn Dolby (Thursday, 5.00pm, then Friday, 5.00pm)

Under 25 singles: Stephen Harris (bye to semi-final, Friday, 5.00pm)

Pairs: Wayne Morris & Stephen Harris (Thursday, 5.00pm then Friday, 12noon)

Mixed pairs: Katie Bailey & John Earl (Wednesday, 3.30pm then Thursday, 12noon)

Rinks: Martyn Dolby, John Earl, Adam Warrington (Tuesday, 3.30pm then Wednesday, 12.30pm)

Mixed rinks: Moira Holroyd, Wayne Aspinall, John Holroyd (Tuesday, 12.30pm then Tuesday, 6.30pm)

ALTHOUGH all Northants Bowling Federation officers are up for re-election at next month's annual general meeting, there are vacancies existing at the moment for a president, and a deputy for that matter, and a results secretary following the resignation of Barry Lawrence.

Usually the president is elected for a period of two years, but the option of a one-year term will be available should a management committee proposal be accepted at the annual general meeting.

On top of his ceremonial duties, the president has also chaired committee meetings, but there is a move afoot at the annual meeting to elect a chairman in line with the vast majority of other counties in the English Bowling Federation.

If anyone is interested in seeking election to these posts, then either contact the NBF through your club secretary or go direct to the county secretary.

NORTHANTS bowlers claimed two titles at the English Bowling Federation national championships played on the challenging greens at Skegness.

Ketton pair Shirley Suffling and Chris Ford swept to success in the women's senior pairs by defeating North Essex 27-13 (they were 23-0 ahead before conceding a shot), Notts 24-11 and Northumberland 19-10 in the final.

Blackstones brother and sister Stephen and Louise Harris took the honours in the Under 25 open pairs with wins against North Cambs 20-8, Humberside 20-15 and Suffolk 20-8 in the final.

It was a fitting end to Stephen's successful spell in the junior category as he lifted the trophy for the second time, having won it with Darren Middleton in 2016. Louise also reached the semi-final of the women's under 25 singles, losing to the eventual winner from Derbyshire.

Northants narrowly missed out on a third title when Blackstones' Jane Needham, playing in the finals for the first time, and Martyn Dolby were beaten 19-14  in the final of the mixed pairs by Derbyshire, having beaten Northumberland (19-10), Norfolk (20-14) and Lincs (17-8) along the way.

There were also semi-final appearances for the Parkway mixed rink of Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman and James Harford, defeating Notts (22-20) and Lincs 24-11 before bowing out to Durham, who went on to win the title, and Yaxley's Robert Heath and Tony Belson, pipped 19-18 by North Essex in the senior pairs after wiins against Northumberland (19-13) and Notts (21-16).

Northants only managed to win opening round matches in five other disciplines, Wendy Stevens (Whittlesey Manor) in the women's senior singles; Linda Starbuck, Moira and Helen Holroyd (Stamford) in the women's three-bowl triples; Roger Stevens (Whittlesey Manor) in the men's two-bowl singles; Sophie Morton and Merisha McKernan (Parkway) in the women's pairs and Martyn Dolby, John Earl and Adam Warrington (Blackstones) in the men's two-bowl triples.

Those who lost their opening round matches were:

WOMEN

Shirley Suffling (Ketton) in the two-bowl singles; Sophie Morton (Parkway) in the four-bowl singles; Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) in the secretary singles; Myra Landsburgh (City of Peterborough) in the Champion of Champion singles and Linda Toms, Tina Tinklin and Liz Hext (Conservative) in the two-bowl triples.

MEN

Wayne Morris (Blackstones) in the four-bowl singles; Stephen Harris (Blackstones) in the under 25 singles; Peter Cox (Langtoft Pearl) in the veterans singles; Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor) in the secretary singles; James Harford (Parkway) in the Champion of Champions singles; Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley) in the pairs; Chris & Dick Ford (Ketton) in the senior mixed pairs and Martyn Dolby, John Earl and Adam Warrington (Blackstones) in the three-bowl triples.

Don't forget you can salute your national winners at the county presentation luncheon at the Orton Hall Hotel on Sunday, September 19 (12.00 for 12.30). Book your tickets via the men's and women's county secretaries.

Shirley Suffling and Chris Ford, winners of the women’s senior pairs.

Louise and Stephen Harris, winners of the Under 25 open pairs.

PARKWAY gained some compensation for their defeat in the Dan Duffy Trophy final the previous week when they defeated holders Peterborough & District 61-47 in the Adams Cup decider played on the excellent Yaxley green.

Parkway were seven shots ahead after five ends across the three rinks, but District had reduced that to four at the halfway stage only for Parkway to gain the upperhand again over the second half, leading 44-34 at the 15 end stage and extending that by a further four shots at the close.

The rinks of Simon Law and Tristan Morton were 23-14 and 20-14 winners against Brian Bassam and Mick Greaves respectively, while Ray Keating's District trio snatched three shots on the final end to pip Alec Emery 19-18, although they did lead 14-7 at one stage.

RESULT

PARKWAY bt PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT 61-47 (Parkway rinks first):

Sean Fenlon, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law 23, Steve Johnson, Dave Heffernan, Brian Bassam 14.

Howard Shipp, Jim Ruddy, Alec Emery 18, Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Ray Keating 19.

Neil Wright, Tony Scarr, Tristan Morton 20, Ian Chilvers, Joe Martin, Mick Greaves 14.

Parkway – winners of the Adams Cup.

Peterborough & District – beaten finalists in the Adams Cup.

THE draws for the opening rounds of the English Bowling Federation men's and women's national championships at Skegness from August 21-28 have been released and days and times for Northants competitors are as follows.

MEN

2b singles – Roger Stevens (Whittlesey Manor) v Humberside (1st round), Tuesday, 1.45pm.

4b singles – Wayne Morris (Blackstones) v Northumberland or North Cambs (2nd round), Wednesday, 9.15am.

U25 singles – Stephen Harris (Blackstones) v Derbys (1st round), Thursday, 11.45am.

Senior singles – Peter Cox (Langtoft Pearl) v Hunts (2nd round), Thursday, 11.45am.

Secretary singles – Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor) v Derbys (1st round), Wednesday, 12.15pm.

C/C singles – James Harford (Parkway) v Norfolk (1st round), Tuesday, 1.45pm.

Pairs – Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley) v Cleveland (2nd round), Thursday, 12.15pm.

Senior pairs – Robert Heath & Tony Belson (Yaxley) v Northumberland (1st round), Wednesday, 10.45am.

Mixed pairs – Jane Needham & Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) v Northunberland (1st round), Tuesday, 12.15pm.

U25 open pairs – Louise & Stephen Harris (Blackstones) v North Cambs (1st round), Thursday, 9.15am.

Senior mixed pairs – Chris & Dick Ford (Ketton) v Derbys (1st round), Tuesday, 11.45am.

2b triples – Martyn Dolby, John Earl, Adam Warrington (Blackstones) v Norfolk (1st round), Tuesday, 9.15am.

3b triples – Martyn Dolby, John Earl, Adam Warrington (Blackstones) v Suffolk (1st round), Monday, 2.00pm.

Mixed triples – Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, James Harford (Parkway) v Notts (1st round), Monday, 2.00pm.

WOMEN

2b singles – Shirley Suffling (Ketton) v Notts (1st round), Tuesday, 10.45am.

4b singles – Sophie Morton (Parkway) v Northumberland (1st round), Tuesday, 1.45pm.

U25 singles – :Louise Harris (Blackstones) v Notts (2nd round), Thursday, 3.15pm.

Senior singles – Wendy Stevens (Whittlesey Manor) v Lincs (1st round), Wednesday, 12.15pm.

Secretary singles – Angela Cox (Langtoft Pearl) v Suffolkl (1st round), Tuesday, 9.15am.

C/C singles – Myra Landsburgh (City of Peterborough)  v Durham (1st round), Thursday, 9.15am.

Pairs – Sophie Morton & Merisha McKernan (Parkway) v Hunts (1st round), Tuesday, 9.15am.

Senior pairs – Shirley Suffling & Chris Ford (Ketton) v Cleveland or North Essex (2nd round), Wednesday, 11.45am.

2b triples – Linda Toms, Tina Tinklin, Liz Hext (Conservative) v Lincs (1st round), Tuesday, 11.45am.

3b triples – Linda Starbuck, Moira & Helen Holroyd (Stamford) v Cleveland (1st round), Monday, 2.00pm.

* Remember its whites with county shirts.

IT has been confirmed that the English Bowling Federation indoor finals from last year will be played at Newark IBC from Monday, October 4 through to Sunday, October 10.

The Derbyshire Trophy final, which will feature holders Northants against Durham, will be played on Saturday, October 9, with the Eversley Trophy the following day.

Looking further ahead, next year's indoor finals will be staged at the same venue between Tuesday, April 18 and Sunday, April 24, when the Derbyshire final will be played. The Eversley Trophy will be played earlier in the month on Sunday, April 3.

The 2022 national outdoor finals at Skegness will run from Saturday, August 20 through to Saturday, August 27.

BLACKSTONES have retained the Dan Duffy Trophy, the Northants Bowling Federation's county club championship.

They defeated Parkway 86-65 in the four-rink competition final played at the Langtoft Pearl club to qualify for next year's Durham Centenary Trophy, the EBF national club championship.

Rink honours were shared at two apiece, but whereas the Parkway successes were by just a single shot achieved late on, Blackstones were comfortable winners on the other two rinks.

Adam Warrington led his rink to a 28-11 defeat of Ean Morton, while Stephen Harris defeated Simon Law's trio 20-14.

Tristan Morton and Stuart Popple claimed single shot victories over Martyn Dolby and John Earl respectively.

RESULT

BLACKSTONES bt PARKWAY 86-65 (Blackstones rinks first):

Wayne Morris, Dusty Miller, Martyn Dolby 14, Trevor Collins, Tony Scarr, Tristan Morton 15.

Malc Smith, Mark Pye, John Earl 24, Brian Martin, James Harford, Stuart Popple 25.

Rita Downs, Darren Middleton, Adam Warrington 28, Sophie Morton, Mike Robertson, Ean Morton 11.

Martin Stokes, Sam Downs, Stephen Harris 20, Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, Simon Law 14.

Blackstones – winners of the Dan Duffy Trophy.

Parkway – beaten finalists in the Dan Duffy Trophy.